The U-2’s retirement is driven by a complex interplay of operational costs, concerns about its performance in contested airspace, and a strategic pivot towards unmanned and space-based systems.

Royal International Air Tattoo, US aircraft like the B-1B and U-2 showcased American airpower and diplomacy, possibly marking the U-2’s final appearance before retirement.

The weather was calm and the sky was blue, yet thunder forced itself to be heard. From July 18-20, thousands of onlookers in ...