picture 171089

By 1965, USAF-operated U-2s were repainted in a matt black colour known as ‘black velvet’, which – reportedly – helped reduce their radar-echo. Correspondingly, U-2C/F/Gs still operated by the 35th Black Cat Squadron, ROCAF, received the same livery. Three years later, their ‘interim’ intakes (bulged only in the horizontal, but not in the vertical axis) were replaced by significantly bigger ‘Coke bottle’ intakes, meanwhile developed for the muchimproved U-2R. By 1967, they were equipped with additional underwing drop tanks, further stretching their already impressive endurance. As far as is known, these jets wore their national markings on the forward fuselage, below the cockpit, and had three-digit tail numbers applied in red. (Artwork by Tom Cooper)