U-2 Dragon Lady: The Super Mysterious Spy Plane in the World

[@geneglass9529]

I worked on the U2 between 74-76. Back then, SAC maintained the aircraft. The command I worked for was responsible for a non-SAC mission flown out of Utapao Thailand. Our office was located inside one of the hangars. When in the hangar, the left wing-tip of the aircraft ended about 10-15 ft away from our office door. If you've seen the U-2 on the ground, you've probably seen the "pogo wheels" close to the end of the wings. These wheels are spring loaded and "pop out" when the aircraft gains lift during takeoff. When the aircraft lands, the recovery crew lifts the wings up and inserts the wheels. When the aircraft is in the hangar, the maintenance guys lift the wing-tips and insert an A-frame looking device close to the pogo wheels to relieve the weight stress on the wings while on the ground. I worked mid-shift, and there were generally 1 or 2 of us on duty during this "quiet" time. One night while I was alone, a powerful thunderstorm passed through our base, and this created some high winds. As I was sitting in my office, I started hearing a "boom-boom-boom-boom" sound that appeared to be very close-by. The "booms" would build in volume . . . then taper off. My thoughts were "what are these sounds?" "Is the base under attack?" "Should I engage security plans and procedures?" After a couple of minutes, I mustered enough courage to open the office door to investigate. Shortly after opening the door, the winds increased in intensity - and the mystery was solved! The wings of the U-2 have so much lift that the wind, rushing through the hangar, caused the wings to curl up and fly off the A-frame stands. As the winds died down the wings would lose lift and make a "boom-boom-boom" sound as they dropped back on the A-frames. My anxiety turned into a chuckle. Its been 50 years, but I'll never forget this!

[@hamdiben8163]

Any ufo sighting?

[@barrygrant2907]

Used to watch the U-2 take off every morning at U-Tapao back in '72. Probably one of my fav acft.

[@toby9754]

Hey me too. You wouldn't happen to be related to Brian Grant? 🥸

[@scallopohare9431]

Was running late to report for duty one morning at Osan AB, RoK. Splurged on a taxi, he pulled off the road to watch the U-2 take off. Could not be mad at him, it was a beautiful thing to see.

[@brianf1950]

My son flew the Dragon Lady 2014-2018

[@german-engineering1963]

A sophisticated spy aircraft equipped with ultra-secret electronics, still flies with a GPS rubber-banded to the pilot's rear view mirror (in frame 3:44 and on).

[@robertokandal]

russian fears the 1955 airplane,

[@sho3682]

Pilot Suleiman from Pakistan told me that this plane used to take off after sunset from the city of Peshawar in Pakistan and return at dawn in the late fifties until 1960. It was heading towards the Soviet Union and flying at an altitude of more than 100,000 feet and shutting down the engines to save fuel because it was flying above gravity. It was shot down over Central Asia in 1960.

[@Concetta20]

I love it’s nickname. “Dragon-Lady” just sounds bad a$&@.

[@Jon-es-i6o]

Do we know why they call it the “Dragon Lady?” As I haven’t a clue.🤭 I mean, it’s obvious why the SR-71 is call the “Black Bird.”

[@CajunKracka]

​@Jon-es-i6o google it. 😂

[@ericgriffin6698]

Incredible aircraft, super important... 👍👍👍😊🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@quaymcquitter8386]

Did it have any weapons or fire system like bombs or bullets to protect it from attack

[@TheEurofighter100]

No(not that I'm aware of anyway) it was made to reach high alt that most enemy aircraft couldn't reach in take pictures of any valuable information the only way to shoot it down is by using a SAM missel but thats unlikely to happen since the dragon lady is nearly invisible on radar

[@Ros_Rosvangantan]

Great plane, great engineers and pilots. Great country☝🏻

[@WaVeTECH-b9z]

Impressive power and technology working together to create these powerful vehicles

[@brocktonma.1816]

I was in Korea early 80’s. Taking a bus from flight line to MAC terminal. Told don’t take picture of any U2’s. I snuck my 35MM and snapped a couple. 2 minute later the bus was stopped. SP & ROK marine came on the bus. Walked directly to me. Took film out of camera and left. I got off easy.

[@ericakonnor111]

Long live the might of the United States one love from ghana 🇬🇭

[@austinschmitz628]

great video! :) Where do you source that cool photage from?

[@1dashcamboatsandcars]

Great plane, nice review.

[@USMilitaryPowerr]

Thanks a lot!

[@tommykankare6775]

Beautiful plane ✌🏻

[@Jon-es-i6o]

I imagine the U-2 is cheaper to operate than the SR-71.

[@scallopohare9431]

When technology became art.

