The Aviationist

U-2 Dragon Lady Breaks Altitude and Endurance Records During 70th Anniversary Flight

Flying from Beale AFB, a Lockheed U-2 aircraft, using the specially chosen callsign DRAGON 70, was heard communicating with ATC about a plan to set an endurance and altitude record for the ‘category ...
New Atlas

U-2 spy plane celebrates 70th anniversary with new flight records

The US Air Force celebrated the 70th anniversary of the famous U-2 Dragon Lady spy plane on July 31, 2025 – not with a cake but by setting new endurance records for the class of aircraft on the first ...
The Aviationist

Last Production U-2 Returns to Flight for First Time Since 2008

80-1099 was photographed in flight for the first time in 17 years after being heavily damaged in a hydrazine fire in 2008. Aviation enthusiasts captured the aircraft in flight from Palmdale Airport, ...
Flightglobal

U-2 sets new endurance record 70 years after first flight

Seventy years after the Lockheed Martin U-2 spyplane made its first flight, the distinctive high-altitude jet has set a new endurance record for the type. A two-seat TU-2S trainer variant of the U-2 ...
Flightglobal

U-2S high-altitude spyplane makes rare public display at UK air show

Two of the US Air Force’s (USAF’s) distinctive high-altitude spyplanes made a rare public appearance at a UK air show over the weekend. The Lockheed Martin U-2S Dragon Lady jets participated in the ...