u-2 Lockheed 3D model

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The Lockheed U-2, widely known as Dragon Lady, is a state-of-the-art American single-jet engine reconnaissance aircraft that is operated by the United States Air Force and has also been flown by the Central Intelligence Agency. This advanced aircraft conducts intelligence gathering at high altitudes during both day and night operations in all types of weather, reaching heights of 70,000 feet. Developed by Lockheed Corporation in 1953, the U-2 was first put into action following approval in 1954 with its maiden test flight occurring just one year later. Utilized extensively throughout the Cold War over the Soviet Union, China, Vietnam, and Cuba, this high-flying reconnaissance plane made several historic missions that left a lasting impact. Gary Powers was taken down by a surface-to-air missile while piloting a U-2A over the Soviet Union in 1960. Likewise, Major Rudolf Anderson Jr. fell to his demise while flying another U-2 during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 after being targeted by enemy fire. Since that time, the U-2 has taken on an even broader scope, serving in various conflicts post-Cold War including Afghanistan and Iraq as well as supporting NATO-led multinational operations. Its diverse applications go far beyond its reconnaissance capabilities, with uses ranging from electronic sensor research to satellite calibration and scientific investigation purposes, further emphasizing its versatile functionality. Joining an elite group of aircraft that have maintained continuous service for over five decades within the USAF is the U-2, standing alongside aircraft like the Boeing B-52 and the KC-135 in a unique distinction. The more recent U-2 variants (TR-1, U-2R, U-2S) joined service during the 1980s with ongoing improvements for the U-2S, receiving its technical upgrade in 2012, thus showcasing its resilience as a premier surveillance aircraft throughout the decades.