The Lockheed U2, nicknamed "Dragon Lady", is an American singlejet engine, high altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) and previously flown by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). It provides day and night, highaltitude (70,000 feet, 21,300 meters), allweather intelligence gathering.

TO THE EDGE OF INFINITY 70,000 FT UP! At that time, Gary Sinise was the highest man on earth. The documentary follows the acclaimed actor and humanitarian as he prepares and travels to the edge of space in U2 spy plane. Gary Sinise’s High Flight is an amazing film that shows how much these American heroes put on the line every time they strap into their plane to do their job of protecting our country. High Flight is a great addition to our Salute to Service initiative, and we are grateful to be able to work with Gary to assist in his tireless efforts working with defenders, veterans, first responders, and their families through his Gary Sinise Foundation. In High Flight, Sinise expresses how honored he is to be invited to ride in the U2 – a trip very few people have ever experienced – and what a thrill it was “for a few moments to be the highest human being on the planet.”

A true voyage to the Edge of Infinity. The film documents Gary sinise's onceinalifetime U2 flight at Beale Air Force Base in June 2011, covering every moment from the daylong training and meetings with the base staff to takeoff and landing.

The flight was incredible and the views from 70,000 feet are absolutely breathtaking. Many thanks to Jon Tennyson and Sleeping Dog Productions for producing such an outstanding video.

Lockheed Corporation originally proposed it in 1953, it was approved in 1954, and its first test flight was in 1955. It was flown during the Cold War over the Soviet Union, China, Vietnam, and Cuba. In 1960, Gary Powers was shot down in a CIA U2C over the Soviet Union by a surfacetoair missile (SAM). Major Rudolf Anderson Jr. was shot down in a U2 during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.

U2s have taken part in postCold War conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, and supported several multinational NATO operations. The U2 has also been used for electronic sensor research, satellite calibration, scientific research, and communications purposes. The U2 is one of a handful of aircraft types to have served the USAF for over 50 years, along with the Boeing B52, Boeing KC135, and Lockheed C130. The newest models (TR1, U2R, U2S) entered service in the 1980s, and the latest model, the U2S, had a technical upgrade in 2012.

Skunk Works produced the U2 spy plane that could — and still does — collect images from 70,000 feet; the SR71 Blackbird, an aircraft that could fly at speeds greater than Mach 3; and the F117 Nighthawk, the first stealth fighter.

For defense tech journalists and aviation nerds, this is the equivalent of a Golden Ticket to Willy Wonka’s factory, but think supersonic drones instead of Everlasting Gobstoppers.

General characteristics:

Crew: 1
Capacity: 5,000 lb (2,300 kg) payload
Length: 63 ft 0 in (19.20 m)
Wingspan: 103 ft (31 m)
Height: 16 ft 0 in (4.88 m)
Wing area: 1,000 sq ft (93 m2)
Airfoil: root: NACA 63A409; tip: NACA 63A406
Empty weight: 16,000 lb (7,257 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 40,000 lb (18,144 kg)
Fuel capacity: 2,950 US gal (2,460 imp gal; 11,200 l)
Powerplant: 1 × General Electric F118101 turbofan engine, 17,000 lbf (76 kN) thrust
Performance
Cruise mach number: Mach 0.715 (412 kn; 470 mph; 760 km/h) at 72,000 ft (22,000 m)[210]
Cruise speed: 413 kn (475 mph, 765 km/h) at 65,000 ft (20,000 m)
Stall speed: 65 kn (75 mph, 120 km/h)
Range: 6,090 nmi (7,010 mi, 11,280 km) plus
Endurance: 12 hours[212]
Service ceiling: 80,000 ft (24,000 m) plus
Rate of climb: 9,000 ft/min (46 m/s)
Time to altitude: 60,000 ft (18,000 m) in 12 minutes 30 seconds
Lifttodrag: 25.6
Wing loading: 40 lb/sq ft (200 kg/m2)
Thrust/weight: 0.425
Fuel consumption: 910 lb/h (410 kg/h) in cruise

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