Lockheed U-2s

Single Jet

The Lockheed U-2, nicknamed the Dragon Lady, is a single-engine, high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft that has been gathering intelligence since 1955. Designed during the Cold War to overfly the Soviet Union beyond the reach of interceptors and surface-to-air missiles, the U-2 remains the only operational aircraft routinely flying above 70,000 feet. Its extraordinary service ceiling (over 73,000 feet for the current U-2S variant) and endurance of more than 12 hours make it irreplaceable for persistent surveillance and atmospheric research. The type gained infamy in 1960 when Francis Gary Powers was shot down over Soviet territory, but it has flown operational missions in every major conflict since, from Cuba to Afghanistan. NASA operates two ER-2 variants (Earth Resources-2) from Armstrong Flight Research Center, using the same airframe for high-altitude science missions studying ozone, atmospheric chemistry, and Earth imaging. The U-2's unusual design, essentially a powered glider with a jet engine, demands exceptional piloting skill. Its long, fragile wings generate enormous lift at altitude but make low-speed handling treacherous; pilots wear full pressure suits and land on bicycle-style landing gear with pogos that fall away on takeoff. Chase cars driven by other U-2 pilots race alongside during landing to radio altitude callouts, as the cockpit's view is severely restricted. The aircraft's operational envelope spans from near-stall at 70,000 feet (where indicated airspeed and never-exceed speed converge to a narrow "coffin corner") down to sea level, requiring constant attention to energy management. Despite decades of predictions that satellites and drones would retire the U-2, its combination of altitude, sensor payload capacity, and human decision-making keeps it flying. The Air Force plans to operate the type into the 2030s. SkyMeter has tracked 3 flights across 1 airframes and 1 operators, with NASA NEIL A ARMSTRONG FLIGHT RESEARCH CENTER the observed operator.