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From: wb9omc@ecn.purdue.edu (Duane P Mantick)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: U2's and such
Message-ID: <1990Oct23.010136.3730@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 23 Oct 90 01:01:36 GMT
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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