Ftrooppilot

Yes they did happen but not using Navy pilots. THis article is about the U-2G. The current U-2R has also been tested.

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB184/FR24.pdf

HuggyU2

y

Very small point, but all the U-2R's got the new engine in the 90's, and are now the U-2S.
When they got the glass cockpit upgrade a few years ago, they finally got rid of the tailhook switch.
But the Emergency Gear handle still has the hook-lowering feature!

Ftrooppilot

New engine or new fuel control in the "S" ?

KC135guy

Are the current operational U-2's capable of being inflight refueled or was that only the E/F models.

samy

New engine

HuggyU2

No air refueling. The jet can fly over 14 hours as it is... inflight refueling would kill us.

USMCFLYR

Huggy -

Obviously I know nothing of the U-2 handling characteristics - but if you came down to the mid 20s to refuel - what are/would be the handling characteristics behind the tanker? Good enough?

USMCFLYR

HuggyU2

No, they would be bad.
I've got a lot of time flying close formation. Not "fighter" formations, but T-38 trainer type stuff. Most of it fairly close. So 2 years ago, when I did the photo flight with the Cessna photo ship that ended up on the cover of Flying Magazine, I was surprised at how much work it was to fly off that Cessna. We were doing about 110 KIAS, and that's a real comfortable airspeed. I was pretty sweaty after 20 minutes.
I suppose the tanker would need us to go a lot faster. Can any tanker guys chime in on unclassified airspeeds? More than about 160 KIAS might get more difficult for The Deuce.
When they tried this in the 60's, I think that both aircraft were crashed.

Ftrooppilot

I spent ten hours in the pressure suit once (RB-57F) and was exhausted at end of the flight.

U-2E/F details


A Lockheed U-2F being refueled by a Boeing KC-135Q.


In May 1961, in a little-known attempt to extend the U-2's already considerable range, Lockheed modified six CIA U-2s and several USAF U-2s with aerial refueling equipment which allowed the aircraft to receive fuel from either the Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker or from the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker. This extended the aircraft's range from approximately 4,000 to 8,000 nautical miles (7,400 to 15,000 km) and extended its endurance to more than 14 hours. The J57-powered U-2Bs were re-designated U-2E and the J75-powered U-2Cs were redesignated U-2F.[34] Although the modified U-2s were capable of flying for over 14 hours this took little account of pilot fatigue, and although an additional oxygen cylinder was installed on these aircraft little use was made of this capability. One aircraft was both air-refueling- and carrier-capable and was the only U-2H.[35][36]

HuggyU2

You were certainly wearing a partial pressure suit back then. Don't know how y'all did it routinely.
Today, the full pressure suit is certainly a magnitude more comfortable. I usually land after a 10+ hour sortie, debrief, and head out for dinner and a fun evening,... unless I'm in the desert, where I just go get my 2 authorized beers.