Through the newly established U-2 First Assignment Companion Trainer (FACT) program, the Air Force 9th RW’s 1st Reconnaissance Squadron will broaden its scope of pilots eligible to fly the U-2 by allowing Air Force student pilots in Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) the opportunity to enter a direct pipeline to flying the U-2. UPT students will now have the opportunity to select the U-2 airframe on their dream sheets just like any other airframe. The FACT program will advance the next generation through accelerating pilots directly from the UPT programs into the reconnaissance community, mitigating the six years of minimum experience that current U-2 pilots have obtained.
For more Air Force news, visit the Military.com Air Force section.
