We would break down in some crummy areas....we never broke down in...say ...Hawaii.
I got stuck overnight in the Azores! :-)
You didn't have the right crew. I was stationed at Beale doing Mission Programming for the SR-71. We would ride KC-135's when we deployed to Kadena, with a stop at Hickam. I was friends with a couple of the flight crews and got to ride in the jump seat on deployements with them.
We would be sitting on the ground at Beale helping the Navigator and Boom Operator make a list of problems to turn in upon landing at Hickam. Of course some of the stuff would require parts to be flown in from Beale -- which would neccesitate crew rest and an overnight stay at Hickam. and miracualously we would all just happen to have our golf clubs, etc with us. :-)
"...We would break down in some crummy areas....we never broke down in...say ...Hawaii...."
A little off-topic but going with your comment. A friend and I was traveling to Australia in 1991. He started feeling bad over the Pacific. We had to get off in Hawaii and get him to a hospital. Turns out his spleen was in the process of rupturing. Everything turned out great after his emergency operation.
Yes, Hawaii is a very nice place to get hung up in and a great concilation prize for those whose trip plans have to be altered.
I'm glad everyone made it out of that bird alive. Unbeliveable there was no fire. Looks like a lot of cargo was aboard.