wb9omc@ecn.purdue.edu (Duane P Mantick) (10/23/90)
From: wb9omc@ecn.purdue.edu (Duane P Mantick) For the benefit of those discussing which flavor of U2, etc.... The TR-1a is essentially a U2-R. There are very few differences, visibly or otherwise. I seem to recall that there might be one or two extra small antennas on the TR-1a that are visible if you look closely enough. I'll have to go back and read the book again but I believe that the TR-1a's are the result of an extended production contract, designed to fill in more *U2* for those that have died or been retired. Somebody decided that the "TR" (tactical recon) was a more appropriate designator than the "U" (utility). While a lot of the stuff that is carried aboard the U2/TR1a is still pretty hush-hush, you can bet that those still in active recon service have been updated - and the U2R/TR1a, being rather larger and newer than the rest, carries more and better. Duane