U-2S (USAF)
United States Air Force

U-2S
Operator: 9th Reconnaissance Wing
Location: King Fahad Air Base (Saudi Arabia)
Timeframe: 1996

Personal Interest:
This model represents a U-2S flown by the 9th RW out of Beale AFB, California. The U-2S was the primary aerial reconnaissance asset of the USAF, which flew almost daily over the southern no-fly zone to determine if Iraq was complying with UN resolutions. Weather forecasts for the U-2S were particularly challenging due to the high sensitivity of the aircraft to various weather conditions.