While sufing around Wikipedia, I found this fascinating picture:
And the following information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ac ... %80%931974)
10 January - Boeing civilian test pilot Chuck Fisher and his three man crew lose the vertical fin of B-52H-170-BW Stratofortress, 61-023, in turbulence at ~ 14,000 ft. over northern New Mexico's Sangre de Christo mountains. An F-100 Super Sabre out of Wichita, Kansas and a KC-135 Stratotanker are launched to escort the bomber, and due to high winds at Wichita the decision is made to land at Blytheville AFB, Blytheville, Arkansas. After six hours of careful preparation, including the launch of another B-52 to test various landing configuration options, the damaged Stratofortress is successfully landed. It is subsequently repaired and currently serves with the 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base.
Unfortunately, the footnote link is dead now. Anybody familiar with this incident or know where more information can be found? I'm surprised that an aircraft with such long, highly swept wings was able to keep flying under control with most of it's vertical stab missing! I'm guessing the crew was able to use asymetric thrust of the engines to maintain directional (yaw) stability.
Slider... <sniff, sniff>... you stink.
