By DUANE SCHRAG

Salina Journal

Some low-hanging clouds were responsible for the window-rattling roar that startled many Salina residents Monday night. Ironically, if the weather had been worse, it's possible they wouldn't have been disturbed at all.

A C-5 Galaxy -- one of the largest planes in the world -- carrying cargo for the Hawgsmoke fighter jet competition next week -- had to make three tries at landing in Salina. The aborted landings sent it circling over Salina around 11:15 p.m., striking terror in the hearts of some residents who aren't accustomed to the massive jet's thunderous engines.

"It's a lot louder than the aircraft that normally come in here," said Barney King, who heads the professional pilot program at Kansas State University at Salina.

The plane had been expected earlier in the day but was delayed, said Tim Rogers, Salina Airport manager. It rained lightly on and off during the day and into the evening. But visibility was not so poor that the airport tower was suggesting instrument landings.

"If the weather is good enough that the pilot can see the airport, we advertise visual approaches," said Bruce Boyle, air traffic manager.

The wind was out of the south and west, so the C-5 was approaching the runway from the north. The glide path starts about 10 miles out. The tower was recommending a visual landing.

"The pilot that night saw the airport," Boyle said. "He started to get into some low clouds, and he kind of got spooked, I think."

He pulled up, wheeling to the east.

"The pilot was going to go out and shoot an instrument approach," Boyle said. "But then when he turned back to the north he saw the runway again."

He decided to try a second visual approach. But he apparently cut back to the airport too soon. Residents saw the giant cargo plane flying due west over midtown. That apparently didn't leave the pilot room to make the turn for the final approach soon enough.

"I think he kind of overshot the second time," Boyle said.

The third pass went smoothly. After the plane put down, the crew discovered a hydraulic problem that prevented the plane from lowering itself when on the ground (a move sometimes described as "kneeling," which makes it easier to load and unload).

"There was no in-flight emergency," Rogers said.

But fire trucks and ambulances quickly gathered at the field.

"The air crew did not declare an emergency," said Maj. David Kurle, an Air Force spokesman stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. "They were just as surprised as everyone else. We have no idea why they called them."

The hydraulic problem was easily repaired, he said.

n Reporter Duane Schrag can be reached at 822-1422 or by e-mail at dschrag@salina.com.

The wind was out of the south and west, so the C-5 was approaching the runway from the north. The glide path starts about 10 miles out. The tower was recommending a visual landing.

"The pilot that night saw the airport," Boyle said. "He started to get into some low clouds, and he kind of got spooked, I think."

He pulled up, wheeling to the east.

"The pilot was going to go out and shoot an instrument approach," Boyle said. "But then when he turned back to the north he saw the runway again."

He decided to try a second visual approach. But he apparently cut back to the airport too soon. Residents saw the giant cargo plane flying due west over midtown. That apparently didn't leave the pilot room to make the turn for the final approach soon enough.

"I think he kind of overshot the second time," Boyle said.

The third pass went smoothly. After the plane put down, the crew discovered a hydraulic problem that prevented the plane from lowering itself when on the ground (a move sometimes described as "kneeling," which makes it easier to load and unload).

"There was no in-flight emergency," Rogers said.

But fire trucks and ambulances quickly gathered at the field.

"The air crew did not declare an emergency," said Maj. David Kurle, an Air Force spokesman stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. "They were just as surprised as everyone else. We have no idea why they called them."

The hydraulic problem was easily repaired, he said.

n Reporter Duane Schrag can be reached at 822-1422 or by e-mail at dschrag@salina.com.

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