November 2020
Beale AFB north of Sacramento is home to the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, which operates the U-2 Dragon Lady, and before its retirement in the 90s, the SR-71 Blackbird. Back when I was stationed there the SR-71s used the static call sign “Aspen,” and the U-2s were “Pinion.”
November 2020
If I was the ATC I think I would say “yes, it is my brother’s 2020 Bonanza G36. He just purchased it.”
Then I would approach Textron and ask for the sales commission.
November 2020
I was an air traffic controller at Chicago Center and one day I was working a NASA U2. I had been told that the flight would be above FL 600 but he was not squawking mode C. Out of curiosity I asked the pilot what his altitude was and the reply was “You don’t need to know.”