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

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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.

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
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16 thoughts on “Visit From the CT-2, Our U-2 Variant”

  2. Many years ago we were sitting at the end of the main runway at Barksdale AFB watching the planes come in for the Holiday in Dixie Air Show, we rode the motorcycles out there and were having a great time.

    We got the treat of a life time when the SR-71 came over to land, very good looking bird, very strange sounding too, and back in those days we never dreamed of digital cameras, and no one had their Polaroid…

    I love seeing these great planes, I often wonder WHY I didn’t go Air Wing…

  4. That plane served well for the past 50 years, but I think it is a good thing that it is being retired in favour of the Global Hawk UAV. It is still good for training though.

  6. Beautiful pics you took, BZ.

    With what you’ve got going on in your personal life, I can understand not wanting to do a personal post, and what’s going on in politics is almost as depressing!

  7. While stationed in Korea, the U2 came and stayed at our base while theirs was getting a runway makeover.

    One of our lieutenants wrangled a ride on the wing. You see, due to the U2’s wingspan, someone had to lay on the opposite wing while the bird made the turn to the hangar. If not, one wing would dip and drag the ground.

    We all gathered to watch, and as he came in, with the biggest grin I’ve ever seen, he yelled “This wing is cold as shit!”.

    Guess it gets cold at 70k + feet. =)

  10. I’ll be doing a later post on one of my all-time favorite aircraft, the SR-71. There are aspects of the Habu that will never again be duplicated. An amazing and fascinating craft — of which there STILL is no comparable replacement.

    BZ

  13. Wonderful photos, a testament to both the Alpha and the photographer. Looking forward to your Blackbird post, I can’t believe they decommissioned them, they STILL have no equal after all these years. Remember that coast to coast flying start speed record? They do leak fuel on the runway until they get moving – but don’t we all? Keep you chin up BZ, people care.

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