U-2 at Cortez

gkainz

gkainz

Final Approach
Joined
Feb 23, 2005
Messages
8,401
Location
Arvada, CO
Display Name
Display name:
Greg Kainz
from a post on the purple board.
This is an amazing story and every minute of the video is worth watching.

Be sure to see the video of the terrain surrounding the airport in the last 60 sec of the movie.

Cortez a/p: 5900 feet elev, 7200 feet long , 100 feet wide.

This is aviation history that few know about. Especially the end if you have never landed in Cortez.
Mostly in English but read the English sub-titles when present.

www.hmhfp.info/SG_09E.html

U-2 flame out at 70,000 feet. A most fascinating story.
Click to expand...
 
+10

I loved this post, thanks! (the U2 is one of my favorites).

Can you imagine finding a Chinese speaking pilot, in a pressure suit, in a black airplane of unknown design at a rural airport in Colorado in the middle of the night?
 
Greg:

Thanks for posting that. Fascinating!
 
twdeckard said:
Can you imagine finding a Chinese speaking pilot, in a pressure suit, in a black airplane of unknown design at a rural airport in Colorado in the middle of the night?
Click to expand...

You have to love general aviation though.

A really strange character shows up late at night however he flew in therefore he's he's good people. So take him home and put him up overnight and give him a tour around town the next day. Top secret plane sitting out by the runway? Don't worry about it, just leave it there, nobody will bother it.
 
Wow! The title of the book "God is My Co-Pilot" could have easily applied to this incident.

I think the DFC was well earned.
 
Interesting story. I lived in Cortez for a few years growing up in the 70's and had never heard about this until now.
 
I'm sorry I missed that anniversary event. I don't think there have been so many people at the Cortez Airport in its history. Great story...now I'll have to actually read the stuff in the display case next time I make a stop there.

Jon
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top