Lockheed U-2A 56-6722

Description

Article 389/56-722 was delivered in March 1957 to the USAF and assigned to Special Projects Branch of ARDC at Edwards AFB, California. This was the first aircraft to carry an IR sensor. 722 remained at Edwards until 1978 when it was retired to the USAF Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. 722’s project history included “Smokey Joe” the tracking of infrared rocket exhaust plumes and Project HiCat , the study of high altitude air turbulence.