U-2 Dragon Lady Pilot's Flight Operating Instructions - Paperbackby United States Air Force (Author) Conceived during the dark days of the Cold War, the U 2 is a single engine, single seat, surveillance aircraft. Designed by aeronautical engineer "Kelly" Johnson, the plane was used by the C. I. A. to photograph installations deep inside Soviet Russia and remains in use by the U. S. Air Force. Known as the "Dragon Lady", the U 2 was originally highly classified. Its existence remained a secret until 1960, when a U 2