NASA will continue to use N905NA to research reducing turbulence produced by larger aircraft.
BONUS: Video of both 747 shuttle carriers flying in formation
N905NA doing its job, carrying the shuttle Discovery in April 2012. Photo by jsmjr / Flickr.
This 747-100 was originally delivered to American Airlines in 1970 as N9668. In 1974, NASA took ownership and was converted to a Shuttle Carrier.
From NASA’s website, the features that distinguish the two SCAs from standard 747 jetliners are:
- Three struts with associated interior structural strengthening protrude from the top of the fuselage (two aft, one forward) on which the orbiter is attached.
- Two additional vertical stabilizers, one on each end of the standard horizontal stabilizer, to enhance directional stability.
- Removal of all interior furnishings and equipment aft of the forward No. 1 doors.
- Instrumentation used by SCA flight crews and engineers to monitor orbiter electrical loads during the ferry flights and also during pre- and post-ferry flight operations.
Thanks to SpeedBirdHD for taking and sharing this video.
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RE: Future of NASA SCA 905 & 911. I saw this at http://www.nasa.gov/topics/nasalife/features/shuttle_museum.html It says towards the bottom: “both shuttle carrier aircraft will support NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) Boeing 747SP aircraft flying.” It looks like NASA uses the SCA to transport the Phantom Ray http://boeingblogs.com/bds/sightings/2010/12/phantom-ray-rides.html
One of the Controllers at LAX tower posted some great pics on his photoblog of 905 & Endeavour’s arrival and flybys…Check out the crowds!: http://fromthecontroltower.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-endeavour-has-landed.html
Is David going to try to get into the United hanger to see Endeavour on the 29th?