RAF FAIRFORD, United Kingdom - A U-2 Dragon Lady lands at RAF Fairford March 6. Eagerly awaiting the arrival is 9-year-old Ellie Carter, a British schoolgirl who dreams of becoming the first British foreign exchange U-2 pilot. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Brian Maguire)
RAF FAIRFORD, United Kingdom - Capt. Mike Gray, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, describes some of the unique characteristics of the U-2 Dragon Lady to Ellie Carter. Ellie, a 9-year-old British schoolgirl, recently wrote a letter to the organizers of the Royal International Air Tattoo about her desire to see a U-2 that caught international media attention. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Brian Maguire)
RAF FAIRFORD, United Kingdom - Capt. Geoff Jernigan, 99th Reconnaissance Squadron U-2 pilot, poses for a photo with Ellie Carter, a 9-year-old British schoolgirl who dreams of becoming the first British foreign exchange U-2 pilot. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Brian Maguire)
RAF FAIRFORD, United Kingdom -- Master Sgt. Carl Muhlecke, 9th Physiological Support Squadron, places the pilot’s helmet on Ellie Carter at RAF Fairford. The helmet is part of the full pressure suit a U-2 pilot must wear, and is similar to the suits worn by astronauts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Brian Maguire)
RAF FAIRFORD, United Kingdom -- Capt. Ray Tierney, 99th Reconnaissance Squadron U-2 pilot, presents Ellie Carter, a 9-year-old British schoolgirl, with a U-2 lithograph signed by current and former Dragon Lady pilots. Tierney presented the lithograph because of Ellie’s intense knowledge and passion for the U-2. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Brian Maguire)
by Capt. Brian Maguire
501st Combat Support Wing Public Affairs
3/8/2012 - RAF FAIRFORD, United Kingdom -- A letter written by a 9-year-old British schoolgirl about her love for the Dragon Lady to the organizers of the Royal International Air Tattoo caught the attention of U-2 pilots from Beale Air Force Base, Calif.
Thrilled with the girl's keen interest in their aircraft, the U-2 pilots suggested inviting her to RAF Fairford the next time a Dragon Lady transited the airfield.
Ellie Carter and her family visited RAF Fairford March 6 to watch the landing of a U-2 Dragon Lady, tour the aircraft and meet with the crew involved in flying her favorite aircraft.
"The U-2 is unique, it flies in space and takes a lot of teamwork," Ellie said. "It was just amazing to see."
Ellie's day started off at 5 a.m., when she eagerly woke up her mother, saying it was time to get ready to leave, Lorna Carter, Ellie's mother said. Once everyone was ready, the family went to RAF Fairford where they received a mission brief from the U-2 reception team.
"We were floored by the amount of knowledge she had about the U-2," Capt. Ray Tierney, 99th Reconnaissance Squadron and U-2 pilot, said. "Her knowledge is comparable to any of ours - she's done her homework."
Once the briefing was over, the waiting began. Even though the plane's arrival time slipped, the delay didn't dampen Ellie's excitement when the plane landed.
After meeting the pilot, Ellie climbed into the cockpit, where she said it was fun seeing the layout and familiarizing herself with the cockpit.
Ellie's time in the cockpit underlined a comment she'd made to Tierney earlier, where "she expressed great interest in one day becoming the first British foreign exchange U-2 pilot."
Reluctantly pulling herself out of the cockpit, another U-2 pilot showed Ellie around the aircraft, highlighting some of the unique characteristics of the U-2, including the frost still on the wings from the high-altitude flight.
As the maintainers took control of the aircraft, Ellie was escorted into the nearby hangar where an aerospace physiology Airman showed her the spacesuit worn by the pilot and how the pilot has to eat while flying.
Before Ellie's adventure was done, the U-2 reception team provided her with a couple of mementoes to remember her visit and to thank her for expressing her love for the aircraft they fly.
"It's truly a unique experience for us to showcase the plane to Ellie, and an event we appreciate participating in," Tierney said.
