One pilot was killed and another sustained injuries when a two seat U-2 training aircraft crashed Tuesday near Beale AFB, Calif. The aircraft, a TU-2S, crashed near the Sutter Buttes in the Sacramento Valley at about 9:05 am local time. Photos of the scene show the charred wreckage of the aircraft, with its tail in tact, and a brush fire burning. The Air Force had five of the TU-2S variants, two-seat U-2s used for pilot training. The aircraft was assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale.
A semi-autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone shot down an air-to-air target in a Dec. 8 test supported by the U.S. Air Force, a notable milestone in the development of the loyal wingman-type drones that will join the fleets of the USAF, other American services, and allies and adversaries.
