The U-2 was a Nuclear Powered Plane

This article is just a sketch.

When one looks at the timelines of the Congressional funding for the ANP program and the history of the U-2 program it is clear that the U-2 was a nuclear powered plane. The first U-2's were built by Convair and Lockheed. This is why the planes had the "CL" designation. These companies had a special relationship. It was not a reference to Kelly Johnson's initials "Clarence L." A declassified National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) document mentions this relationship. We know from the June 1957 issue of "Aeronautical Engineering Review" that Kelly Johnson was working on the design of nuclear powered air frames. The location of the U-2 program also is a give away. The U-2 was based out of Groom Lake aka AREA-51. AREA-51 is an area that was annexed to the Atomic Energy Commission's Nevada testing grounds. What better place to run the nuclear plane program? It is already being used as an atomic testing ground. Also if there is a crash of the plane it will most likely take place near the airport.

The U-2 flew above 100,000 ft according to the May 31, 1960 issue of "Aviation Week." How could this be the case? How could a plane cruise at that altitude just using chemical means? Unless the plane is carrying oxygen on board it would not be able to fly at that height and would have a limited range. A nuclear powered plane would not have this problem. The plane outlined in the 
REPORT ON REVIEW OF MANNED AIRCRAFT NUCLEAR PROPULSION PROGRAM ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION AND DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE would be able to fly at that height because there is no need for oxygen. A nuclear powered plane could take off using only nuclear power carrying chemical fuel / reaction mass that would only be used when the atmosphere was too thin. The chemical fuel would be forced through the reactor propelling the plane forward.

The evidence all points to the U-2 being a nuclear powered plane.

CONVAIR LOCKHEED SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP 

Bibliography:
Cleveland, F.A., & Johnson, Clarence L., "Design of Air Frames for Nuclear Power", Aeronautical Engineering Review 16 (June 1957): 48.

REPORT ON REVIEW OF MANNED AIRCRAFT NUCLEAR PROPULSION PROGRAM ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION AND DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE