Still available ! Signed Seeker 72 painting.
Signatures include the pilots, crew, ground support, engineers, and others involved in the U-2 program over the past 50 years. Special discounts and options for DLA members. Click on the image for larger view.
PRINTS ON CANVAS
* Full-size, 24" x 48" image - $225.00 plus $15.00 Shipping.
* Half-size, 15"x 30" image - $ 125.00 plus $10.00 Shipping.
PRINTS ON HEAVY MATTE PAPER
* Full-size, 24"x 48" image - $125.00 plus $15.00 Shipping.
* Half-size, 15"x 30" image - $75.00 plus $10.00 Shipping.
Order from Dave Mueller via e-mail:
dave@dbmueller.com
Painting Dedication:
Major Duane Dively goes “tactical”, flying Dragonlady #80-01092, while soaring into high country on a mission flown from the 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron operating from Royal Air Force Akrotiri, Cyprus. The 99ERS conducted missions in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM in conjunction with two other U-2 operating locations; one at Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and another at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. Combined, those U-2 missions provided 88% of all battlefield imagery, conducted 60% of all signals intelligence collection and were airborne 24/7 for 14 days during the high tempo combat operations during that conflict.
As Dave worked the final details inch by inch, the accuracy is amazing. To see a higher resolution image (2MB file) which enables you to zoom in and examine the details, click the picture below.
The Artist:
Dave Mueller is an aviation artist living in Park City, Utah. We crossed paths with Dave during the Reno Air Races. His artwork captured our attention because of the vivid colors, technical accuracy and his attention to detail. We asked him if he'd be interested in doing a painting to commemorate the U-2's 50th reunion and described the rough concepts we were considering for the project. He agreed and we sent him quite a few digital photos of the U-2 and of the the location we considered for the scene. We also hosted him on a visit to Beale where he got the V.I.P. tour and took several more close-ups to use in the work for reference.
The Painting:
Major Duane W. Dively, flying Dragonlady #1092, soars into high country on a mission flown from the 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron operating from Royal Air Force Akrotiri, Cyprus. The 99ERS conducted missions in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM in conjunction with two other U-2 operating locations; one at Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and another at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. Combined, those U-2 missions provided 88% of all battlefield imagery, conducted 60% of all signals intelligence collection and were airborne 24/7 for 14 days during high tempo combat operations during that conflict.
The Dragonlady first moved into the Eastern Mediterranean to provide over flight and support United Nations treaty verification of the Camp David Peace Accords between Egypt and Israel. U-2R flights from RAF Akrotiri began on August 9, 1970 and have continued virtually uninterrupted ever since making it the oldest active operating location in the program's history.
From the U-2's first taxi test turned unintentional test flight on August 1, 1955, the Dragonlady wanted to fly. It soars still and has most often been the first in and last out of every military conflict and area of national interest ever since. This painting by David Mueller honors both the 50-year-old spirit of the aircraft affectionately known as the Dragonlady and those who have flown her.
The tail number and sensor load are historically accurate as are smallest details of the background - even down to the other aircraft on the dispersals at the early stages of the operation. We wanted the scene to capture the impressive climb out and span of the aircraft so we convinced Dave to take on the project making the original work on a 2'x 4' canvas, one of the largest he's ever painted.
As a dedication to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing in honor of the U-2 50th Anniversary, Ed McGovern and Major Rob "Crash" Creedon are offering the original painting to the Wing. They are also arranging for individual high quality Giclee prints exclusively from Bair Art Editions on either artist canvas or high quality matte papers and in full size or reduced versions. Each print will be signed by the Artist.
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