Civilian Photographer's U2 Photos

[OneHungLow]

Had a look at Alconbury on Google earth and saw taxiways full of parked cars.
See that NW end of what was the runway similarly occupied.
Wikipedia says it is still active RAF base.
What's the deal?

PP

https://www.501csw.usafe.af.mil/News/Ar ... ng-forces/

RAF ALCONBURY, United Kingdom -- The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence has approved a U.S. Department of Defense request to allow Royal Air Force Alconbury to remain open and operate as an enduring base for the U.S. Visiting Forces.

In November 2018, the Deputy Secretary of Defense tasked the Department of the Air Force to conduct a business case analysis and develop a master plan for long-term Joint Intelligence Analysis Centre (JIAC) mission support, including assessing the affordability and timeline to consolidate quality of life facilities at RAF Molesworth and return RAF Alconbury to the United Kingdom.

The Department of the Air Force conducted the business case analysis and determined it is not cost effective to consolidate support facilities at RAF Molesworth and return RAF Alconbury to the Ministry of Defence in the United Kingdom. With the UK Ministry of Defence’s agreement, the Department of the Air Force has decided to retain RAF Alconbury and continue to use it as the primary location for JIAC support.

The JIAC provides world-class intelligence and communications around the world to U.S., Allied and NATO commanders and supports military operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

A USAF support base not necessarily being used for operational duty. The runway is long gone (since 2009). You will probably find Milo Minder Binder types there indulging in vehicle smuggling and the like!

Potted history here...

https://www.urbanandcivic.com/applicati ... ow_Res.pdf

U2 take off/landing accidents continued in the UK even after the closure of the Alconbury base for flying in 1995...

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/pilo ... 98578.html

[tango15]

I met an American couple in my local boozer a couple of years ago. They both work at Alconbury (didn't say at what, and I didn't ask). His missus was a bit of a lush, but they lived in the village apparently. Anyway, here are the promised photos. They won't win any competitions, but they were taken 40 years ago

U-2-[attachment=0] [attachment=2]U-2-2.jpg

U-2-3.jpg[attachment=0]1-U2-4.jpg

[OneHungLow]

It looks like the U2 might finally be drawing to the end of its active life.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/milita ... placement/

The U.S. Air Force may be ditching its aging U-2 spy plane in favor of a mysterious drone.

The U-2 is heading for retirement by 2026 due to budget concerns, according to a new report. While no replacement for the iconic U-2 Dragon Lady has officially been named, one likely candidate is the classified Northrop Grumman RQ-180 stealth drone, about which little is known.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_RQ-180