Latest news with #U-2DragonLady
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Beale Air and Space Expo: Know before you go
The highly anticipated Beale Air and Space Expo June 7 and 8 takes attendees on-base to watch cutting-edge aircraft take to the skies. Here's everything you need to know before going. In the Air There'll be no shortage of things to do and see during the Expo. Dozens of aircraft will perform throughout the day, including the U-2 Dragon Lady, the T-38 Talon, the Air Force Thunderbirds, the Navy F-18 Rhino Demo Team and more. A few featured performers include Australian professional aerobatic and air race pilot Aarron Deliu, Vicky Benzing piloting a 1950 Boeing Stearman bi-plane, and 'Scratch' Mitchell in a T-33 Shooting Star. USAF Parachutists will also perform. On the Ground Thirty-seven aircraft from various military branches and bases will be on static display on-ground, including the U-2 from Beale AFB, the F-35A from Luke AFB in Arizona and the U.S. Navy T-33 'Blue Angel' Shooting Star from Salt Lake City. You can view civilian aircraft as well, like CalFire's FH-60 Firehawk. Precision Exotics will showcase 'dream cars' like Lamborghinis and Ferraris. Hands-on learning and activities will be available for kids of all ages at the STEM zone. Future aviators, engineers and scientists can engage with interactive exhibits, flight simulators and more. General Admission General admission is free, but if you plan to drive, you must secure a parking pass online. The parking pass is free and good for all occupants in the vehicle. Drivers will be routed to available parking areas and may require a shuttle service (complimentary) of more than 20 minutes. Parking passes are not available day-of and have to be secured online. Parking opens at 8 a.m. on the day of the event and gates will be closed to incoming traffic at 1:30 p.m. Premium parking closest to the entrance is available with the purchase of Elevated Experience packages. Elevated Experiences There are three Elevated Experience packages available: Ground Level Access ($35 per vehicle): This package gives you one complimentary premium parking pass for the Skyline Lot (good for all vehicle occupants), one commemorative poster when your pass is presented at the BMLC Booth and a dedicated security checkpoint. The Flight Deck Package ($50 per person, children under five years free when accompanied by paid admission) grants access to a shaded viewing area on the flightline. You can bring your own chairs but no open umbrellas are allowed. With the purchase of two Flight Deck packages, you can receive a complimentary premium parking pass for the Skyline Lot. If you only want to purchase one Flight Deck package, you can get a preferred parking pass for $15. Flight Deck packages also come with in-and-out privileges (no seat-saving) and a dedicated security checkpoint line. The Recce Town Experience is the most elite package. Prices vary: $195 for adults and $100 for children ages five to 12. Children under five are free when accompanied by paid admission. You'll be granted access to a premium flightline viewing area with a spacious tent for shade and outdoor seating for viewing. With every two Recce Town Experiences purchased, receive one premium parking pass in the Skyline Lot. If you only want to purchase one Recce Town Experience, you can get a preferred parking pass for $15. Also included is access to a luxury bathroom with air conditioning, a commemorative air show poster, light snacks, a buffet lunch, two complimentary tickets for alcoholic beverages (ages 21+), access to a full bar for additional drinks, complimentary water, in-and-out privileges and a dedicated security checkpoint line. A table for eight can be reserved for $2,500 per table for either day. Volunteers People 18 years and older can volunteer at the Expo in a variety of ways, including guest navigation and behind-the-scenes logistics. Identification Everyone 18 and older must keep a valid federal or state ID on them at all times. Those who do not have an ID can use one of the following: Employment Authorization Documents (Form 1-766) Permanent Resident Cards, aka Green Cards (Form 1-551) Foreign passport bearing an unexpired immigrant or non-immigrant visa or entry stamp and arrival-departure records (Form I-94, Form I-94W or DoD issued CAC w/ Blue Stripe. You are not required to present your ID for base access on the day of the Expo, but you may be asked for it at any time while attending, so keep it readily available. Prohibited Items Weapons of any kind, including pocket knives, pocket tools, scissors, box cutters, billy clubs, large heavy chain link jewelry or belts, mace and pepper spray Firearms of any kind Toys that resemble firearms, including laser pointers Illegal drugs Marijuana Alcohol Backpacks (diaper bags are subject to search) Bikes, skateboards, rollerblades Walkie-talkies, HAM radios, scanners RC aircraft and drones Flammable items and fireworks Pets (except for service animals) Spray paint and silly string Outside food, coolers, grills or glass containers Glass bottles Liquid without factory seal intact (baby bottles are exempt) All vehicles are subject to search. Banned items will be confiscated and/or cause visitors to be turned away at the gate. For more information, tickets, volunteer signups and more, visit
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Air and Space Expo at Beale AFB June 7-8
