Guardian Posted May 2, 2020 Share Posted May 2, 2020 How many have flown the beast? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuggyU2 Posted May 2, 2020 Share Posted May 2, 2020 About 1060. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guardian Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 Certified mission pilots or everyone that’s flown/rode inside of it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hacker Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 2 hours ago, Guardian said: Certified mission pilots or everyone that’s flown/rode inside of it? Those are "solo numbers". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guardian Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 That’s pretty incredible. How many airframes over how many years? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Majestik Møøse Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 (edited) 13 hours ago, Guardian said: That’s pretty incredible. How many airframes over how many years? They were built in 3 batches; all of the ones built in the 50s are in museums or were crashed/shot down. Of a batch built in the 70s (the much larger R models), 4 remain which have been updated as S models. The newest batch was built between 81-89, which brings the currently operating total to around 30. NASA has 2 more of those. Edit: in looking through it further, I thought it was interesting that some didn’t make it into active service until after the Soviet Union dissolved. Edited May 3, 2020 by Majestik Møøse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12xu2a3x3 Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 13 minutes ago, Majestik Møøse said: They were built in 3 batches; all of the ones built in the 50s are in museums or were crashed/shot down. Of a batch built in the 70s (the much larger R models), 4 remain which have been updated as S models. The newest batch was built between 81-89, which brings the currently operating total to around 30. NASA has 2 more of those. Edit: in looking through it further, I thought it was interesting that some didn’t make it into active service until after the Soviet Union dissolved. around a dozen that didn't become U-2S or ER-2s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guardian Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 Crazy. 104 airframes built and only 1000+ pilots over 60 years. That’s a crazy small group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuggyU2 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 (edited) 104 aircraft built 104' wingspan F-104 cockpit. If you see one in a museum or on a pole, it was one of the 55 smaller A/C models. Â The last of those flew in '87. Â The big-wing jets: Â 12 built originally, then 37 more built in the 80's (as mentioned above), with the last jet being delivered Oct 1989. Â History info: Â short read with updated info on the Powers shutdown. Â Good stuff. Â https://dragonladyhistory.com/2020/05/01/u-2-mayday-shootdown-gary-powers/ Edited June 3, 2020 by HuggyU2 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
precontact Posted May 6, 2020 Share Posted May 6, 2020 Time for an upgrade:Â https://www.aviationtoday.com/2020/04/16/avionics-upgrade-for-u-2s-to-feature-open-mission-systems/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siegzy Posted May 15, 2020 Share Posted May 15, 2020 https://www.307bw.afrc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2188024/making-history-reserve-pilot-flies-the-u-2-for-the-first-time/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuggyU2 Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 (edited) It only took 20 years to make it happen. Â But it happened... finally. Â Another success to chalk up for the current leadership at Beale. Â Well done. Â It's a great time to be in the 9th. Â Edited May 16, 2020 by HuggyU2 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guardian Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 Ive heard the OG is a good dude. Hope he’s some how involved in it being a good place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco_Nav963 Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 What status is the dude on? IMA? I've never heard of someone in AFRC flying an MDS that didn't have an AFRC unit before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breckey Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 There are two H-1 AFRC test cases at FE Warren right now was well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuggyU2 Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 12 hours ago, Disco_Nav963 said: What status is the dude on? IMA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
green_blue_pilot Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 So the flying IMA program is back? Â Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcola Posted May 20, 2020 Share Posted May 20, 2020 Ive heard the OG is a good dude. Hope he’s some how involved in it being a good place. The OG is a good dudette. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelBuckle Posted June 2, 2020 Share Posted June 2, 2020 On 3/29/2020 at 7:25 AM, HuggyU2 said: For those looking for some good U-2 history:  https://dragonladyhistory.com/ Chris knows more about the entire U-2 history than probably anyone on the planet.  I met him 30 years ago when he was snooping around the U-2 squadron in England, back when I was the Bar Officer. Chris also has a great blog for U-2 news: https://dragonladytoday.com/forum-3/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuggyU2 Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 9RW/CC Change of Command today. Â Two back-to-back U-2 pilots as the Wing Commander??!! Â Am I taking crazy pills?? Col Clark arrived in 2018... the first U-2 pilot to command the Wing since 1985. Â He got a LOT done. Â Great job, Andy. Â And now Col Fox is the Commander. Â Top-shelf choice. Â No doubt, the tradition of excellence will continue. Â Congrats to Hf on taking command. Thinking of applying to the U-2? Â They hired someone yesterday. Â Not for everyone... but how about you? 3 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jice Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 6 hours ago, HuggyU2 said: 9RW/CC Change of Command today.  Two back-to-back U-2 pilots as the Wing Commander??!!  Am I taking crazy pills?? Col Clark arrived in 2018... the first U-2 pilot to command the Wing since 1985.  He got a LOT done.  Great job, Andy.  And now Col Fox is the Commander.  Top-shelf choice.  No doubt, the tradition of excellence will continue.  Congrats to Hf on taking command. Thinking of applying to the U-2?  They hired someone yesterday.  Not for everyone... but how about you? They also graduated their second WIC class yesterday. They’ve got people who get it in charge and being invited to the right seats at the right tables.  Pay attention to Beale, and apply if you want to be part of a revolution in ISR. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BirdUp Posted June 24, 2020 Share Posted June 24, 2020 Hello,  I had the pleasure of reading through this thread today. Ive been trying to reach out on the commercial (non DSN) line to the recruiting staff at Beale. Haven’t made contact yet, but will continue trying. I’m interested in knowing it it is possible for the 9th Reconnaissance wing to accept a reserve component pilot for the FACT program?  Thanks  (Also, after reading this entire thread: Huggy, you are a kick ass civil servant.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImNotARobot Posted June 26, 2020 Share Posted June 26, 2020 https://v.redd.it/dza3i4sesy651/HLSPlaylist.m3u8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuggyU2 Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 (edited) On 6/24/2020 at 12:04 PM, BirdUp said: I’m interested in knowing it it is possible for the 9th Reconnaissance wing to accept a reserve component pilot for the FACT program? I don't know, but it would seem unlikely.  The FACT program has been a test program and only two pilots were brought in through it.  It will be while longer before they are ready to interview.  As I understand it, once they have gone through the entire process, the Wing will look at whether or not to continue the FACT program.  Edited June 29, 2020 by HuggyU2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BirdUp Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 12 hours ago, HuggyU2 said: I don't know, but it would seem unlikely.  The FACT program has been a test program and only two pilots were brought in through it.  It will be while longer before they are ready to interview.  As I understand it, once they have gone through the entire process, the Wing will look at whether or not to continue the FACT program.  Do you think there is utility in the unit having a FAIP program for the companion training T-38's? Whether or not the FAIP T-38 instructors successfully do their interview sorties in the U-2? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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