U-2

This is coolbert:

“It’s like after all the years it’s flown, the U-2 is in its prime again,”

“It can do things that nothing else can do.”

The Black Lady of espionage. The U-2!

Thanks to the New Duranty Times [New York Times], the full-dope on the famous American "spy plane", the U-2, alive and well and thriving in Afghan.

Well, at least flying 12 hour missions in support of American and NATO forces fighting the Taliban. The renovated, updated and improved U-2, still performing yeoman work, almost sixty years since the original design hit the drawing boards.

"U-2 Spy Plane Evades the Day of Retirement"

"The U-2 spy plane, the high-flying aircraft that was often at the heart of cold war suspense, is enjoying an encore."

"Because of updates in the use of its powerful sensors, it has become the most sought-after spy craft in a very different war in Afghanistan."

"Now the U-2 and its pilots, once isolated in their spacesuits at 70,000 feet, are in direct radio contact with the troops in Afghanistan. And instead of following a rote path, they are now shifted frequently in mid flight to scout roads for convoys and aid soldiers in firefights."

The U-2, flying missions out of some air base somewhere in the Persian Gulf area, in contact with the troops on the ground, NOT isolated and merely taking pictures, on-call when needed, able to deploy to areas where an emergency exists!

The U-2 first flying in 1955, the design of the basic airframe having to been placed on the drawing boards earlier than that, a most remarkable aircraft with a most remarkable history.

Such was the various missions of the U-2 during the latter half of the 1950's, that the FIRST RELIABLE AND DETAILED INTELLIGENCE OF THE SOVIET UNION WAS ONLY OBTAINED BY OVERFLIGHTS OF DENIED TERRITORY BY THE U-2 ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN CIA!!

At least until the first operational flights of the U-2, it was said by the former director of the CIA, Richard Helms, that:

"For a ten year period beginning in 1945, it would have

been better if American intelligence had done nothing"!

[American intelligence across the board during that ten year period was duped on repeated occasions by the Soviets, believing all sorts of disinformation that was deliberately fed to confuse and obscure!]

That ten year period ending with the first flight of the U-2.

The Black Lady then, the Black Lady now, a success!!

Those pilots of the U-2, a very select bunch, also get some sort of award or recognition that is almost astronaut wings? Outstanding!

coolbert.