Beale Air Force Base invites the community behind the gates this June for its Air and Space Expo — a two-day event packed with air shows, static aircraft displays, STEM exhibits, and a nod to the base's 70-year legacy of flying at the edge of space. Scheduled for June 7-8, this event is the first major air show at Beale since 2018. It's part of the Air Force's Open House program, which encourages bases to welcome their local communities for a look at aviation technology and military life. 'We are just ecstatic to be able to open the doors to Beale Air Force Base and showcase what our airmen do on this base, showcase a little bit of our mission, and display some of America's finest aircraft to the local community,' said Air Force Major Demo, who used his call sign to identify himself. 'It's gonna be a wonderful opportunity to see not only what's stationed here at Beale Air Force Base, but also many other aircraft from the United States Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy — some of the greatest technology this country has to offer will be on this ramp.' During the expo, the skies above Beale will be roaring with aerial demonstrations by military and civilian performers, including the featured act, the United States Air Force Thunderbirds, whose elite pilots perform in the Air Force's premier multi-role fighter jet, the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Meanwhile, on the ground, nearly 40 aircraft will be on static display. Attendees can view military aircraft from all over the country and all branches of service, as well as helicopters, warbirds, law enforcement aircraft, and exhibits from organizations like Cal Fire and the Civil Air Patrol. One of the highlights will be the U-2 Dragon Lady — a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft known for its near-space missions and for being extremely difficult to fly. Since the 1950s, the U-2 has played a critical role in providing intelligence for U.S. and allied forces globally. With the ability to reach altitudes above 70,000 feet, the U-2 delivers signals, imagery and electronic intelligence from near-space. Long, glider-like wings allow it to lift heavy sensor payloads. Pilots are required to wear full-pressure suits like those worn by astronauts. 'We chose to call it an air and space expo in celebration of the 70 years that the U-2 and the SR-71…have been flying,' Demo said. 'We're celebrating that legacy and the future of Beale Air Force Base.' The expo is designed to be as educational as it is entertaining. Attendees can visit the STEM hangar for a variety of hands-on, STEM-focused activities, both aircraft-related and otherwise. 'The important thing is to inspire our next generation of folks via STEM to kind of see the potential things they can do,' STEM Director and Captain Grant said. 'When our young people and families come into the STEM space, they're within a different experience.' An estimated 300-400 community volunteers are required to make this event possible. 'We are happy to partner with Beale,' Janie Nall of the Beale Military Liaison Council said. 'Beale has been around in the community…This is part of our culture.' For information on tickets and volunteer opportunities, visit
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
See photos of Air Force's most secret NorCal base. How you can visit it too
Inside Look is a Sacramento Bee series where we take readers behind the scenes at restaurants, new businesses, local landmarks and news stories. It's been seven years since Beale Air Force Base, home to the secretive U-2 Dragon Lady reconnaissance aircraft, hosted a public airshow. In anticipation of the event, the Yuba County airbase invited local media for a demonstration of the aircraft on Wednesday and the pressure suits pilots must use to fly it. A glimpse of Beale's other aircraft, the T-38 Talon training jet, was also presented. Media visitors were asked not to photograph a number of base features. The opportunities to see the elusive U-2 might be dwindling, since the plane has been targeted for retirement in 2026 — although extensions to the program are possible. The Beale Air & Space Expo 2025 is scheduled for June 7-8. The show will feature many performers, including the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, which fly the F-16 fighter, and the U.S. Navy's F/A-18 Rhino demo team. The U-2 will also fly. Tickets are $35 and are available at
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
U-2 Spy Planes Are Flying Border Security Missions Air Force Confirms
U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin has confirmed that U-2 Dragon Lady spy planes have been flying missions around the border with Mexico. The service's top officer has also confirmed the use of RC-135V/W Rivet Joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft and drones, which TWZ has reported on previously, as part of still-increasing U.S. military support for southwestern border security efforts under President Donald Trump. 'As most of us head into the weekend, I want to thank our U-2, RC-135 & RPA [remotely piloted aircraft; drone] crews who are tirelessly providing unrivaled ISR support for @USNorthernCmd [U.S. Northern Command] at the border to restore sovereignty and protect American communities,' Allvin wrote in a post today on X, a screen shot of which is seen below. 'Stay safe and thank you!' CNN was first to report the use of U-2s in support of current operations along the southwestern border back in February, but citing unnamed officials. That story followed news that RC-135V/Ws, as well as U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol planes, were also flying surveillance missions around Mexico, including sorties over the Gulf of California. In February, there were also reports that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was conducting surveillance flights inside Mexican airspace using MQ-9 Reaper drones. Authorities in Mexico subsequently confirmed that the U.S. government had been conducting aerial ISR to operations inside the country, and that this had helped with the arrest of at least two senior cartel members. Just earlier this week, TWZ reached out to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base in California, the Air Force's U-2 hub, for more information about the use of those aircraft specifically in support of current border security operations. Those queries were subsequently forwarded first to Air Combat Command (ACC) and then to NORTHCOM. 