The 70th anniversary of the U-2 Dragon Lady was celebrated in fine style at Beale AFB last Friday, with a record-length flight that flew over all 48 lower states in the US. Party-goers gathered at Beale to celebrate the birthday also learned informally, that the USAF leadership has bowed to pressure from Congress and the … Continue reading HAPPY U-2 BIRTHDAY – A RECORD FLIGHT, AND AT LEAST ANOTHER YEAR OF OPERATIONS!
U-2 retirement
YET ANOTHER REPRIEVE FOR THE DRAGON LADY?
Keep 'em flying, says Congress again
STAY OF EXECUTION FOR THE U-2 DRAGON LADY?
The US Congress has prevented the USAF from taking further actions to retire the U-2 this year, but this will likely be only a temporary reprieve.
THE U-2 COULD HELP TO KEEP THE PEACE IN UKRAINE
It may be facing retirement, but the U-2 Dragon Lady could still play a vital role watching over Ukraine, if a ceasefire can be agreed. The veteran high-flying spyplane is equipped with sensors and datalinks that could provide near real-time imagery to European peacekeepers. The UK, France and some other European NATO countries have said … Continue reading THE U-2 COULD HELP TO KEEP THE PEACE IN UKRAINE
KEEP THE U-2 BY DOWNSIZING THE OPERATION?
The U-2 is facing retirement but could a reduced operation be retained?
CONGRESS PUSHES BACK ON U-2 RETIREMENT. COCOMs TO FOLLOW?
A House of Representatives committee wants to prevent the USAF retiring the Dragon Lady.
DOD SAYS U-2 RETIREMENT WILL SAVE $600 MILLION PER YEAR
The DOD has told Congress that retirement of the U-2 fleet will save $600 million annually. Meanwhile, actions to retire the Dragon Lady fleet have already begun, although NASA wants to keep its two ER-2 research aircraft in service. The Pentagon recently sent a written waiver to Congress justifying the divestment, as required by legislation … Continue reading DOD SAYS U-2 RETIREMENT WILL SAVE $600 MILLION PER YEAR
DESPITE AN ‘ELEPHANT WALK’, THE U-2 WILL BE RETIRED
Was last Thursday’s ‘Elephant Walk’ at Beale a publicity stunt to help keep the Dragon Lady flying? If so, it was too late. I have learned that the die is now cast, and U-2 phaseout actions have already begun. The Secretaries of the Air Force and Defense signed the certification that was required of them … Continue reading DESPITE AN ‘ELEPHANT WALK’, THE U-2 WILL BE RETIRED
AN UPDATE TO DRAGON LADY TODAY
Does Sunset Makes Sense? That’s the title of a new final chapter that I have written for my book DRAGON LADY TODAY. I have republished it as a second edition, and you can buy it from Amazon’s US site here, and their British site here. You can also find it on Amazon’s foreign-language websites, but … Continue reading AN UPDATE TO DRAGON LADY TODAY
ONLY TWO MORE YEARS FOR THE DRAGON LADY?
In its Fiscal Year 2024 budget request earlier this year, the US Air Force indicated a U-2 retirement date in FY 2026. However, HQ USAF said last week that the plan is to end operations in the very first month of FY2026, eg October 2025. In a written response to my questions about the planned … Continue reading ONLY TWO MORE YEARS FOR THE DRAGON LADY?
Dragon Lady Today 