SR-71 Flight in the 1973 Yom Kippur war

[Tink]

We were rousted to duty in the early hours from our comfortable indoor bunks for this event at Beale.
http://webs.lanset.com/aeolusaero/Articles/Jim_Wilson_Yom_Kippur_War_SR71_flight-25Jan10.pdf

 

[tbm3fan]

This months Air & Space had a nice article on SR-71 "Rapid Rabbit" (61-7978/2029) which had a crash landing at Kadena in 1972 after flying out of Udorn. Eyewitness account by a aircraft maintenance technician including the procedure for start up in a hanger, taxi surrounded by trucks then to take off and gone in less than 10 seconds. This bird was written off because of the crash.

As it was vectoring in the tower warned the pilot of 35-50 mph gusts 90 degrees across the runway. The tower may have advsed him to find another airport which is impossible if you are flying an SR-71. Low on fuel was one thing and secrecy on landing another. So the pilot came in aligned with the runway's centerline and it looked like a perfect landing. Yet as he deployed his chute a wind gust blew it to port and the nose went to starboard at which point one of the left main landing gear tires blew. Jettisoned the chute, poured on the coals, rotated away from the runway back into the sky to circle around for a second go.

Tech is wondering what the pilot is going to do with no chute, blown tires, and monster crosswinds from a typhoon getting worse. Pilot made second approach, dumped fuel along the entire length of the runway and then circled around for the third approach and landing. As he touched down a fireball engulfed the left main gear. Plane kept rolling, nose up in the air and then the right main tires blew. The Blackbird skidded past him, nose up and tires on fire for 4-5 seconds. When the left main collapsed the wing hit the ground and the left engine exploded. Then the entire airframe began to spin, travelling down the runway at high speed and finally the right main collapsed. The bird kept sliding down the centerline of the runway till it drifted off to the left into grass and came to a stop. Pilot and RIO jump out and run.

Only a recovery crew was allowed near the plane but recovery had to wait as the typhoon was on the base. When it passed, and they brought out a crane to lift the airframe, the crane sunk into the saturated ground. A month later the remains were loaded onto a C-5 headed Stateside. Possibly Beale where they rotated in and out of?

 

[1978 NYB]

We were rousted to duty in the early hours from our comfortable indoor bunks for this event at Beale.
http://webs.lanset.com/aeolusaero/Articles/Jim_Wilson_Yom_Kippur_War_SR71_flight-25Jan10.pdf

Were you on that SR-71?

 

[Tink]

Were you on that SR-71?

No, I was a P-2 Crash truck mechanic. I had a basic 9 to 5 job until that day. From my lowly perspective, it was like defcon 5. Everyone was on alert but told nothing. However, being on the flightline when the Blackbirds are flying is an awesome experience you never forget. I was just past 18 years old when this happened.

 

[BIGBARNEYCARS]

In the late '80s after they mothballed the whole fleet I waz out just crusin' the gulf coast over near Pensacola with ah car-bud and our wivez and made a north bound turn to hook back up with I-10 and head back east right in front of the main Gate of Eglin AFB and I waz lookin' rite at the nose of one of those Black Beauty'z less then 50' away from me up on two steal polez. I forgot to let go of the wheel and ran right into the curb at the entrance. Good memory and good pic of me huggin' the forward pole too thatz unfortunately been lost in time somewhere, Jer

 

[1978 NYB]

No, I was a P-2 Crash truck mechanic. I had a basic 9 to 5 job until that day. From my lowly perspective, it was like defcon 5. Everyone was on alert but told nothing. However, being on the flightline when the Blackbirds are flying is an awesome experience you never forget. I was just past 18 years old when this happened.

Thanks for your service!

 

[Tink]

This months Air & Space had a nice article on SR-71 "Rapid Rabbit" (61-7978/2029) which had a crash landing at Kadena in 1972 after flying out of Udorn. Eyewitness account by a aircraft maintenance technician including the procedure for start up in a hanger, taxi surrounded by trucks then to take off and gone in less than 10 seconds. This bird was written off because of the crash.

When it passed, and they brought out a crane to lift the airframe, the crane sunk into the saturated ground. A month later the remains were loaded onto a C-5 headed Stateside. Possibly Beale where they rotated in and out of?

Thanks for the story. Beale was the home base for the Blackbird. That story doesn't mention the T-38's that always helped the plane land and what their input was. I don't recall hearing about it in general conversation at Beale in my timeline there. As to security, that plane had it in spades. No one they didn't want near it got near it.

When Israel was attacked by Egypt and Syria in 10/73, it was the closest it has ever been to destruction. I was surprised to learn much later in life that the evidence provided by the SR-71's overflights caused Israel to back off during cease-fire talks.

Watching a SR-71 land is impressive too. A pair of T-38's flank her all the way down. Its like watching a ballet. T-38's looking insects floating next to a bullet in flight. But the take-off is the real show. Gone in 10 seconds. Seems like straight up from the ground. Its the most amazing aircraft ever created and done with a slide rule.

 

[Tink]

In the late '80s after they mothballed the whole fleet I waz out just crusin' the gulf coast over near Pensacola with ah car-bud and our wivez and made a north bound turn to hook back up with I-10 and head back east right in front of the main Gate of Eglin AFB and I waz lookin' rite at the nose of one of those Black Beauty'z less then 50' away from me up on two steal polez. I forgot to let go of the wheel and ran right into the curb at the entrance. Good memory and good pic of me huggin' the forward pole too thatz unfortunately been lost in time somewhere, Jer

That is funny right there. We have fighters on poles in front of the JSC near where I live on Galveston Bay but seeing a SR-71 on a pole would make me hit a curb too. That is a huge aircraft. A five foot nothing tall person could likely stand erect in the exhaust nacelle.

 

[tbm3fan]

No, the story made no mention of any T-38s helping the bird land at Kadena. Whether the storm had anything to do with it? Maybe. The pilot was overheard on the radio and it was said he wasn't that calm at the time due to the storm. Yep, I don't think they were designed to fly through typhoons.