The U-2 Dragon Lady’s Record-Breaking 70th Anniversary Flight

70 Years at 70,000 Feet

Nearly seven decades after it first accidentally took flight over the Nevada desert, the legendary U-2 Dragon Lady has proven it’s far from finished.

On July 31, 2025, a TU-2S aircraft from the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base launched on what would become the longest single flight in the U-2’s storied history. Using the callsign “DRAGON 70,” the jet soared above all 48 contiguous U.S. states, covering over 6,000 nautical miles and staying aloft for more than 14 hours—setting a new endurance record for the iconic high-altitude reconnaissance platform.

The flight wasn’t just about numbers. It was a salute to 70 years of the U-2’s service, timed almost exactly to the anniversary of its first unplanned hop on August 1, 1955, when Lockheed test pilot Tony LeVier accidentally lifted the prototype off the runway during a high-speed taxi test at Groom Lake.

Pushing The Limits

This commemorative mission—executed at altitudes still officially classified—was also an opportunity to push the envelope. With the aircraft at its lightest near the end of the flight, the pilot requested clearance to go even higher, aiming to set a new altitude record within its category and class.

The actual figure remains undisclosed, as the U-2’s ceiling remains a closely guarded secret. What is known: it went above 70,000 feet, and possibly higher than any Dragon Lady ever has.

The mission was flown by two of the most seasoned U-2 pilots in the program—Cory “ULTRALORD” Bartholomew and Lt. Col. “JETHRO,” who together hold the most combined hours logged in the aircraft. Their flight was supported by the 9th Physiological Support Group and maintenance crews, highlighting not just the aircraft’s endurance, but the crew’s physical limits.

A Future That Refuses to Fade

Though once slated for retirement in 2026, the U-2’s capabilities continue to make it indispensable. Congress recently blocked the Air Force from retiring more than eight aircraft in FY26 and approved $55 million to restore three more. Meanwhile, upgraded avionics and mission systems under the Avionics Tech Refresh (ATR) have kept the Dragon Lady relevant in today’s modern battlespace.

Despite its age, the U-2 still does what no drone or satellite can—deliver real-time intelligence with flexibility, altitude, and reach unmatched by any other manned ISR platform.

Seventy years on, the Dragon Lady still flies higher and farther than anyone thought possible. And if this record-breaking mission is any sign, she’s not ready to land just yet.