U-2 Spy Plane Unveiled: CIA's Russia Recon Mission 

This plane is over 60 years old and it still looks futuristic af

I just love how all the descriptions of the upgrades are pretty detailed, but also incredibly vague about what exactly they actually do

Many years back I was the captain of a B-757 flying directly between New York City and Mexico City. While out in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico I became aware of an aircraft coming up from due south. He would make periodic position reports and I became convinced this aircraft was a U-2. I asked him what type aircraft he was. He replied that he could tell me but then he would have to kill me. Once while at Edwards AFB I saw a U2 pilot exam. One of the questions was; “What are the procedures for entering controlled airspace from above?” Not something I ever had to know.

Damn that thing can climb a lot faster than I thought.

I used to watch them practice take offs, with their chase Mustangs close behind... They are literally rockets with wings!! Amazing aircraft!!

Despite the infamous Powers incident, this was a seriously capable plane that served a heck of a long time

LOVE this aircraft. Was stationed a NAS Moffett when NASA was flying the U2 and it was an incredible to watch this aircraft takeoff and land. Little known fact....U2's had the ability to fold or remove the wings for carrier deployment. LM representative showed me this fact at an airshow.

I used to dislike the U2 design but over the years grew to love it, plus the history behind it is amazing.

I was a crew chief on this plan in the late 90's amazing plan despite its basic flight controls

I have a buddy from the Army. We were both enlisted together. He went Warrant Officer and became an Apache pilot. Transferred to the Air Force and flew F-16s then the U-2. He had a decompression emergency on one mission and had to do an emergency landing. Fucked him up permanently. One thing I that sticks with me. He said "the U-2 will try to kill you every time you climb into her"

I found out at my grandfathers memorial around 2002 or so that he got to fly in the 2 seater nasa version for atmospheric research. He was a founding father of weather modification. Cloud seeding in particular but taught s at cal tech after being an alumni. I was super close with him but it never came up. One of those people that did a million amazing things. Hearing about it from uncles was a shock but so cool. Wish I could have asked him but maybe he didn’t bring it up for a reason.. back 2002 and before.

From what I have heard, speed variance at operational altitude is the real deal. Apparently, older U-2 planes had an approximate 5MPH variance between shuddering apart going to fast or straight falling out of the sky if just a bit to slow. Newer versions it would seem are down to a 2.5MPH variance.

I appreciate the dual unit values. 70k ft, 21 km etc...

I just love the way you explain, including what abbreviations and acronyms mean. Great job and thanks for the info.👌🙏👏

Another iconic of Kelly Johnson’s ingenuity , his designs will enter aviation’s history most difficult machines to fly RIP KJ.

The crews are very selective. You have to be very focused as most your pilots are die hard introverts with great pilot skills. I’ve flown the u2 and landed successfully maybe 3 times. I”ve flown out of Beale in my formative years, but could never accept the many hours of flying solo that could be my job in the U2. I absolutely love having a crew, talking with people and enjoying their company.

If I could fly one thing. Damn what a wicked machine. Imagine flying alone over enemy territory. Invisible and miles in the sky. What an amazing job. It tickles my brain to think of how alone that would feel.

U-2 and the B-52 man... Old but damn reliable

Interesting video about this iconic aircraft. thank you.

thanks for also providing metric units!

Amazing Aircraft, Thanks Sam and the production team at U.S. Military News. 👍 🇺🇸

wow, those are amazing lenses!

McCoy SAC AFB, Orlando Florida had a U-2 flying out most every week many times on my watch. Rookie security policeman got the task to baby set these beasts. Seems I got that task every 3 day graveyard cycle. I loved aircraft for me it was a delight. The ground crews were friendly answering what questions they were allowed. While there saw a B 52 crash. The air craft commander sacrificed the crew to bring it down in an area of few houses. Yeah it's difficult to believe but in 1971 McCoy was in the undeveloped country side. No orlando international Airport. The civilian strip shared the military strip. Terminal was smaller than a county bus station. That U-2 could skip aways down the strip then lift off and go almost vertical! A pure sight to see. Nothing was as loud as those KC-135s taking off!! Ears muffs only barely kept ear drums from rupturing! Read the book by Frances Gary Powers while waiting for tech school to open....never thought I'd get to babysitting that plane for 4 months....

I think the hardest part of flight is landing,the happieat is taking off,and the easiest is when the plane is levelled

had no idea this plane was still active

Thanks for showing a Lady flying a U-2. There are a few of them and one is an instructor. Great job Ladies!

Love this plane

All I can say is I’m glad they’re on my side👍

😱 amazing plane 😱

Very interesting Video, i saw several documentarys about this, is fascenating.

I Watch U2's Take Off And Land At Beale Air Force Base In Northern California. They're A Beautiful Sight To See! I'm Proud To Be An American And Thank Our Airman And Pilot's For Their Service! ✌️🇺🇲✌️😎

I love the U-2!

