The Old Spy Plane That Refuses To Land

The Most Difficult Plane to Land!

At first glance, it might seem strange to see a group of airmen physically wrestling with a plane after landing. But for the U-2 Dragon Lady, it’s just part of the routine. In fact, one crew member even grabs a wheel and shoves it under the wing!

This ultra-lightweight spy plane, essentially a glider with a jet engine, was designed in the 1950s to capture high-altitude reconnaissance photos—even at the edge of space. And despite being over 70 years old, it’s still irreplaceable. However, landing it is a nightmare—essentially a controlled crash.

Why Landing the U-2 is So Challenging

Pilots struggle with three major issues when landing the U-2:

• Limited visibility: The small canopy reduces drag but severely restricts the pilot’s view.
• Bicycle-style landing gear: Instead of a standard tricycle setup, the U-2 lands on two wheels, making balance extremely difficult.
• Extreme lift: The plane’s high-lift wings fight against landing, meaning pilots must stall it at just the right height or risk damaging the airframe.

Why U-2 Pilots Train as Chase Car Drivers

To compensate for the pilot’s poor visibility, a chase car speeds alongside the aircraft during landing. These high-performance cars—now typically Dodge Chargers—must match the U-2’s speed in seconds and provide real-time altitude callouts.

U-2 pilots are also trained to drive the chase car, acting as Mobile Officers when they’re not flying. Their job? Guide the pilot down safely.

How the Chase Car Guides the Landing

The Mobile Officer uses the main landing gear’s 2-ft diameter as a reference:

• When the bottom of the gear meets the horizon, the plane is 4 ft off the ground.
• When the top meets the horizon, it’s 2 ft off the ground—time to drop it like a rock!

The Only Way to Land—A Controlled Stall

Because of its incredibly efficient wings, the U-2 creates a strong ground effect, making it resist landing. The only solution? Stall the plane just 2 feet above the ground, forcing it to drop safely.

A higher stall could result in a rough impact, damaging the sensitive reconnaissance equipment. That’s why precision is everything.