Shady Lady: 1,500 Hours Flying The U-2 Spy Plane
At the very edge of the atmosphere, invisible against the deep indigo sky, lurks a spy plane so sophisticated that it replaced the SR-71 Blackbird some 30 years ago. Its flat black shark-like skin deflects and absorbs all but the most advanced radars, leaving it to roam undetected while silently gathering detailed intelligence. Considered a 'National Asset' the U-2 Dragon Lady, in its various forms, has been in continuous military service for over six decades. Indeed she is deemed so important that she has enjoyed three separate production runs at the super-secret Lockheed 'Skunk Works', each time emerging with new and highly classified intelligence gathering capabilities.

Rick Bishop, a former U-2 pilot, takes the reader deep into the Black World of 'air-breathing' (non-satellite) reconnaissance, with a revealing and detailed account of the trials and challenges of flying a machine widely acknowledged as 'the most dangerous aircraft in the world', as well as revealing the personalities and adventures of some of the elite cadre of hand-selected pilots who have the right stuff to tame the Dragon Lady. From the gruelling two-week interview process, through early training flights to many exploits flying top-secret missions around the world, and his eventual rise to Commander, the author sheds new light on a world that is largely unknown outside the tight-knit fraternity of U-2 pilots and support personnel.
1127066418
Shady Lady: 1,500 Hours Flying The U-2 Spy Plane
At the very edge of the atmosphere, invisible against the deep indigo sky, lurks a spy plane so sophisticated that it replaced the SR-71 Blackbird some 30 years ago. Its flat black shark-like skin deflects and absorbs all but the most advanced radars, leaving it to roam undetected while silently gathering detailed intelligence. Considered a 'National Asset' the U-2 Dragon Lady, in its various forms, has been in continuous military service for over six decades. Indeed she is deemed so important that she has enjoyed three separate production runs at the super-secret Lockheed 'Skunk Works', each time emerging with new and highly classified intelligence gathering capabilities.

Rick Bishop, a former U-2 pilot, takes the reader deep into the Black World of 'air-breathing' (non-satellite) reconnaissance, with a revealing and detailed account of the trials and challenges of flying a machine widely acknowledged as 'the most dangerous aircraft in the world', as well as revealing the personalities and adventures of some of the elite cadre of hand-selected pilots who have the right stuff to tame the Dragon Lady. From the gruelling two-week interview process, through early training flights to many exploits flying top-secret missions around the world, and his eventual rise to Commander, the author sheds new light on a world that is largely unknown outside the tight-knit fraternity of U-2 pilots and support personnel.
19.95 In Stock
Shady Lady: 1,500 Hours Flying The U-2 Spy Plane

Shady Lady: 1,500 Hours Flying The U-2 Spy Plane

by Rick Bishop
Shady Lady: 1,500 Hours Flying The U-2 Spy Plane

Shady Lady: 1,500 Hours Flying The U-2 Spy Plane

by Rick Bishop

Paperback

$19.95 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    In stock. Ships in 2-4 days.
  • PICK UP IN STORE

    Your local store may have stock of this item.

Related collections and offers


Overview

At the very edge of the atmosphere, invisible against the deep indigo sky, lurks a spy plane so sophisticated that it replaced the SR-71 Blackbird some 30 years ago. Its flat black shark-like skin deflects and absorbs all but the most advanced radars, leaving it to roam undetected while silently gathering detailed intelligence. Considered a 'National Asset' the U-2 Dragon Lady, in its various forms, has been in continuous military service for over six decades. Indeed she is deemed so important that she has enjoyed three separate production runs at the super-secret Lockheed 'Skunk Works', each time emerging with new and highly classified intelligence gathering capabilities.

Rick Bishop, a former U-2 pilot, takes the reader deep into the Black World of 'air-breathing' (non-satellite) reconnaissance, with a revealing and detailed account of the trials and challenges of flying a machine widely acknowledged as 'the most dangerous aircraft in the world', as well as revealing the personalities and adventures of some of the elite cadre of hand-selected pilots who have the right stuff to tame the Dragon Lady. From the gruelling two-week interview process, through early training flights to many exploits flying top-secret missions around the world, and his eventual rise to Commander, the author sheds new light on a world that is largely unknown outside the tight-knit fraternity of U-2 pilots and support personnel.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781800352582
Publisher: Crecy
Publication date: 10/10/2022
Pages: 280
Product dimensions: 6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x (d)

About the Author

Growing up in the Miami, Florida suburbs, Rick Bishop was captivated by aviation. Soloing at age 16, his passion for flight knew no bounds, and following his third year of college, he volunteered for the Army Aviation Program leading to 1,000 hours of heavy-lift helicopter combat time in Vietnam. Following his early release from the Army and finishing his bachelor’s degree, he joined the Air Force to fly jets and after four years as a KC-135 aircraft commander, instructor, and evaluation pilot, was selected to interview for a special duty assignment as a U-2 pilot culminating 12 years later as the commander of the only operational U-2 squadron in the U.S. Following further advancement, he retired early after nearly 25 years of military aviation service to fly for American Airlines. He retired after over fifty rewarding years of piloting civilian, military and airline aircraft. Lt. Col. Bishop holds A.S., B.S. M.P.A. degrees and is a graduate of the very selective and prestigious Air War College. He now resides in the rolling hills of a central-Florida equestrian community, north of Ocala with his dedicated wife, Virginia, of 40 years.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 8

Preface 10

Introduction 12

1 Corrosion Corner and Other Misadventures 14

2 Kelly's Angel 24

3 The Mystique 31

4 Fighting the Dragon 46

5 Acceptance or Not 63

6 Unveiling Some of the Lady's Secrets 70

7 Dating the 'Goat' 80

8 First Dance with the Lady 89

9 PSD - the Suit and the Ass-Kicking Chamber 104

10 Getting High 117

11 Spy Pilot Pimps and Other Eccentricities 132

12 Going Operational 144

13 Homecoming 166

14 The Dets 176

15 Black Cats, Det 2 201

16 Shoe Clerk Metamorphosis 230

17 The Beginning of the End 237

18 Fini-Flight 257

Epilogue 265

Appendix

1 U-2 Unclassified General Specifications 268

2 Variants 269

3 U-2R/TR-1 General Arrangement 270

4 U-2C/R, TR/S Instrument Panel 272

Glossary of Terms 275

References 278

Index 279

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews