It is packed with the latest surveillance technology but U2 'Dragon Lady' spy planes need a good old-fashioned car to help them land on the runway. This is because the plane offers 'extremely limited visibility' when landing.
A video released by the United States Air Force explains the role of the 'mobile officers' who talk the pilot down from 10-foot above the runway. You can see the video at the top of this article.
U2 spy planes have been based at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and have recently been joined by huge B52 Stratofortress bombers. A number of pre-planned exercises have been carried out in the Arctic and across Europe.
