Visit From the CT-2, Our U-2 Variant

Because I work on one portion of a deactivated military base, I am privy to witnessing some very interesting aviation events, to include a Habu flyby, C-17s, US Navy C-135 reconnaissance aircraft, P-51 Mustangs, an Antonov AN-124-100, B-52s, C5s, Soviet helos and all-black T-38 trainers from Beale AFB.

The blacked-out T-38 trainers from Beale are flown by U2/TR-1 pilots from the 9th Reconnaissance Wing, keeping up their flight hours. They'll generally appear in pairs and shoot a number of landings, then disappear.

This morning one of only two two-seat U-2 trainer aircraft, modified from the single-seater U-2/TR-1 and designated the CT-2 -- with the second (trainee) cockpit mounted behind and above the cockpit of the (training) pilot in command -- came to visit.

Go here for an excellent article about a typical U-2 mission.

Suffice to say this was a very rare treat -- to be witness to one of only two aircraft extant worldwide, an aircraft of such importance and such history -- not to mention an aircraft that may not exist much longer in the USAF inventory.

On approach, the CT-2 was very quiet and graceful. Its wings rocked minimally and its speed overhead was rather slow. At the end of the runway the pilot trainee hit the throttles and the aircraft made its roar known. A glorious sight to see and hear!

Enjoy the photos (taken with my Sony A300 DLSR); I simply couldn't do politics or personal issues today.

BZ