https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/8xwd95/why-was-a-50-year-old-american-spy-plane-just-flying-in-british-airspace

A rural section in Southwest England recently got the chance to catch a rare glimpse at one of the most storied planes in aviation history. Local Gloucestershire Live News reports that at 7:00 AM October 1st, residents of Gloucestershire County woke up to a legendary Lockheed U-2 spy plane taking off from Royal Air Force Base Fairford. US Air Force officials said last week's flight was part of scheduled “crash and disaster” training going on in the region.

According to local aviation enthusiasts, the plane nicknamed “Dragon Lady” initially showed up at RAF Fairford in late September. First flown in 1955, these flights in the UK demonstrate why the world’s first ultra-high-altitude reconnaissance plane continues to be hailed as a technological marvel.