59-2870 —

Dad worked on the USN versions in the 70s.

GOOD OLD 40 SERIES IS STILL A ROCKET

I have flown in several aircraft over the years including one of these and this is the only one (not this plane in particular) that the oxygen masks ever dropped from due to an alarm for cabin pressure. Turns out it was a false alarm. Great shot.

59-2870 was part of the 4950th Test Wing at Wright Patt before the 4950th moved to Edwards in '94. I have a few hours as an FTE on that particular jet, including a trip to Kirtland to chase the Big Crow. The morning we flew home to Dayton we drove over to Kirtland ops and found 59-2869 on static display. It was a Planet of the Apes moment, Statue of Liberty and all. Well, except for our crew chief. He was listing all of the parts he could get while the plane was 20 feet off the ground on a pole.