File A121-R-61-7978SR-71AArticle 2029

61-7978

SR-71A · Article 2029
Rapid Rabbit
Lost20 Jul 1972

No display location
Dots mark every surviving airframe

No photo on fileNo openly licensed photograph of this airframe is in the archive yet. If you took one or know of one, it can be added with your permission.

Record

61-7978
2029
SR-71A
Not published
Not confirmed
Lost
Destroyed

Career

  • Playboy bunny tail art, hence 'Rapid Rabbit'
  • Remains reportedly buried at Kadena ('Habu Hill'); a rudder went to 61-7975

How it was lost

Written off on 20 July 1972 landing at Kadena in strong crosswinds: after a go-around with the drag chute already jettisoned, it touched down hot, could not stop and left the runway, wrecking the main gear. Pilot Dennis K. Bush and RSO James W. Fagg were unhurt.

In the chronology

8 Mar 1968First SR-71s deploy to Kadena (OL-8) SENIOR CROWN
SR-71A 61-7978 arrived at Kadena AB, Okinawa, followed by 61-7976 on 10 March and 61-7974 on 13 March, forming Operating Location 8 to take over the reconnaissance role of the CIA's A-12s. All three were reported operational by 15 March 1968.
20 Jul 1972'Rapid Rabbit' 61-7978 lost landing at Kadena SENIOR CROWN
61-7978, nicknamed 'Rapid Rabbit' for the Playboy bunny on its rudders, was destroyed when pilot Denny Bush tried to land at Kadena in extreme crosswinds after jettisoning the brake chute during a go-around. Bush and RSO Jimmy Fagg survived.

Where the record disagrees

Pilot's middle initial differs (Dennis K. Bush per sr-71.org, Dennis R. Bush per Baugher). Wikipedia's timeline says 7978 was the first SR-71A to arrive at Kadena, on 8 March 1968; not confirmed by a second source here. First flight and hours not found.

Sources

  1. SR-71 Online (sr-71.org), via Internet Archive. Blackbird Losses (archived copy). Open · In the register
  2. Habu.org. 61-7978 (Blackbird Photo Archive). Archived copy · In the register
  3. The SR-71 Blackbird (thesr71blackbird.com). SR-71A Blackbird #17978 / #2029. Open · In the register
  4. SR-71 Online (sr-71.org), via Internet Archive. SR-71 Locations (archived copy, lists serial / Lockheed article number and fate). Open · In the register