On July 31, 2025, the U.S. Air Force commemorated the 70th anniversary of the iconic U-2 Dragon Lady reconnaissance plane in a unique fashion. Two seasoned pilots embarked on a special mission, taking off from Beale Air Force Base in California. Over the course of a grueling 14-hour flight, they navigated the U-2 over all 48 contiguous United States before returning home, thereby establishing a new endurance record for aircraft of its kind. This historic flight represented the first long-duration mission undertaken by the U-2 reconnaissance plane in over a decade.