‘Dragon Lady’ and T-38 Talon Set to Appear at EAA AirVenture

This year marks the U-2’s 70th anniversary. The sleek design made its first flight on August 1, 1955. The aircraft has the ability to reach altitudes above 70,000 feet and a cruise speed of 470 mph. The U.S. has used U-2s for surveillance during operations over Russia, Korea, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

The U-2 is a single-place aircraft that requires a team effort to land because of its limited forward visibility and bicycle-type landing gear. During landing a second U-2 pilot follows the aircraft in a high-performance chase car. The two pilots communicate via radio to ensure a successful landing.

“The U-2 continues to play a vital role in ISR operations for the United States and remains an iconic aircraft among the Air Force fleet,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programs. “We welcome the crew to Oshkosh and appreciate the opportunity to have one on display at EAA AirVenture.”

 According to EAA, the Air Force will also be bringing a T-38 Talon to the event. The T-38 is a supersonic jet trainer that serves a variety of roles in the Air Force, among them training pilots for frontline fighter and bomber aircraft. The T-38 has the ability to reach speeds greater than 800 mph.

The 72nd annual EAA fly-in convention is set for July 21-27 at Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. More information can be found on the EAA website.