'At this time, we are not commenting about any specific ISR platforms related to southern border missions,' a NORTHCOM spokesperson told TWZ on Wednesday. 'We do acknowledge that there is ISR supporting the mission, but again, we are not going to be specific about platforms.' 'We don't discuss specifics on how we are using ISR assets to support DoD's mission at the southern border,' the same spokesperson added today in response to a follow-up after Gen. Allvin made his post on X. In general, the Air Force's U-2s can be equipped with a wide array of different sensors, many of which could provide useful capabilities in support of border security operations. As TWZ wrote back in 2021 after a U-2 was tracked flying along the southwestern border on what the 9th Reconnaissance Wing said was a routine training mission: 'The Air Force's U-2Ss can carry a variety of different sensor packages, including panoramic and other wide-angle cameras and radar imaging systems, and one of these aircraft could, conceivably offer a way to relatively quickly get a snapshot of border activity at a particular moment in time, even if [the U-2S with the serial number] 68-10329 did not in this particular case. That same imagery would also be useful for general mapping purposes, including in the creation of radar maps that can show details electro-optical or thermal imagery cannot. The U-2 can also carry communications intelligence gathering payloads.' Imagery and intercepted communications could help in establishing so-called baseline 'patterns of life' in a particular area, or even for a select individual or group of individuals. This, in turn, could aid in the refinement of intelligence gathering strategies, or even be used to plan and execute operations, including strikes and ground raids. As TWZ has previously reported, U-2s are known to have flown sorties over and/or around Mexico on at least one other occasion, in 2009, as part of an operation nicknamed Equis Emerald. The purpose of those flights is unknown. The official acknowledgment that U-2s are supporting current efforts along the border with Mexico comes as the U.S. military continues to expand its overall participation in this mission. Just today, NORTHCOM announced the formal activation of interagency Joint Task Force-Southern Border (JTF-SB) to oversee these operations. 'Under the direction of USNORTHCOM, Joint Task Force-Southern Border (JTF-SB) assumed the role of synchronizer of several USNORTHCOM activities and military forces from Joint Task Force-North (JTF-N). The transfer of authority, or TOA, to JTF-SB aligns efforts to seal the southern border and repel illegal activity under a single Joint Task Force responsible for full-scale, agile, and all-domain operations, which will allow for more effective and efficient DoD operations,' according to a press release. 'Joint Task Force-North [JTF-N] will continue their core mission of detecting and monitoring transnational criminal organizations' threats within and along approaches to the continental United States.' You can read more about JTF-N, which has been the primary U.S. military entity responsible for coordinating support for border security operations since the early 2000s, in this past TWZ story. 'In early February, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) from Fort Drum, New York, deployed to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, to establish the infrastructure necessary for the JTF-SB headquarters,' the release adds. 'JTF-SB is commanded by Army Maj. Gen. Scott M. Naumann. Additionally, the task force has two deputy commanders: one from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and one from the U.S. Marine Corps.' The U.S. military currently has 9,600 personnel either deployed or in the process of deploying to support the border security missions. In addition to fixed-wing aerial ISR assets, this support includes various types of helicopters and elements of Stryker Brigade Combat Team from the U.S. Army. Various branches have also contributed intelligence analysts on the ground, engineers, military police, and other personnel. The U.S. military, at least publicly, has so far been primarily focused on activities on the American side of the southwestern border. However, there continued to be discussions about the potential for direct action against drug cartels inside Mexican territory, possible without cooperation or coordination with authorities in that country. In February, President Trump's administration formally designated eight Latin American criminal groups, including multiple Mexican drug cartels, El Salvador's MS-13, and Tren de Aragua in Venezuela, as foreign terrorist organizations. The designations expand the scope of actions that U.S. authorities could take against these organizations. You can read more about the challenges and potential for serious blowback from any U.S. military operations against Mexican drug cartels in this past TWZ feature. For the U-2 fleet, the new mission along the border with Mexico comes amid the Air Force's continued push to retire the type for good. Some members of Congress had pushed for provisions in the annual defense policy bill, or National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the 2025 Fiscal Year that would have blocked divesting any U-2s. However, that does not look to have made it in the final version of the bill that was signed into law last year. In the meantime, U.S. Aerial ISR assets, now confirmed to include U-2 spy planes, continue to prowl around Mexico as part of the U.S. military's greatly expanded border security mission. Contact the author: joe@
