24-06-2016, 23:27
|
|
|
חבר מתאריך: 13.11.04
הודעות: 16,823
|
|
Meet Sweet Pea, the First U-2 to Achieve 30,000 Flight Hours
בתגובה להודעה מספר 1 שנכתבה על ידי טל ענבר שמתחילה ב "ההיסטוריה הסודית של U-2: חשיפות רשמיות אודות המטוס (אוגוסט 2013)"
http://lockheedmartin.com/us/news/f...ight-Hours.html
The U-2 has been a hotbed for impressive milestones during the past year. First, the U-2 program celebrated 60 years of operational excellence. Then, the U-2 celebrated 40 years of exceptional service for the 5th Reconnaissance Squadron at Osan Air Force Base, Republic of Korea.
Now we recognize another momentous occasion, the first U-2 to achieve 30,000 flight hours. Affectionately known as Sweet Pea, this U-2 began its career flying with the original Blackcats out of Taiwan.
“Sweet Pea will soon become the first U-2 to exceed 30,000 flight hours, and it is only fitting that the Blackcats have the honor of meeting this significant milestone,” said Lt. Col. Todd Larsen, Commander of the 5th Reconnaissance Squadron. “This aircraft’s story is far from over, and it is a humbling experience to play a small role in yet another feat achieved by this historic aircraft.”
Let’s put this in perspective. The lifespan of the U-2 is an astounding 75,000 flight hours, which means that this U-2 can fly for another 45,000 hours. There are only a couple of other U-2s that are close to this milestone, while the baby of the U-2 family has just over 9,000 flight hours.
“There are many great sayings out there about the U-2,” said Melani Austin, vice president at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works®. “But, the best, and one that Sweet Pea has epitomized for the last 49 years, is ‘toward the unknown,’ a cornerstone of U-2 tradition, symbolizing the many discrete, diverse and first-time-ever missions that permeate and define the legacy of the program.”
|