MichaelBuckle

Retired Lt. Col Jonathan Huggins, 1st Reconnaissance Squadron U-2 instructor pilot, performs a preflight inspection before takeoff. It’s been 2,133 days since he last flew the U-2 solo. “As a civilian instructor pilot in the 1st Recon Squadron, I’m focused on working with the newest U-2 trainees, and getting them proficient at the basics of flying the U-2. I’ve missed it. The fact I’m getting to come work here again, with the people I love to work with, in a jet and a mission I love to be involved with, well, it’s just a dream come true. You realize when you’ve been gone a while just how great the people are, and how satisfying it is to be a part of an organization that gets the job done, and that it’s a job that is so critical and important to the nation.” Beale AFB Facebook Edit: Beale AFB 'News' link

Chris also has a great blog for U-2 news: https://dragonladytoday.com/forum-3/

http://www.usafe.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123450476

http://breakingdefense.com/2014/02/u-2-retires-again-pay-and-benefits-slimmed-down-cruisers-cut-2015-budget-preview-by-hagel/

Confirmed by RAF Lakenheath it was on of their Pavehawk helicopters. No confirmation on the fatalities.

Reported by UK news media... http://www.itv.com/news/story/2014-01-07/helicopter-air-crash-cley-north-norfolk/

Beale AFB chalk up a jet for the kids...

Recently declassified CIA document on the U-2 & Oxcart (1954-1974): http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/DOC_0000190094.pdf

I got Cabin from quite a few sites I've read it on, that's all - https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=cr&ei=5CQuUqvGPIPV0QWh7IGQBA#q=Cabin+Altitude+Reduction+Effort After Googling 'Cockpit Altitude Reduction Effort' too, it seems it's 50/50 on what people use! (I'll take your word on it officially being Cockpit though!)

Yup great videography there! One posted by Beale AFB today: Although I think the commander got his CARE acronym wrong! (Cabin not cockpit?)

Associated Press reporting two bodies found... - http://bigstory.ap.org/article/bodies-2-us-crew-found-kyrgyzstan-crash-site

Names released by the DOD: http://www.defense.g...releaseid=15961 Thoughts with you guys that knew them.

http://www.navytimes.com/article/20130428/NEWS/304280007/MC-12-Liberty-crash-kills-4-airmen-Afghanistan

That's awesome Spoo, well edited and nice audio choice too! - Shot by GoPro?

The audio from the DoD Live Roundtable that took place yesterday on the 1st RS... http://static.dvidshub.net/media/audio/1303/DOD_100760794.mp3 Some good questions and some 'interesting' ones too!

Quite a good read on a severe hit here... http://www.airspacem...70000-Feet.html On another note, this DVD is quite a good watch, one of the lady drivers covers DCS...

Learn something new every day, thanks guys.

This is probably a stupid question but by opening the faceplate this presumably 'spoils' the pre-breathe by introducing nitrogen back into the body?

They've admitted defeat... http://bit.ly/11NH7nH

Released by Beale today... Fueling the High Flyers Having tasted (/gagged on) the Apple Pie, I don't envy any of you guys up there!

They've released another... they don't look as menacing with their helmets off! ;)

Thanks Huggy - I don't think I'd ever get bored of that view!

Nice to see some pilot/aircraft photos come out of Beale. Would be nice to see some 60,000+ photos publicly released at some point!

This is an interesting scan through... http://www.scribd.co...t-Hb-1-Mar-1959 1959 U-2 Flight Manual that's been recently posted after de-classification last year.

Haven't seen this book mentioned anywhere... Ed Macy's book "Apache" is the story of a British Apache pilot deployed to Helmand Province. It's a fascinating read, especially the rescue mission that he and his colleague performs. I'd certainly recommend having a read. www.amazon.com/Apache-Ed-Macy/dp/0007288174