Worth the Ordeal:

Aug. 21, 2007

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

ABC News correspondent Jonathan Karl finally got his long-sought flight in a high-flying U-2 reconnaissance aircraft. He made the flight—one of the very few civilians to do so—last week, after completing two days of indoctrination and preparation. The Air Force has been making upgrades to the U-2 fleet, but it does plan to retire them around 2011.

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

Trending Stories

Air Force Eyes New-Build F-16s to Boost Fighter Force

Space Force Accepting Applications for Interservice Transfers Until Oct. 2

More Fighters Deploy to Middle East Amid Readiness Concerns

USSF Leaders Lay Out the Path to More Than Double the Force

Related

Pentagon Picks 2 Companies for Reconnaissance Satellite Demo

Sept. 18, 2026
The Space Force and the Defense Innovation Unit have chosen two firms to demonstrate the ability of small satellites built with low-cost, commercial technology to track both friendly and adversary satellites in geosynchronous orbit. 

USSF Leaders Lay Out the Path to More Than Double the Force

Sept. 17, 2026
When Space Force leaders started talking about expanding the service early this year, the idea was simple: double the size of the force in the next five years. At AFA’s Air, Space & Cyber conference this week, officials detailed just how they’re planning to grow so much so quickly.