How were the Russians able to shoot down the U-2?

The single-seat aircraft, flown by pilot Francis Gary Powers, was hit by an S-75 Dvina (SA-2 Guideline) surface-to-air missile and crashed near Sverdlovsk (present-day Yekaterinburg). Powers parachuted safely and was captured.

What is the aspect ratio of the U-2?

High aspect ratio wings give the U-2 glider-like characteristics, with an engine out glide ratio of about 23:1, comparable to gliders of the time.

Why are U-2 wings so long?

Instead, it was supposed to provide a massive amount of data (by 20th century standards) along its flight path, which necessitated long flight times: thus the long, straight wings providing a lot of lift at low airspeeds were ideal for its mission.

Did Cuba shoot down a U-2?

Rudolf Anderson Jr. The only U.S fatality by enemy fire during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Anderson died when his U-2 reconnaissance aircraft was shot down over Cuba.

Does the U-2 still fly?

The U-2s in operation today can carry nearly three times as much twice as far and fly for three times as long as the original aircraft. In 1966 its future looked bleak; only 15 of the original 55 U-2s built were still in operation.

What lie was JFK on day 3?

After discussing Germany, Gromyko turned to Soviet concerns about Cuba. Reading from a prepared text, he told Kennedy that the Soviet Union favored peaceful coexistence and opposed countries interfering in the domestic affairs of others.

Why was Gary Powers chosen as a U-2 pilot?

Francis Gary Powers was selected because he was the most experienced U-2 pilot in the program; he had flown 27 missions, including over the USSR and China, and had logged more than 500 flight hours in the U-2.

What happened to the U-2 spy plane?

On May 1, 1960, a U-2 flight piloted by Francis Gary Powers disappeared while on a flight over Russia. The CIA reassured the president that, even if the plane had been shot down, it was equipped with self-destruct mechanisms that would render any wreckage unrecognizable and the pilot was instructed to kill himself in such a situation.

What was the name of the spy plane that was shot down?

Francis Gary Powers (August 17, 1929 – August 1, 1977) was an American pilot whose Central Intelligence Agency U-2 spy plane was shot down while flying a reconnaissance mission over Soviet Union airspace, causing the 1960 U-2 incident.

What did Francis Gary Powers do for the CIA?

Francis Gary Powers. Francis Gary Powers (August 17, 1929 – August 1, 1977) was an American pilot whose Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) U-2 spy plane was shot down while flying a reconnaissance mission in Soviet Union airspace, causing the 1960 U-2 incident.