Flying the C-7 Caribou home after failed Kee Bird recovery

[blue3992]

In this month's Air and Space Smithsonian magazine, Vernon Rich talks about the long, slow, trip back to the US in the team's C-7 Caribou.

https://www.airspacemag.com/airspacemag ... 180978695/

[sandiego89]

Really amazing that they made it is as close as they did with all the shortcuts and safety third attitude for much of the project. A noble effort that we all wish had succeeded, but perhaps destined to fail. Thanks for posting as I have followed this saga for decades.

[Spitty]

Yeah a lot of lessons have been learnt the hard way..

[APG85]

I heard or read that the C-7 used in the Kee Bird effort was eventually scrapped. Is that true?

[maxum96]

I heard or read that the C-7 used in the Kee Bird effort was eventually scrapped. Is that true?

According to this message string, yes. viewtopic.php?f=3&t=70874

It was in pretty rough shape

[RNDMTRS4EVR]

I do work with Vern off and on, his shop is just down the street from me, he has some very interesting stories of what never made it to film on that whole recovery attempt. He is a a nice guy and can fabricate anything.

Scott.....

[blue3992]

I do work with Vern off and on, his shop is just down the street from me, he has some very interesting stories of what never made it to film on that whole recovery attempt. He is a a nice guy and can fabricate anything.

Scott.....

I did a search before posting this thread, and saw there were several previous Kee Bird threads. Lots of speculation, and as can be expected, some Monday Morning Quarterback-ing. I figured I'd start a new thread instead of reigniting an old one. I also bought the "Chasing Warbirds" book, hoping it arrives any day now.

At the risk of kicking-off another round of Kee Bird criticisms, I've always been curious about how things would have unfolded had the plane not caught fire. Most importantly, how sure was the crew that the aircraft could get off the ground on their short runway? Believe they had carved a 2000-3000 foot runway out of the snow and ice, albeit still bumpy.

Had they run the numbers, and come up with some level of confidence that they'd be able to keep the aircraft pointed straight down the runway, and gain enough speed to takeoff? Or was there some level of "I hope this works" involved?

Would love it if Vern would come on this board, and do a Reddit-style Ask Me Anything (AMA). I always thought the Kee Bird recovery story was an incredible tale of adventure; like a modern Indiana Jones story.

Last edited by blue3992 on Thu Oct 28, 2021 4:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[phil65]

So the recovery attempt took three years ?
Didn't realize it was that long, I guess the show made it seem shorter.

Phil

[Spitty]

So the recovery attempt took three years ?
Didn't realize it was that long, I guess the show made it seem shorter.

Phil

Weather was a big factor I think.

[sandiego89]

.....At the risk of kicking-off another round of Kee Bird criticisms, I've always been curious about how things would have unfolded had the plane not caught fire. Most importantly, how sure was the crew that the aircraft could get off the ground on their short runway? Believe they had carved a 2000-3000 foot runway out of the snow and ice, albeit still bumpy.

Had they run the numbers, and come up with some level of confidence that they'd be able to keep the aircraft pointed straight down the runway, and gain enough speed to takeoff? Or was there some level of "I hope this works" involved?......

Very much seems to be a "hope this works" attitude. The take off area was very rough, and take off was only one obstacle. I seem to recall some discussion of how much the USAF would have actually helped/looked the other way if they had made it to Thule AFB, I believe the intended first destination if they had made it off the lake area. I do not believe the USAF was very keen on the whole operation (with some justification and some already hurt feelings), and it seemed the effort was more inclined to ask for forgiveness rather that permission if they bounced into Thule. There were still tremendous obstacles between the lakebed and the states: significant ranges and terrain between the lake and Thule where and engine loss or other emergency could have been catastrophic, support at Thule (would the USAF allow hangar space/work?, AVGAS? the USAF "shutting them down" due to aircraft condition?), then if they got out of Thule they still had long way to go to the US via long overwater stretches and remote Canadian and US wilderness. Plenty of opportunities for something else to go wrong.

The safest method would have been diss-assembly in place, and transport for restoration or preservation, but that would have been prohibitively expensive and difficult.

I too would have loved to see them pull it off. Like Glacier Girl, she would have tremendous provenance if on display today.