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TU-2S/U-2 Dragon Lady Breaks Altitude and Endurance Records During 70th Anniversary Flight

Talyn

Talyn

SAINT
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The historic flight, which was 11 years in the making, saw the TU-2 flying longer than 14 hours and traveling over 6,000 nm across all 48 contiguous states of the U.S.

Aviation enthusiasts were able to record the pilot of DRAGON 70 communicating with the Atlanta Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) in which he stated that the aircraft had departed from their Californian base at 9:30pm the previous evening, intending to return the following afternoon.

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Cory “ULTRALORD” Bartholomew, 1st Reconnaissance Squadron (RS) assigned flight safety officer and U-2 instructor pilot, and Lt. Col. “JETHRO”, 1st RS instructor pilot and U-2 chief pilot, celebrate after landing a 9th Reconnaissance Wing TU-2S Dragon Lady at Beale Air Force Base (AFB), California, Aug. 1st, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Frederick A. Brown)

theaviationist.com

U-2 Dragon Lady Breaks Altitude and Endurance Records During 70th Anniversary Flight

Flying from Beale AFB, a Lockheed U-2 aircraft, using the specially chosen callsign DRAGON 70, was heard communicating with ATC about a plan to set an
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theaviationist.com

U.S. Air Force Confirms TU-2S Dragon Lady Broke Endurance Records

The historic flight, which was 11 years in the making, saw the TU-2 flying longer than 14 hours and traveling over 6,000 NM across all 48 contiguous
theaviationist.com theaviationist.com

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Cory “ULTRALORD” Bartholomew, 1st Reconnaissance Squadron (RS) assigned flight safety officer and U-2 instructor pilot, and Lt. Col. “JETHRO”, 1st RS instructor pilot and U-2 chief pilot, pose with all the members who made their flight possible, including from the 9th Reconnaissance Wing, 1st RS, 9th Physiological Support Squadron, and 9th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, after landing a TU-2S Dragon Lady at Beale Air Force Base (AFB), California, Aug. 1st, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Frederick A. Brown)
 
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Dragon Lady at Oshkosh: Exclusive U-2 Pilot Interviews Mark 70th Anniversary and Historic Homecoming

Two U-2 pilots, including a Wisconsin native, share insights on the legendary spy plane's enduring legacy and relevance in today's battlespace.

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025 drew a record-breaking crowd of 704,000 aviation enthusiasts, according to the Experimental Aircraft Association, making it the largest event in the show’s history, eclipsing the previous record of 686,000, set in 2024. For one week, July 21–27, 2025, Wisconsin’s Wittman Regional Airport transformed into the world’s busiest airfield and a temporary home for more than 10,000 aircraft, from handcrafted homebuilts and classic warbirds to the latest in aerospace innovation.

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U-2S 80-1076 from Beale Air Force Base, approaching Wittman Regional Airport, Oshkosh WI on Sunday (arrivals day) at EAA AirVenture 2025.

theaviationist.com

Dragon Lady at Oshkosh: Exclusive U-2 Pilot Interviews Mark 70th Anniversary and Historic Homecoming

Two U-2 pilots, including a Wisconsin native, share rare insights on the legendary spy plane’s enduring legacy and relevance in today’s battlespace. EAA
theaviationist.com theaviationist.com

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U-2S 80-1076 at Wittman Regional
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U-2S 80-1076 taxiing after landing at Wittman Regional Airport on Sunday before show start. Piloted by Wisconsin’s own Lt. Col. GOGO, 9th RW, 99th RS Beale AFB.

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The “Glass” cockpit of U-2S 80-1076, on display in Boeing Plaza at EAA AirVenture 2025.
 
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