F-106 in a cornfield story

Fri Mar 20, 2009 5:02 pm

I dunno if this is bad form for me to do this, but here's a link to aafo.com (the forum that usually speaks "air racing"). It discusses the infamous F-106 performing a beautiful, pilotless, belly landing in a corn field. I wasn't sure if all of you had heard about this, so that's why I'm posting it here.

http://www.aafo.com/hangartalk/showthread.php?t=7114

Mods, do with this link/thread what you wish.

Gary

Fri Mar 20, 2009 5:09 pm

Hello,
It is my understanding that this airplane is at the NMUSAF.
I thought that might be an interesting tidbit to add.

Fri Mar 20, 2009 5:17 pm

Hadn't heard about this story - quite remarkable really. Thanks for posting it Gary.

Zack

Fri Mar 20, 2009 7:11 pm

Some where in the past I read a more in depth article on this incident and there was a photo taken from the air showing the curving path the downed F-106 was making as it slipped and moved across the ground, right towards a farmers barn. The farmer was worried that it would eventually hit the barn.
Any body remember that article?
Jerry

Fri Mar 20, 2009 7:20 pm

Jerry O'Neill wrote:Some where in the past I read a more in depth article on this incident and there was a photo taken from the air showing the curving path the downed F-106 was making as it slipped and moved across the ground, right towards a farmers barn. The farmer was worried that it would eventually hit the barn.
Any body remember that article?
Jerry

Maybe not the same article, but some pretty cool pictures of the incident.
http://www.f-106deltadart.com/71fis_PilotlessLanding_580787.htm

Fri Mar 20, 2009 11:11 pm

I didn't read the links yet, but the one that landed in a wheatfield in SOuth Dakota (or somewhere up there from memory) was repaired and returned to service and is currently in the NM USAF.........

Of course its painted in the 49FIS colors from Griffis AFB from near where I grew up. I saw those things all the time and they were awesome aircraft.

Mark H

Fri Mar 20, 2009 11:19 pm

IP Major Jimmy Lowe, observed the ejection and also observed 58-0787 straighten out right after ejection and reportedly transmitted "Gary - you'd better get back in it!".

Now that's funny , what a joker !

Sat Mar 21, 2009 3:56 am

If I remember correctly this incident was one of the first where 'Bitching Betty' was employed (recording of a female voice heard in the earphones in this case saying "Eject, eject").

Sat Mar 21, 2009 7:01 am

The plane is in the Air Force Museum .. it occured in Montana ... Malmstrom AFB (the old Great Falls AFB, my first assignment after tech school)

The incident occurred in the Winter time as she came down in a snow covered field.

Incidentally, I returned to Great Falls AFB after Korea and was present when the base was changed to Malmstrom.