Lockheed Skunk Works opens rare U-2 pilot hiring slot at Palmdale, May 15 deadline

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Kardinal@reddit

When we saw this posted either elsewhere or earlier, it was rightly pointed out that this is almost certainly a pro-forma posting. They know exactly who they want to hire, but they have to post it publicly for compliance reasons. They know that the pool is very, very small. In fact, they probably know every single name of every single human being who is qualified for the posting in the first place. And where they work.

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oldschoolguy90@reddit

There was someone who commented on another thread who said that internally, everyone knows about it, and they were surprised the listing had gone public

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transglutaminase@reddit

I work for a company that does contract work for the government. Almost all positions are filled internally, but we legally have to list the job publicly before making the hire official.

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kristina_42@reddit

everyone does it. almost every posting on linkedin and indeed are fake.

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sealjosh@reddit

Soo, you’re saying there’s a chance?

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joshr03@reddit

Probably? Lol

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here4daratio@reddit

The pool is likely smaller than a Ninja Turtles kiddie pool…

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FlyingYankee118@reddit

Why is this in the news? This happens all the time? Yes Lockheed needs pilots to fly their planes lol

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Allaplgy@reddit

Because you are in a sub about aviation where aviation nerds frequently post obscure "news" about aviation for other aviation nerds?

And in this case, it's most likely so said aviation nerds can dream a bit and crack jokes about "I've got 1000 hours in a Cessna, where do I apply?"

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boobookittyfuwk@reddit

Im confused why would they hire a pilot. Wouldn't the airforce fly these?

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Allaplgy@reddit

Yes, the pilot they hire will be an Air Force pilot. As others have said, they probably already know exactly who they are going with, this is just a formality.

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CarminSanDiego@reddit

CFIs with 1000 hours in a 152 checking to see if they’re eligible

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AppropriateCattle69@reddit

I’ve never flown, have high blood pressure, smoke weed and have a crippling addiction to Zyn. What are my chances?

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SupersonicOverload@reddit

crippling addiction to Zyn

Sounds like most of the pilots I know! You’re hired!

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Heeeeyyouguuuuys@reddit

I play Acrcombat a lot, and I'm checking.

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old_righty@reddit

I’m Ok at msfs, I barely ever crash. Cracking.

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HawkDriver@reddit

If they pay for my rotary to fixed wing to U-2 transition, I’m in.

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0621Hertz@reddit

The funniest thing about the job listing isn’t the 2 year currency as a lot of people are pointing out, it’s the fact the job requires a multi engine rating.

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devoduder@reddit

That’s really very normal and not funny, U2 pilots fly T-38s for training and proficiency and that requires a multi engine rating.

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hutch_man0@reddit

Why is multi engine training significantly different that single engine?

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eliminate1337@reddit

You have to learn how to handle failure of one but not all of your engines. Depending on the aircraft it can introduce a lot of asymmetric thrust. Mismanagement of engine failure kills a lot of pilots.

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hutch_man0@reddit

Thank you for the response!

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DaveAlot@reddit

More engines.

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joe2105@reddit

Fun fact, you don't hold ratings while in the Air Force.

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devoduder@reddit

It’s a civilian position, easy for a U2 pilot with T-38 time to get an FAA qualification.

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Allaplgy@reddit

Pffft. I was bullseyeing wamprats in my T-38 back on Tattooine.

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0621Hertz@reddit

There are U-2 pilots without a multi engine rating.

Merryl Tengesdal, the only Black Female U-2 pilot, went Navy Seahawks to T-6s to U-2s. Therefore she never got a multi engine rating.

I also know a guy that’s knows a guy that went from T-6 to T-45 to Harriers to U-2s. Therefore no multi engine rating.

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shortstop803@reddit

Every single active duty U-2 pilot also flies T-38s.

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elPatronSuarez@reddit

Well, not me personally but a guy I know. Him and her got it on. Wooo-eee!

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sevgonlernassau@reddit

None of the ER-2 pilots have them.

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Optimal_Anxiety6864@reddit

Hypothetically if my friend didn’t understand the joke what would I tell them

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UziWitDaHighTops@reddit

U-2s are single engine,

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Suspicious-Visit8634@reddit

What if his friend had another friend that doesn’t know what “2 year currency” means

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UziWitDaHighTops@reddit

A two year currency means that skillset must be completed minimum every two years to maintain proficiency since knowledge is perishable and the goal is safety.

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Optimal_Anxiety6864@reddit

I will let my friend know thank you

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griffinmiller14@reddit

The U-2 only has one engine

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sevgonlernassau@reddit

This automatically disqualifies all of the U-2 pilots I know, lol.

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adopted_islander@reddit

I feel like I read once that they use T-38s as a proficiency platform

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0621Hertz@reddit

Honestly you’re probably right because the B-2 squadrons have them.

However if this was pre 2019 it would be a centerline thrust restriction.

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letigre87@reddit

Are you bicycle landing qualified

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Helpinmontana@reddit

No more than 2 years outside U2 Currency

Well shit I guess I’m out.