Fascinating

What a great channel

U2 use to have some good hits back in the day.. oh this video is the plane ;) When I was in Osan AB, Korea we would watch the mustang chase car chase the U2 when it would land. One time they lost or broken one of the support wheels, so a airman laid down on the one with the landing support wheel to keep the plane level as it taxi back to it's hanger.

the tremendous amount of lift that thing generates is impressive. on takeoff the plane goes straight up

Thanks for the inclusion of metric units

Just WOW

What an amazing piece of equipment.

So cool

Amazing! I could ahve sworn these were retired YEARS ago! Feel like Im seeing a Coelacanth for the first time on 50 years...

Did I just see a rearview mirror!? ... Surely used during backing up into parking spaces 😉

One of these was on a flight radar website over MN during the balloon invasion.

They have been training out of Dobins AFB North of Atlanta a few weeks ago

7:29 - you just sent the hairs on the back of Maverick’s neck on edge.

I saw one land at Ramstein AB once. U2 pilots used to have the highest divorce rate than any specialty.

How done there nice

한국 평택 오산기지에서 저공비행할때 몇 번 봤는데 정말 멋졌다 🤩✌️

rubber bands holding that thing on lol

As a Chinese citizen who works in a restaurant this is extremely informative.

The Lockheed U-2 is another amazing Air Force airplane that has been in use a very long time. The only other Air Force plane that has been in service such a long time is the Boeing B-52 bomber.

I love the jaw cord, just like in a glider. I knew this plane looked like a glider, but I didn't know how much it was actually one

3:20 they look like the guys from monsters inc

Almost flying in outer space ; terrifing inner tyranny .

I have no words

Long Live The Dragon Lady 🐉 IN GOD WE TRUST ALL OTHERS WE MONITOR, Awesome peace of aviation history 🐲

They're mounting a giant pin on the nose to pop any balloons they encounter

The speed between stalling or VNE is about 6 knots in airspeed at operational altitude.

How many times does this guy say 'Thatcher said' ...... I think it is much better you get Mr Thatcher to do the talking for the next one ........ 'Brett said!'

While this might be a dull job at times, this plane looks so cool to fly

*U2, the hardest band to enjoy listening to, and the hardest aircraft to fly.*

Pilot did a emote on us 😭

When a piezoelectric generator is combined with centripital force, the faster we spin, the more pure power gets generated. Would I lie?

Yep

We need the SR71 back in service.

4:32 "doo doo" teehee

Can’t quite tell is this voice narrated automated?

the white scarf crowd in usaf loves this sort of thing and hates the a10. they've been trying to get rid of the air to mud mission of the at0 since i was in in the early 80's.

65 year life span, impressive

Love you usa.

I don’t understand how it out lasted the black bird/ what the advantages of the u2 have over the blackbird

I'm just reading a fascinating book "Area 51" written by Annie Jacobsen and published in 2011. It goes into the history of not only area 51 but also all the clandestine activities the then burgeoning CIA and AEC tests with atomic weapons (the original black op) that were conducted around Groom Lake and area 51. Including the design & development of the U2

question tho, what if your nose is itching mid flight ... :C

I have to wonder about the structural integrity for such a long-running aircraft.

Do we think U2 will be around for another 30 to 40 years, i certainly hope so, seeing them at RAF Fairford is just awesome, love this aircraft. IN GOD WE TRUST ALL OTHERS WE MONITOR 🐲 🐉

The British lighting shot up past the u2 to 88tf and shocked the u2s pilot and they had small wings

These are the MEN!

Man, these things must be difficult to land with their bicycle-style landing gear!

'DRAGON LADY' DELTA People! Foxtrot Roger

@7:50 Is that a Garmin GPS attached to the mirror?

4 guys hanging on a wing to set the plane up could use an upgrade too.

Usa 🇺🇸 💖💙💯

7:50 “older aircraft” like the f22?

How does this plane land without the supporting wheels that are pictured under the wings as it taxies? It seems like it would end up tilting to one side as it slows down since these are not present.

1:03 has a piece of string to indicate coordinated flight lol...

I would hope that any avionics software was isolated from other software that communicates with systems of multiple levels of security. Any corruption by hacking could be deadly if it got into the avionics. On another note; given the ability to communicate with systems of different security levels the pilot could always check on the latest sports highlights.

That's u-two, u-two-bers!

Ничего не понял но очень интересно

king thacher foo!

Two-wheeled space glider? What's not to like?

And despite all this work, the pilots still have time to tour the world as a band

Great upgrade, GPS installed with some rubber bands..!

I wanna see a video of this plane from the ISS

Is it that "The Untraceable" UFO ?!?! ....

🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️❤️

Can someone tell me if these are all original airframes from the 60's, or they did infact build new ones ????

is the new motto Semper Uggo? all the U.S. weapon designs as of late...

One of the most beautiful planes ever made (see 4:51) and they try their hardest to make it ugly!

So we kept this, but removed the SR71. While also considering building a SR72... I dont really see what role this plane has unless its very very cost effective compared to the SR series.

Nice