55 years of the U-2 Dragon Lady: the evolution of training

[ErnstBlofeld]

AFNS:

 

For the past 55 years U-2 Dragon Lady crews have soared high above the earth collecting intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information to aid in the fight against enemy forces. Throughout the years, even with the advances in technology, the mission remained the same.

 

Over time, several changes in the aircraft and protective equipment have evolved to help the U-2 and its pilots better perform their mission. Training to become a U-2 pilot has also evolved from "learn on the fly" to a detailed training course requiring approximately nine months to complete.

 

In the late 1950s, when the first U-2 pilot trainees were becoming familiar with the aircraft, there were no instructors, no two-seater trainer aircraft, no ejection seats, no full pressure suits, no full-scale base at which to train and no technical manuals or history for reference.

 

 

Edited September 23, 2010 by Rheo
snipped