U-2 1099 Flies
Defying the impossible. Again and again.
Since its maiden flight in 1955, the U-2 has flown somewhere in the world 24/7/365 — delivering intelligence when it matters most. Seventy years later, the mission continues.
U-2 aircraft 1099 holds a unique place in history as the final U-2S to roll off the production line in 1989. But in 2008, a devastating ground accident severely damaged the aircraft and seemed to end its story. For 13 years, 1099 sat in storage — stripped, silent, and sidelined.
Watch U-2 1099's First Flight
Resurrecting a Legend
By 2021, demand for U-2 intelligence was rising. That demand sparked a bold decision: bring 1099 back to life.
The Skunk Works® team began a years-long effort to restore 1099. The work was painstaking — repairing structural damage, replacing systems, and rebuilding the jet piece by piece. It was more than restoration; it was resurrection.
Takeoff Complete
On August 18, just weeks after the U-2’s 70th anniversary, 1099 lifted off on its first flight since the 2008 accident.
The milestone marked more than a successful test flight. It signaled the rebirth of the last U-2S ever built, restored to meet the U.S. Air Force’s demand for ongoing intelligence missions.
U-2 1099 is more than an aircraft restored — it’s proof that the U-2’s legacy still defies the impossible.
