U-2 3d model

cgstudio

A detailed model of the U-2 aircraft is now available, complete with intricate texture sets, all components, wheels, and doors. Rudders are parented and pivoted for smooth animation. Textures: All major surface textures have been crafted with precision, measuring up to 4096 pixels in their greatest dimension. Color, bump, and specular maps are provided, along with dashboard controls that feature their own unique textures. Photoshop templates for each detail are available for download. History: The U-2 project began in the early 1950s, driven by the CIA's desperate need for accurate information on the Soviet Union. Overflights of the Soviet Union using modified bombers were frequent, but they were vulnerable to antiaircraft fire and fighters, resulting in several downed aircraft. The CIA believed a high-altitude aircraft like the U-2 would be difficult to detect and impossible to shoot down. The Skunk Works, led by Clarence "Kelly" Johnson, was given an unlimited budget and a tight deadline to deliver. They performed remarkably, with the first flight taking place in August 1955. Edwin Land of Polaroid Corporation developed advanced optics for a new large-format camera to be used on the U-2 mission, capable of capturing high-resolution images from 70,000 feet. The aircraft's maiden overflight of the Soviet Union occurred on July 4, 1956, departing from Wiesbaden-Erbenheim Army Airfield in Germany and targeting Leningrad. Interestingly, at the same time, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev was visiting the U.S. ambassador to Russia in Moscow, where they toasted President Eisenhower's health. The aircraft gained public attention during the U-2 Crisis when pilot Francis Gary Powers was shot down over Soviet territory on May 1, 1960. On October 14, 1962, a U-2 from the 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing photographed the Soviet military installing nuclear warhead missiles in Cuba, precipitating the Cuban Missile Crisis. However, another U-2 was later shot down, killing pilot Major Rudolph Anderson. Major Anderson was posthumously awarded the first Air Force Cross. The CIA then authorized the development of a faster, higher-flying reconnaissance aircraft, leading to the creation of the A-12, which spawned several variants, including the YF-12 interceptor and the famous SR-71 "Blackbird." The USAF Strategic Air Command operated U-2s from 1957 through 1991. The U-2 provides daily peacetime intelligence collection from its current operating locations around the world, as well as photography supporting disaster relief efforts upon request from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. U-2s also provided critical intelligence data during Operations Desert Storm and Allied Force. However, most imagery intelligence used by the U.S. military now comes from reconnaissance satellites, which have surpassed the total number of photographs taken by all 24 U-2 missions over the Soviet Union. Specifications: Crew: One Length: 62 ft 9 in (19.1 m) Wingspan: 103 ft (30.9 m) Height: 16 ft 1 in (4.8 m) Wing area: 1,000 sq ft (92.9 m²) Empty weight: 14,990 lb (6,800 kg) Max takeoff weight: 41,000 lb (18,600 kg) Powerplant: 1 Pratt & Whitney J75-P-13B turbojet, 17,000 lbf (76 kN) Performance: Maximum speed: 510 mph (821 km/h) Range: 3,500 mi (5,633 km) Service ceiling: 90,000 ft (27,430 m)