The Lockheed Martin proposal to “un-man” the U-2 is dead, but the old high-altitude surveillance aircraft is very much alive despite repeated attempts to kill the programme.
The air force pushed back the aircraft’s retirement from 2016 to 2019 in its latest budget submission, giving it more time to upgrade the Northrop Grumman RQ-4B Global Hawk before sending the U-2 to the boneyard.
But the Lockheed Skunk Works thinks retiring the U-2 would be premature, since the U-2 fleet is as active and capable today as at any point in its 60-year history.
In recognition of the 40th anniversary of Black History Month in the U.S., the U-2 Program is privileged to celebrate the achievements of Col Merryl Tengesdal, affectionately known as Col T.
Not every officer can say she knew what her career would be at the tender age of seven, but that’s just how it happened with Col T. She knew she was going to fly.
“I watched Star Trek when I was a little kid and that made me want to be in space, to fly,” said Col T. “Exploring and seeing different worlds from a Star Trek-perspective, working with a crew of people…that’s what the allure was for me. From that point on, I knew what my path was going to be.”
A U-2 from Beale AFB, Calif., deployed to Nellis AFB, Nev., to participate in a Red Flag exercise this month for the first time in more than 20 years.
The 9th Reconnaissance Wing regularly supports Red Flag, but typically the wing's U-2s fly from their home base in California.
Maj. Carl Maymi, a U-2 pilot with the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron from Beale Air Force Base, Cali., bumps first with a teammate, Capt. Arthur Bull, while walking out to his aircraft Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada July 18, 2016 for exercise Red Flag 16-3.
This is the first time in more than 20 years the U-2 has flown in Red Flag while staging out of Nellis Air Force Base.
(U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. David Salanitri) .
