Aircraft

[Carruthers]

There are no U-2s permanently based at Fairford, but they stage through from time to time usually en-route to having a prod around one of the world's trouble spots.
Their visits to RAF Fairford always create a great deal of interest amongst aircraft enthusiasts and this hasn't gone unnoticed by the USAF.

Mike B, one of the administrators at www.fightercontrol.co.uk seems to be well known.



There is a permanent U2 detachment at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
I understand that the Cypriot government has its reservations about the aircraft being based there, but the Sovereign Base Area is essentially British territory so that's that.
The official position is that the aircraft are engaged in 'weather research'.
In 2014 the unit celebrated it's fortieth anniversary at Akrotiri with the slogan 'Still not here after forty years'.