[@raminext7625]

Феноменальный аппарат для своего времени. Действительно похож на Дракона. SR-71 делали с ацтекской золотой птички. Неужели конструкторы U-2 изучали аэродинамику полета взрослых Драко.?

[@TheEurofighter100]

By far one of my favorite aircraft

[@dabaddd1]

How come cockpit videos from 80s shows flat horizont but this new with go pro round 🤔

[@user-xb5yo1su3f]

This is definitely the super mysterious spy plane ever

[@White_Breeder]

I love it when it's obvious that the author doesn't speak English

[@Snk13_ty]

Your title should read "The MOST mysterious plane in the World". Keep up the good work though!

[@USMilitaryPowerr]

Thanks for the idea!

[@mike9347]

Jeez, how many other aircraft get chased by a Indie 500 car on landing? I don't think that would work on an Aircraft Carrier

[@bashairobaid6582]

It was super mysterious but not now

[@waynep343]

Francis Gary Powers died in a helicopter crash when he ran out of fuel just a few miles short of the airport. Seems he liked to play how little fuel remaining can I land with. Left over fuel calculation skills from air force flying.

[@ioanbota9397]

Realy I like this plane

[@LesMachinesNoires]

Amazing plane, amazing times.

[@FrankTichenor-o7o]

Gracias;

[@GamingThrottle]

Why is it still being used if modern options are possible

[@wolfgangselle4307]

There is more mission flexibility with airplanes. And it can do different jobs like imaging or signal capture on short notice.

[@seancarroll5649]

Is it the U-2U now? OR still U-2S Old U-2R/S Crew Chief, I miss my girl BB 1096 anyone know if she is still flying????????

[@floodmasterxv1768]

From what I can tell, yes. Found some images of her from 2017.

[@GamingThrottle]

Sorry the dragon lady was never in competition with a fellow American spy plane there for different uses

[@halimahalimed8930]

1:24 it's the salafists state not Islamic .

[@ion_force]

One of the mysterious spy plane in the world

[@robertokandal]

I think it came from the past , from 1955 it crossed the soviet unions stargate.

[@mahadehasankhan8536]

Hi.

[@kenjackson5685]

1st class

[@alialias3913]

Taking pictures and then claiming its from ghost satellites

[@katoy9976]

FSB ve Çin istihbaratı takip edelim. Birşeyler planlıyorlar

[@bartkern6740]

It's the same guy from WATOP

[@d.b.q.p.1540]

этот дракон еще не терял крылья при посадке в плохую погоду?

[@mahadehasankhan8536]

Hi. My. USA. Military.😊.

[@АлександрПетров-г8о1н]

Да, помню сбивали такие, ещё в 60-е.

[@インスタ蝿-l3v]

実は普通に見つかって撃墜されているという

[@robertdonovan3986]

Once.

[@Human007-it1vp]

6889 l96

[@sweetnap841]

용녀 카메라 하나가 냉장고 만하네요

[@katoy9976]

Bana Dragonfly gösteriyorlar

[@tomstamford6837]

You should fire your script writer, or hire on if you don't have one, at the very least get someone to proof your narration. "It's been operating for _over_ 50 years... from 1974..." It's only 2022. "Over" 50 years? It's the small things you know.

[@DavidEVogel]

The aircraft has been in service since 1956.

[@chrisholder4978]

The creator of this video left a word out of the title of the video. That word is "most". "U-2 Dragon Lady: The (Most) Super Mysterious Spy Plane in the World". When you leave out the word "most", it literally makes no sense, nor does it sound right when you read it. If you know English, then you (viewer) should be annoyed by this. To me, it is like fingernails on a chalkboard when I read these unchecked interpretations of the English language.

[@CommentFrom]

Wow you must fun at parties

[@chrisholder4978]

@@CommentFrom O you have no fucking idea.

[@I.J.1981.]

@@CommentFrom fun at party man is

[@dtrapbai9030]

but.. isn't this craft, the TR 1?

[@nikolastijelja9796]

So outdated methods...

[@notaulgoodman9732]

I thought Gary Powers was British lol. Must've mixed it up with one of their cover stories (saying it was a British plane) or that it took off from Britain.

[@romankowalczuk1762]

Suggested reading: "Spy Pilot" by Gary Powers Jr. and "Ike's Bluff" by Evan Thomas

[@bobsingeton2719]

Over-excited and hyperbolic narration. The guy needs to calm down. Stopped watching after about a minute. Gave a thumbs down, too!

[@Fishyeye]

Well said Bob, now get back to mommy and cry about it.

[@HumbleAstronaut]

"Gave a thumbs down too" cool dude. Me too! But for that ignorant comment.

[@lampusuluh7952]

Pesawat buruk yang penah ada d bumi..

[@hanniballecter922]

Check out the 🇦🇺Commodore on landing 🤙