Lockheed U-2S "Dragon Lady" Cockpit Tour

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AVweb's Glenn Pew takes you inside the cockpit on a guided tour with an active U-2 pilot. The Lockheed U-2 has been in service for over 50 years. It has been at the center of some of the most tense moments in America's history.


The Air Force lists specifications for the aircraft as follows:

General Characteristics
Primary Function: High-altitude reconnaissance
Contractor: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Power Plant: One General Electric F118-101 engine
Thrust: 17,000 pounds
Wingspan: 105 feet (32 meters)
Length: 63 feet (19.2 meters)
Height: 16 feet (4.8 meters)
Weight: 16,000 pounds
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 40,000 pounds (18,000 kilograms)
Fuel Capacity: 2,950 gallons
Payload: 5,000 pounds
Speed: 410+ miles per hour
Range: 7,000+ miles (6,090+ nautical miles)
Ceiling: Above 70,000 feet (21,212+ meters)
Crew: One (two in trainer models)
Unit Cost: Classified
Initial operating capability: 1956
Inventory: Active force, 33 (5 two-seat trainers and two ER-2s operated by NASA); Reserve, 0; ANG, 0

Channel: Autos & Vehicles
Uploaded: March 19, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Author: AVweb

Length: 00:04:46
Rating: 4.93
Views: 92536

Tags: U-2 U2 spyplane dragon lady pilots flying air force USAF lockheed avweb glenn pew

Video Comments:
TaserVictim (May 9, 2008 at 4:02 pm)
So they now descend to 50,000 if the autopilot fails? Those early pilots routinely hand flew the U-2 in the "coffin corner" for hours at a time. Not to criticize today's U-2 pilots, though, it's still a very difficult task!!!!!
Rabb9 (April 23, 2008 at 12:04 am)
I was flying from RAF Akrotiri when one of these was buzzing about. Impressive aircraft to see so close in flight..
gatomas (April 17, 2008 at 10:10 pm)
Something to be proud of.
Comment: who would ever think of a video or film movie like this 20 or 30 years ago.
JSHTexas (April 1, 2008 at 7:57 pm)
See the Air Force U-2 pilot who shows up about 3 min 21 secs into the the video? That's my brother. Because of him I have a whold section of my website on the U-2 at JSH-dot-us and some blog posts at MyEphemerae-dot-com in the u-2 category.

James S. Huggins


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jcnme27 (May 13, 2008 at 6:57 pm)
Huggy is your brother huh? I worked with him in the 90's at Alconbury and Beale.
stewysmom (March 30, 2008 at 5:21 am)
Is this guy from Central Casting, or what?? What a great combination of looks and brains. I need a bib.
Crashman2 (March 28, 2008 at 3:45 am)
Thanks for getting me this GREAT cockpit-check in an aircraft I thought I'd NEVER see the front office of! BEAUTIFUL VID! 5 STARS!
LOCKHEED17 (March 26, 2008 at 2:13 am)
actually if they wanted to, on fuull power it can get to 70,000 feet in about 13 minutes, believe me im in CAP at beale and my captain works on them.
blackout2240 (March 28, 2008 at 3:50 am)
i also am in CAP in the lesburg Virginia squaderan
LOCKHEED17 (March 23, 2008 at 8:08 pm)
i live by beale afb (home of the u-2) and im in civil air patrol at beale, we go every monday to beale for our meeting which is right on the flight line, those u-2s are loud they shake our building when they take off and do touch and gos!