This one if for the airplane geeks. On February 2, 1970 three F-106 Delta Darts from Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana were practicing air combat maneuvers at 35,000 feet when one of the aircraft (58-0787) entered a flat spin. All attempts to regain control of the F-106 were unsuccessful, so as the jet passed through 12,000 feet the pilot was ordered to eject. The pilot ejected and the other two Dart pilots observed his parachute until he safely reached the ground. Later that day the Air Force received a call from the Montana Highway Patrol, who reported that a pilotless jet was sitting in a field with the engine running. Apparently either the change in weight and balance or the force of the ejection rocket had somehow caused the fighter to return to level flight. It flew pilotless, gradually descending, until it touched down on a level stubble filed near Big Sandy, MT. The fighter was in such good condition that it was recovered from the filed and put back into service. It flew with the Air Force until 1986, when it was transferred to the National Museum of the USAF where it remains on display today.
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