What is Lockheed U-2?
''For the [[band]], see [[U2 (band)]].'' [[File:Usaf.u2.750pix.jpg|thumb|right|230px|A U-2]] The '''U-2''' (nicknamed the '''Dragon Lady''') is an [[espionage]] [[fixed-wing aircraft]] made by [[Lockheed]] (now [[Lockheed Martin]]). It first flew in 1955 and was introduced in 1957. It flies a lot like a [[glider]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/u2/|title=U-2 High-Altitude Reconnaissance Aircraft|publisher=}}</ref> It was made during the [[Cold War]], because the [[United States]] needed a way to look at the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] military from high up. [[Taiwan]] also used it to spy on [[China]]. The United States wanted to keep the purpose of the U-2 secret,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aerospaceweb.org/aircraft/recon/u2/|title=Aerospaceweb.org - Aircraft Museum - U-2 Dragon Lady|website=www.aerospaceweb.org}}</ref> but on May 1, 1960, [[Francis Gary Powers]] was shot down in his U-2 by a Soviet [[S-75 Dvina|SAM SA-2]] [[missile]]. In 1962, Powers was released and traded for captured Soviet spy Rudolf Abel.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.military.com/|title=Military and Veteran Benefits, News, Veteran Jobs|website=www.military.com}}</ref> After this, the [[SR-71 Blackbird]] started spying on the Soviet Union, which was faster and harder to see on [[radar]]. The U-2 is still in service even though the design is over 50 [[year]]s old. == U-2 details (U-2 model) == The U-2S is 62.99 feet (19.20 meters) long, 104.99 feet (32 meters wide), and is 15.75 feet (4.80 meters) tall. It weighs 14,991 pounds (6,800 kilograms) empty, but when full, it weighs 41,006 pounds (18,600 kilograms). It is powered by one [[General Electric]] F118-101 [[engine]] with 17,000 pounds (7711.2 kilograms) of [[thrust]]. It can go 475 miles per hour (764 kilometers per hour), fly 7,000 miles (11,265 kilometers) without refueling, and can fly upwards of 70,000 feet (21,336 meters), possibly as high as 84,974 feet (25,900 meters).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?ai