Subject: SR-71 - Landing at Buckley ANG Base
Edited by David Barth, November 21, 2008
 "> |
SR-71 in flight |
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.
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.
Links to additional SR-71 Articles:
SR-71 - Inflight Breakup
SR-71 - Ceiling
SR-71 - Landing at Buckley ANG Base
SR-71 - Cancellation
SR-71 - Flight over France
SR-71 - Landing at Grand Forks, ND AFB
SR-71 - History
SR-71 - Flight over Libya
SR-71 - Navy challenge
SR-71 - Fueling from KC-135 Tankers
SR-71 - Titanium construction