# Ep. 229 | Merryl Tengesdal | U-2 Spy Plane Pilot

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/former-action-guys-podcast-518014/ep-229-merryl-tengesdal-u-2-spy-plane-pilot
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/former-action-guys-podcast-518014/ep-229-merryl-tengesdal-u-2-spy-plane-pilot.md
Podcast: [Former Action Guys Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/former-action-guys-podcast-518014)
Published: 2025-03-25T22:42:49+00:00
Episode link: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-229-merryl-tengesdal-u-2-spy-plane-pilot--65114442
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/65114442/u_2_spy_plane_pilot.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/former-action-guys-podcast-518014/episodes/ep-229-merryl-tengesdal-u-2-spy-plane-pilot
Duration seconds: 7117

## Resource

Merryl Tengesdal had a dream to reach space and believed her best chance was as a Naval Aviator. She began her career flying H-60s, moved on to training students flying the T-34c and T-6a, then applied for an inter-service transfer to screen to become a U-2 spy plane pilot. Support the show https://www.jcramergraphics.com https://www.ANGLICOshop.com https://www.patreon.com/formeractionguys Merryl's sites https://merryltengesdal.com/shop-book/ https://www.youtube.com/@UC_RCb3DfyEaWv80aQlKooRg 00:00:00 J Cramer Graphics Ad 00:00:40 Intro | mIRC Chat 00:04:47 1st Deployment | 1st Females on Ship 00:10:00 I Wanted to Be an Astronaut 00:14:40 Flight School 00:19:59 Landing SH-60s in Rough Seas 00:32:24 SH-60 Roles 00:34:40 2nd Deployment | South America 00:46:58 Different Cultures 00:56:44 Applying to be a U-2 Pilot 01:01:38 U-2 Spy Plane Pilot Selection and Training 01:16:54 U-2 Pilot's Custom Space Suit 01:23:04 Operating at High-Altitude 01:32:58 First High Altitude Flight | Food During Missions 01:37:02 Foreign Navies and Life on US Ships 01:42:33 Reality Checks | Casualty Assistance Officer 01:52:46 Extreme Ross

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## Transcript

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