SR-71 - Landing at Buckley ANG Base

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Subject: SR-71 - Landing at Buckley ANG Base

Edited by David Barth, November 21, 2008.

SR-71 two-cockpit trainer version in flight.
There were three models: SR-71B (two of these) and
one SR-71C which is on display at Hill AFB.

It appears that this picture was taken by the boom operator of a KC-135Q tanker because the boom receptacle is still open as though the boom has just been pulled out and because the wet streaks on the wings are probably JP-7 fuel that came out of the boom when it was removed. Notice that after tanking, the SR is breaking off to the left to clear the tanker and either begin an acceleration climb, probably to Mach 3+ and 80,000+ feet or to head to the base at Beale AFB. The mountains could be those of the California Sierras.

SR-71 in flight. This is the reconnaissance version
of which 29 were built.

It appears that this picture was also taken by the boom operator of a KC-135Q tanker because the boom receptacle is still open as though the boom has just been pulled out and because the wet streaks behind the boom receptacle on the wings are probably JP-7 fuel that came out of the boom when it was removed. Notice that after tanking, the SR is breaking off to the left to clear the tanker and probably begin an acceleration climb, probably to Mach 3+ and 80,000+ feet.

SR-71 aircraft, perhaps at Groom Lake (Area 51)
where the prototypes were test flown.

From Left: SR-71, KC135Q tanker that carried the special
JP-7 fuel, U2, and a T-38 used by SR-71 pilots to maintain their
flying skills and as a chase plane when an SR-71
was low and slow in the immediate area.

SR-71 at a corrugated steel Quonset revetment.

SR-71 tanking.
Taking on a full fuel load took about 15 minutes.

SR-71 landings away from their bases were uncommon, but not well documented. One SR-71 emergency landing occurred at Buckley Air National Guard Base in Denver, Colorado. The base was notified that the SR-71 would arrive shortly, and Air Force guards were called upon to form a ring around the aircraft after it landed on the runway.

It stayed on the runway, and the armed guards formed a circle around it, facing outward. Air traffic headed for Buckley was rerouted to other airports.

After a C-130 arrived with a support crew, the plane was towed to a hangar with blacked-out windows. It is not recorded if, after takeoff, the SR-71 did a fly-by over Buckley.

SR-71 in flight

One SR-71 over Ohio called in to its operations center saying that it had a dual flame-out. Both engines were not producing power. As instructed, the operations center notified a key person at the Pentagon who notified a congressman who was his contact. The congressman became worried, asking where the SR-71 would have to make an emergency landing. The Pentagon official told him not to worry. At its speed and altitude, the SR-71 would be able to glide all the way from Ohio to its base in California.