Everything about the U2 is unique. It has a bicycle landing gear so the pilot needs to balance it during take off and landing. Normally it takes off with outboard pogo wheels on the wings for balance which are dropped on the runway once the plane is airborne. Here, the U2 is being hand launched by the ground crew. This is sometimes done if the runway is too bumpy, etc. One man on each wing balances the plane and then runs along side as it gains speed. They only take about three steps before its flying...