U-2 operations

Capt. Greg Hafner listens as Senior Airman Shawn Nyer begins pressurization of his flight suit while Senior Airman Nakia Newton works in the background. The captain breathed nearly pure oxygen for almost 35 minutes before taking off on a U-2 mission. Captain Hafner is a U-2 pilot and Airman Nyer is a physiological support specialist assigned to the 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jason Tudor)

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U-2 operations

As Senior Airman Shawn Nyer watches, a U-2 piloted by Capt. Greg Hafner rolls out of its hangar at a forward-operating base in Southwest Asia Sept. 5. Airman Nyer helped Captain Hafner into the full-pressure suit and helmet needed for the mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jason Tudor)

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U-2 operations

A U-2 piloted by Capt. Greg Hafner rolls toward takeoff followed by its chase car and other vehicles at a forward-operating base in Southwest Asia Sept. 5. The captain is assigned to the 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jason Tudor)

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U-2 operations

Senior Airman Shawn Nyer examines the vest for a full-pressure suit worn by U-2 pilots at a forward operating base in Southwest Asia Sept. 5. Airman Nyer, a physiological support specialist assigned to the 99th Expeditionary Reconaissance Squadron, is deployed from Beale Air Force Base, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jason Tudor)

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U-2 operations

"Tube food," food eaten by U-2 pilots during missions, oozes out of one of the containers. Pilots make their meal choices, which are then loaded into full-pressure suits for later dining. The three flavors shown here are beef stew, vegetarian (oozing) and peach cobbler. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jason Tudor)

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U-2 operations

Capt. Greg Hafner pulls his S-1034 helmet down onto a clasp at a forward-operating base in Southwest Asia Sept. 5. Captain Hafner, a U-2 pilot with the 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, flew a mission about an hour later. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jason Tudor)

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U-2 operations

Published Sept. 6, 2006

U-2 operations

U-2 operations

U-2 operations

U-2 operations

U-2 operations

U-2 operations

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