(Yuba-Sutter, CA) – For the first time in almost three years – 1,030 days to be exact – Beale’s TU-25 Dragon Lady 1078 has again taken flight.

Affectionately referred to as the Silver Dragon, it was involved in a flight-line accident April 21st, 2021, seriously damaging the wing. It was unable to be moved to the U.S. Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, where Lockheed Martin typically provides maintenance and repair on U-2s. So, since it “was stuck at Beale” according to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs Officer, an extensive repair collaboration between the 9th Maintenance Group & Lockheed Martin managed to get everything done on base.

In its first test flight, it became the first U-2 to take to the skies as a Silver Dragon in ten years, passing a series of tests before getting the U-1’s iconic black matte paint job.