See photos of Air Force’s most secret NorCal base. How you can visit it too
It’s been seven years since Beale Air Force Base, home to the secretive U-2 Dragon Lady reconnaissance aircraft, hosted a public airshow.
In anticipation of the event, the Yuba County airbase invited local media for a demonstration of the aircraft on Wednesday and the pressure suits pilots must use to fly it. A glimpse of Beale’s other aircraft, the T-38 Talon training jet, was also presented. Media visitors were asked not to photograph a number of base features.
The opportunities to see the elusive U-2 might be dwindling, since the plane has been targeted for retirement in 2026 — although extensions to the program are possible.
The Beale Air & Space Expo 2025 is scheduled for June 7-8. The show will feature many performers, including the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, which fly the F-16 fighter, and the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18 Rhino demo team. The U-2 will also fly.
Admission is free, but parking reservations are required. More information is available at BealeAirShow.com.
This story was originally published April 5, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to clarify general admission ticket information.