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Kardinal@reddit

Let me guess. Missed it by only a few months? 😉

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Helpinmontana@reddit

Days 🥲

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quesoandcats@reddit

RIP

Though honestly, if you’re serious, I would apply anyway. A few days is probably something they can massage if you’re qualified Candidate)

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Helpinmontana@reddit

I’m 11,568 days out of currency.

Also, I don’t meet any other requirements besides being dashing, handsome, and particularly cunning in my ability to evade the reds*

*these are my own personal interpretations and not meant to imply material facts

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quesoandcats@reddit

Did you actually fly the U2? That's pretty cool, what a unique experience

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CAVU1331@reddit

lol they know who can fly the plane.

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quesoandcats@reddit

Almost certainly! Not a lot of U2 pilots around

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SlowDuc@reddit

Where there’s a will there’s a waiver

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DeltaTule@reddit

What’s the pay? Money says they pay these guys dog shit. Such a fucked up world we live in

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gefahr@reddit

If you're done being teenage angsty, $156-311k.

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DeltaTule@reddit

Thanks. But that’s around what I figured. Totally unacceptable. Widebody captains make $500K - $1MM

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gefahr@reddit

Ok. And how much revenue does their flights generate in that year they earned that much?

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DeltaTule@reddit

Do you know how much revenue a Lockheed plane generates? 🤣

Government is the best customer you can have. Trillions of dollars they spend on planes

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gefahr@reddit

I edited my message (accidentally hit reply), check it again.

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sephirothwasright@reddit

In the comment OP posted about half an hour before your own.

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LoonOnStation@reddit (OP)

Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works advanced projects division posted a U-2 Dragon Lady pilot opening at Palmdale with a May 15 application deadline, a rare public recruitment for the USAF-CIA reconnaissance platform first flown in 1956. Listed compensation ranges from $156,400 to $311,650 depending on location. The posting reinforces Skunk Works' continuing company-funded operational role around the U-2 fleet, which the Air Force had previously scheduled for retirement before reversing course. The hiring signals continued operational tasking for the high-altitude SIGINT-IMINT platform despite years of retirement planning.

A public Skunk Works requisition for a U-2 pilot, confirmable against the Lockheed Martin career portal despite single-outlet (The Aviationist) sourcing, signals the qualified replacement pool has already dropped below minimums for expected operational demand; the pilot cohort is small enough that any public posting implies the bench is critically thin. The posting very likely reflects expanded Middle East ISR tasking since the Iran conflict opened in late February, with operational decisions expected in the coming weeks following the May 15 deadline; U-2 SIGINT and IMINT packages provide standoff coverage against Iranian integrated air defenses that MQ-9 cannot replicate. The compensation range is in line with standard Skunk Works pilot rates, which supports a competing read of routine attrition replacement rather than demand-driven expansion. A parallel recall of retired aviators or a Skunk Works simulator-hours bid within the next 90 days would resolve that ambiguity.

Skunk Works Is Looking for a U-2 Pilot - The Aviationist

Lockheed Martin seeks rare U-2 pilot, reviving Cold War spy plane legacy - Prism News

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SneakyFire23@reddit

Jesus this thing reads like an undergrad had a word count to hit.

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critical_patch@reddit

That’s ai for you

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gefahr@reddit

I don't see any hallmarks of AI in this writing, and I spend all day with it (please send help.)

It's just wordy and poorly structured, like a lot of writing.

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hutch_man0@reddit

Just the last 2 sentences

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SpoonGuardian@reddit

Like every job posting description I've seen is such word salad sometimes I can't even tell what the job actually is

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Kooky-Cap2249@reddit

I can BS the resume but not the checkride

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thetiredtypist@reddit

CLEAR PROP

🤦🏻‍♂️ Damnit Jim, you practiced this!

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ComfortableBus7184@reddit

I guess they still haven't found what they're looking for?

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here4daratio@reddit

Well, TBF much of the flying will be over Top Secret sections Area 51…

where the streets have no name…

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alrobertson314@reddit

Looks like they’ll be flying…

With or without you

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Some_Distant_Memory@reddit

I imagine Lockheed already paged Bono

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vanillatom@reddit

Lewis Hamilton's old race engineer?

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esposimi@reddit

My tires are gone

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concerts85701@reddit

My dad flew the U2 back in the 80s. Maybe they’ll take him back - he’s 82 and wants to fly gliders again.

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old_righty@reddit

When the aliens invade he can say hello boys, I’m baaasckkk.

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concerts85701@reddit

Ha! Ask him about aliens all the time and he changes the subject or makes a joke.

He has a bunch of stories about Area 51 and flying his T-38 like a sports car all over the west coast.

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sb4l@reddit

Dumb question, why is Lockheed hiring this position versus the Air Force just assigning/training a military pilot like most other aircraft?

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Johalak@reddit

Lockheed does acceptance flights and test flights as well.

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Kentness1@reddit

Do you think they will accept currency in the renounced N2472W as a substitute?

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Glum_Photograph_7133@reddit

Time to fire up the ol' resume, I suppose

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here4daratio@reddit

I send you my clutch letter of recommendation

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Planeandaquariumgeek@reddit

Does Ace Combat, War Thunder, & DCS experience count?

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MBT70@reddit

Lol you think DCS qualifies you? I just reached hour 40 in MSFS, step aside.

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post-explainer@reddit

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