The Lockheed U-2 (Hardback)

The Lockheed U-2 ‘Dragon Lady’ has long been associated as a symbol of the Cold War due to several news events of that era. Much of this was the result of the news surrounding well-known incident when Gary Powers’ U-2 was brought down by Soviet missiles over Russia in 1960 and his subsequent capture. There was also the events in 1962, when Major Rudolf Anderson Jr. was also shot down, this time over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Though it is commonly characterized as a spy plane, as the author reveals here there is so much more to the U-2 than that. Since the Cold War, and even with the advent of satellite and drone technology, many may not be aware that the U-2 is still flying today, and still performing vital surveillance missions in many of the world’s hot spots of military or political turmoil. These can often be demanding missions, flights which take place at high altitude and lasting for many hours, taxing the endurance of even the very best pilots. There is a demanding and robust selection process for potential U-2 pilots, all of which is detailed in Ken Neubeck’s absorbing commentary.

Notably, after the Cold War, the U-2 aircraft proved to be valuable in the Gulf War in 1991, where it provided a significant amount of overhead surveillance of potential Iraqi targets, prior to the start of the war.

This book not only examines the unique history of the aircraft but also looks at the extensive pilot training and requirements to fly it, which is unparallel with any other military aircraft training. With a wingspan of over 100 feet, the landing and take-off sequence for the U-2 requires extreme pilot skill, along with the use of removable landing gear pogo devices at the end of each side of the wing. Previous books on the U-2 have touched upon this unique aspect of the type, but usually in narrative fashion as opposed to a pictorial sequence which this book will do in detail. The story of the U-2 continues, and Ken Neubeck looks at the future prospects of this, the most famous spy plane to ever have taken to the skies in the Cold War.