NORTH -- U.S. Air Force officials say that while a bird which became grounded in a temporary nest in North last month may be out of sight, it's not out of mind.

The 155-foot-long Boeing C-32A grounded in North is stationed at Eglin Air Force Base near Valparaiso, Fla., as part of the 486th Flight Wing. For several weeks after its appearance in North, the airfield's normal rural scenery visible from U.S. 178 was silhouetted by the tail of the grounded bird.

For the past several days, however, the bird seems to have flown the coop.

"The aircraft is still there," USAF Lt. Col. Debbie Millett said. "It was towed down to the other end of the runway, I guess, so it could be closer to the investigators."

The grounded C-32 has been in North since early May 2 after it apparently experienced difficulty during a landing. Air Force officials say that when the military aircraft set down at the North Auxiliary Field, it apparently had trouble with the nose landing gear.

Two of 10 crew members on board were transported to a medical facility, where they were treated and released after being shaken up. No serious injuries were reported.

For several days after, armed military personnel lined the main gate the air field, and a large military vehicle blocked a northern entrance connecting the base and U.S. 178. That truck has since been replaced with three large concrete culverts.

The tight security was later explained by Air Force officials who said the plane was an aircraft for testing classified equipment. Officials still have not said whether the landing was scheduled or whether the landing was forced by an airborne emergency.

Military investigators similar those of the civilian National Transportation Safety Board are attempting to determine how the aircraft came to rest nose down, tail up. U.S. Air Force officials say it may be a while before the grounded bird will leave its impromptu nest in North.

"The accident investigation is still going on," Millet said. "The safety board still owns the aircraft, and they're in charge."

In the meantime, the crippled bird has been moved from the northwestern end of the air base to make way for construction crews, said Lt. Col. Jeff Fanto, the Eglin Air Force Base director of media relations.

"My understanding is they were doing some runway repairs," Fanto said. "The reason the plane was moved was to facilitate the construction workers."

Eglin AFB has been the Air Force Development Test Center since 1990. The military air base specializes in operational training for armament systems. Precision-guided munitions are tested and developed at Eglin.

Millett said that while the C-32A in North is not combat hardware, it is an aircraft used for testing new or experimental equipment.

Once the investigation is concluded, ground crews will repair the damage, and the plane will be flown out of North, officials say. When that will be is anyone's guess.

"There's not a whole lot that's changed other than its location," Fanto said. "And that was for two reasons -- one is to move it out of the way of construction workers, and secondly, to facilitate repairs."

T&D Staff Writer Richard Walker can be reached by e-mail at rwalker@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5516.

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