Since the U-2 is so wild and woolly to land, a second pilot, called a "mobile," chases the plane down the runway, calling out the distance between the plane and the ground. AIRMAN Magazine article describes the U-2 as still being a major player in the nation's reconnaissance mission despite its 1950s' design and first flight in 1955. Capable of then flying over 70,000 feet, and now even higher thanks to a new F-118-101 engine and upgraded avionics the aircraft was awarded the Collier Trophy in 1998 by the National Aeronautic Association and named the U-2S. The U-2S now has digital capabilty and can transmit data instantaneously to analysts at Beale AFB by using a network of ground ...

The original finding aid described this photograph as:

[Complete] Scene Caption: Since the U-2 is so wild and woolly to land, a second pilot, called a "mobile," chases the plane down the runway, calling out the distance between the plane and the ground. Airman Magazine article describes the U-2 as still being a major player in the nation's reconnaissance mission despite its 1950s' design and first flight in 1955. Capable of then flying over 70,000 feet, and now even higher thanks to a new F-118-101 engine and upgraded avionics the aircraft was awarded the Collier Trophy in 1998 by the National Aeronautic Association and named the U-2S. The U-2S now has digital capabilty and can transmit data instantaneously to analysts at Beale AFB by using a network of ground stations and satellites. (Airman Magazine/July 1999 - The Big Picture)

Base: Beale Air Force Base

State: California (CA)

Country: United States Of America (USA)

Scene Camera Operator: MSGT Dave Nolan

Release Status: Released to Public
Combined Military Service Digital Photographic Files