Fly your love for the U-2 Dragon Lady Airplane high with this detailed and durable flag—perfect for display indoors or out. This bold 36″ x 60″ top quality wall flag is perfect for offices, hangars, man caves, or barracks. Made in the U.S.A. and 100% veteran owned and operated. See more images and price at U-2 Dragon Lady.
Aircraft Description
U-2 Spyplane (Front View)
High Altitude Eye in the Sky
The U-2 Dragon Lady Airplane Flag embodies the spirit of aviation excellence, symbolizing strength, reliability, and cutting-edge performance. Capture that legacy with our detailed U-2 Dragon Lady Airplane Flag Aircraft Flag from Custom Flag Nation. Designed for proud aviators, mechanics, veterans, and aviation enthusiasts, this flag is a bold tribute to the power of flight.
“Quality stock and custom flags”
Visit our Etsy shop at Hangar 2A Merch to see all our products, or click the button below to see more images and the price for this flag. Or contact us to talk about getting your own custom flag made. It’s more affordable than you think!
Each flag is printed on durable, high-quality fabric that looks great indoors in your home, hangar, or office, and can stand up to light outdoor use as well. It’s a meaningful way to showcase your connection to military aviation and the vital missions the U-2 makes possible.
Looking for something unique and meaningful to send to your deployed military member? These make great deployment gifts to receive downrange in their care packages from home. They are a lasting reminder of home, squadron pride, and mission success. Need a retirement or PCS gift idea? This is a perfect solution to your problem!
Proudly offered by Custom Flag Nation and sold through our Etsy shop at Hangar 2A Merch — a veteran-owned business committed to honoring those who serve.
- 100% polyester
- Knitted fabric
- Fabric weight: 4.42 oz/yd² (150 g/m²)
- Print on one side
- Blank reverse side
- 2 metal grommets
Click on the icons below to see the flag in more detail or to contact us.
U-2 Aircraft Overview and History
The Lockheed U-2, nicknamed “Dragon Lady,” is a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft developed by Lockheed Skunk Works for the United States Air Force. First flown in 1955, the U-2 was designed to gather strategic intelligence from extreme altitudes—well above the range of enemy fighters and most surface-to-air missiles. Despite its Cold War origins, the U-2 remains one of the longest-serving and most capable intelligence-gathering platforms in the world.
The aircraft was the brainchild of legendary aircraft designer Kelly Johnson, who developed it under a shroud of secrecy at Lockheed’s famed Skunk Works. The original goal was to create a platform capable of flying above 70,000 feet (21,300 meters) to monitor adversaries such as the Soviet Union without being intercepted. The U-2’s sleek design includes a long, sailplane-like wingspan of over 100 feet, which allows it to soar at high altitudes with great fuel efficiency and stability.
The U-2 is powered by a single General Electric F118-GE-101 turbofan engine (in modern versions), giving it a top speed of around 500 mph (805 km/h) and a ceiling exceeding 70,000 feet. From this altitude, it can survey thousands of square miles with optical, radar, infrared, and signals intelligence (SIGINT) sensors, making it ideal for strategic and tactical reconnaissance missions.
The aircraft’s payload includes high-resolution digital cameras, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), electro-optical and infrared systems, and communication intercept gear. These modular systems can be swapped depending on mission requirements, allowing the U-2 to perform a wide range of intelligence collection roles—from monitoring nuclear programs to tracking battlefield movements in near real-time.
Piloting the U-2 is notoriously difficult due to the aircraft’s high-altitude flight characteristics and bicycle landing gear, which requires assistance from a ground chase car during landings. Pilots must wear pressurized space suits, similar to those worn by astronauts, due to the extreme altitudes at which they operate.
The U-2 gained fame during the Cold War, most notably when pilot Francis Gary Powers was shot down over the Soviet Union in 1960, triggering a major international incident. Despite its age, the U-2 has remained relevant through continuous upgrades, including glass cockpits, digital data links, and modernized mission systems.
Still operational today under the designation U-2S, the Dragon Lady continues to support U.S. military and intelligence community needs, often complementing or overlapping with satellite and drone surveillance. Its longevity and adaptability are testaments to its enduring value in an ever-evolving threat environment.
