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380AEW Article

Soaring at the edge of space, deployed pilot fulfills lifelong career

  • Published
  • By Capt. Cathleen Snow
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  To soar at great heights throughout one's career is the American dream.

But to literally fly an Air Force U-2 Dragon Lady reconnaissance aircraft so high you have to wear a space suit is a career full of lifelong achievements for Col. Soren Jones, 380th Operations Group commander, at an non-disclosed location here whose name alone implies a passion for gliding above the clouds.

Besides an average flying day spent at 70,000 feet, more than twice as high than most other pilots, there are plenty of other significant milestones in the colonel's life story, like the time he pulled another U-2 pilot from a burning aircraft in August of 1994 earning him the Airman's Medal for risking his life.

But the feat of flying his first solo flight in the Dragon Lady on May 24, 1993 crystallized for Colonel Jones as he hung up his space helmet May 5, 2010, after 17 years of flying at the edge of space in an aircraft which resembles a black amphibian with its long slender nose and low-to-the-ground body.

The colonel will be heading to the five-sided building in Washington from Southwest Asia to the Joint Staff where he'll serve as the chief of the reconnaissance operations division advising senior leaders and helping formulate policies and guidance for Army, Navy and Air Force reconnaissance operations worldwide for all the reasons he was attracted to the Dragon Lady in the first place - it's capabilities.

"I enjoy flying the U-2 because I recognize the importance of the reconnaissance mission to our nation. Leaders at every level require timely and accurate information to make crucial decisions. Often these decisions determine peace or war on the national level, and ultimately life or death on a personal one," said Colonel Jones.

Throughout its service from the Cold War to the present, the U-2 has provided critical information through its multitude of reconnaissance capabilities to our nation's leaders. "I am very happy to be able to continue in that long line of service men and women who've helped shape history," he continued.

"With one engine, a huge wingspan and bicycle landing gear design, the U-2 has been optimized to fly at extremely high altitudes. These features also make it very challenging to land," said the colonel. "At altitudes above 60,000 feet, the environment is exceptionally hostile to human life."

Which is why the spacesuits. "For protection in the event of the loss of cabin pressure or ejection at altitude," said Colonel Jones, but the spacesuits tend to reduce pilot mobility and visibility which is extremely important during landing. U-2 pilots must provide a series of intricate inputs to ensure the aircraft touches down safely, the cumbersome suit adds to the challenge.

In addition to the suit, the harsh environment wears on the body flying eight to 11 hours at a time. "It requires a very high degree of mental, physical and psychological stamina to perform the missions safely and effectively," said the colonel.

"I enjoy meeting the challenge of flying an aircraft to the edge of space and back," he said.

Since he was a child he wanted to be an astronaut but found his way to the U-2 program instead. "It seemed like a natural fit for me," he said. He's flown the U-2 most of his career.

Which is a milestone in and of itself. Before the Air Force will allow an officer to join the small pool of U-2-rated pilots, they have to have been flying. Colonel Jones has more than 4,700 hours flying time, including operational tours in the RC-135 RC-135V/W Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft which was his initial jet. He's racked up 89 combat sorties.

The colonel is one of about 80 U-2 pilots in the world and the 607th officer out of 877 so far, "to get the opportunity to do this," said Lt. Col. Kirt Stallings, a fellow pilot and the 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron commander here will fly his last U-2 flight May 7.

Colonel Jones' final flight was marked by a long-held custom in the Air Force flying community, called a fini-flight - a ceremonial send off upon retiring or transferring to another flying unit or non-flying position.

Upon landing the aircraft, Colonel Jones taxied through a gauntlet of fire trucks blasting water at it as it rolled down the runway.

The next part was low key since the Air Force cannot afford damaging the special suit. When the colonel's feet touched the ground, he was handed a bottle of champagne, quite civilly, as a throng of Airmen gathered waiting to shake his hand.

Colonel Jones' career has spanned 24 years. In addition to piloting combat missions over Afghanistan and Iraq, Colonel Jones leads operations for the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing which carries out aerial refueling, air battle management and high altitude intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions supporting Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force, Horn of Africa in Southwest Asia's area of responsibility.

The group provides direction, crewmembers and associated operational support for the wing's KC-10A, U-2S, E-3B, and RQ-4 aircraft.