A U-2 Spy Plane Pilot Took A Selfie.... With the Chinese Spy Balloon

[JGalt]

I had forgotten we still had a few of these magnificent birds.

"The pilot of a U-2 Dragon Lady spy plane tasked with surveilling the Chinese spy balloon that traversed the continental United States earlier this month managed to snap a selfie with the balloon from the cockpit of the aircraft.

The photo, the existence of which was first reported by CNN on Feb. 8, was first published online by long-time aviation journalist and U-2 expert Chris Pocock on Tuesday.

The photo shows the Chinese spy balloon as seen through the cockpit window of a U-2, with the shadow of the aircraft silhouetted on the side of the balloon’s envelope. The curve of the U-2 pilot’s “space suit” helmet appears on the right side of the shot, although their face is obscured.

The Chinese spy balloon was traveling at an altitude between 60,000 and 70,000 feet during its trip across the United States; as The War Zone notes, the U-2 is the only known aircraft in the Penatagon’s inventory still in use that can fly above that altitude. The SR-71 holds the record for fixed-wing flight at 85,000 feet, but that aircraft has not been used since NASA retired it in 1999.


While not the highest-altitude selfie ever taken (if space selfies are considered, which should be), this is almost certainly one of the most geopolitically consequential selfies in the history of the U.S. military. And to the unnamed U-2 pilot: we salute you for such an exquisite shot."

A U-2 spy plane pilot took a selfie with the Chinese spy balloon

 

[1srelluc]

I like how the shadow of the U-2 is seen on the balloon.

 

[Esdraelon]

I vaguely remember reading somewhere that when the U2 was parked, it leaked fluids because the metal fabric of the plane had gaps/cracks that self sealed at altitude due to the thermal expansion that occurred. Wild...

 

[shockedcanadian]

Those classic U2s were a real menace to the Soviets.

 

[AZrailwhale]

I vaguely remember reading somewhere that when the U2 was parked, it leaked fluids because the metal fabric of the plane had gaps/cracks that self sealed at altitude due to the thermal expansion that occurred. Wild...

That was the SR-71.

 

[JustAnotherNut]

I don't know about ya'll......but I don't believe it.


Looking at the angles of the plane, it's shadow, the position of the balloon, those black thingies hanging from 'the bottom' and the curve of the earth......just doesn't quite fit


IDK, maybe cause it's from CNN

 

[Bob Blaylock]

I vaguely remember reading somewhere that when the U2 was parked, it leaked fluids because the metal fabric of the plane had gaps/cracks that self sealed at altitude due to the thermal expansion that occurred. Wild...

You're thinking of the SR-71 and its siblings. The need for expansion gaps that shrink closes as it heats up is a result of the extreme speeds at which it operates, and the heat generated at such speeds by air friction. The U2 isn't nearly fast enough to have any such issues.