Designed and developed in secrecy in the 1950s, this high-flying reconnaissance aircraft was not revealed to the public until one was shot down over Soviet territory in 1960. The Lockheed U-2, also known as the Dragon Lady, would go on to play a key role in Cold War surveillance missions for decades to come, while also serving in the Vietnam War and as a NASA research platform. With its light airframe and sailplane-like wings, the Lockheed U-2’s design suited its purpose well, enabling it to achieve altitudes at least up to 70,000 feet. Those same characteristics, however, made the U-2 notoriously difficult to fly, with minimal room for error between the max and stall speeds as well as landing characteristics that required the assistance of a chase car to help guide the aircraft to the ground.