Just saw your post, Vick.
For the carrier varient, they could get the flaps down to 50 degrees (35 is the current maximum). This gave HUGE amounts of drag to allow the power to stay up.
On later tests with the R-model (the larger U-2 that is what flies today), they also put a cage around the tailwheel, and deflectors on the wing tips, to keep the cable from snagging/damaging those parts. Those tests were flown off of the America, I think.
The carrier pattern remained in our flight manual until around '93. And the Hook lowering switch stayed in the cockpit until maybe 6 years ago.
Vick is correct: the outer 70" of each wing can fold. That would reduce the wingspan to 92'. For those of you that operate off of the large carriers, is 92' vs. 104' a big advantage?
They tried the idea of using a chase car, but abandoned it, since the cars would end up getting driven off the bow of the ship. I keed, I keed!!! :icon_tong