Beale AFB TU-2S back in black after years long restoration

Matthew Nobert
·2 min read

(FOX40.COM) — One of Beale Air Force Base’s U-2 trainers is back in black after a lengthy refurb involving trips to Edwards Air Force Base and the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.

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On Feb. 16, FOX40.com reported that after two years in a repair bay at Beale AFB, the TU-2S Dragon Lady 1078 roared back to life with a unique bare metal look.

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At the time, Beale said the spy plane trainer still needed to undergo several airworthiness tests before pilots and trainees could hop back in.

  • Edwards Air Force Base, C.J. Raterman, Richard Gonzales & Lindsey Iniguez
    Edwards Air Force Base, C.J. Raterman, Richard Gonzales & Lindsey Iniguez
  • Edwards Air Force Base, C.J. Raterman, Richard Gonzales & Lindsey Iniguez
    Edwards Air Force Base, C.J. Raterman, Richard Gonzales & Lindsey Iniguez
  • A TU-2S Dragon Lady assigned to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale Air Force Base, Calif., arrives at USAF Operating Location Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, to receive final paint coatings, Feb. 29. The aircraft returned to flight after nearly two years through the collaboration of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, 412th Test Wing at Edwards and Lockheed Martin Corporation. (Air Force photo by Lindsey Iniguez)

On Friday, Edwards Air Force Base shared that after a series of test flights at Beale, the plane was ferried to its “birthplace” in Palmdale for a new paint job.

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Within a few days the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, the 412th Test Wing and Lockheed Martin were able to get the Dragon Lady ready to reenter service with a fresh coat of black paint.

“The success of aircraft 80-1078’s rebuild has been a testament to the skill and aptitude of our combined maintenance, test, and acquisition team,” notes Maj. Logan Suhr, commander, Air Force Life Cycle Management Detachment 4.

TU-2S Dragon Lady 1078 has since returned to Beale AFB where it will help train the next generation of U-2S pilots.

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