One of NASA's two modified Boeing 747s that were modified for use as space shuttle carrier aircraft, NASA 911, made its final flight Feb. 8. The big four-engine converted jumbo jet's final mission was a short flight lasting only about 20 minutes from NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base to the Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility adjacent to Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale.
Credit: NASA/Tony Landis
[i][b]Above[/b]: NASA 911, one of two modified Boeing 747s that were modified for use as Shuttle Carrier Aircraft for the space shuttles, lands at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale Feb. 8 after its final flight, a short hop from NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base.[/i]
The converted jetliner will be retired and used as a source of parts to keep NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) Boeing 747SP aircraft and the remaining Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, NASA 905, flying.
NASA 905 will be used to ferry the remaining space shuttles to the cities of their final display venues, including the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington, D.C. (Discovery), the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York City (Enterprise) and the California Science Center in Los Angeles (Endeavour).
NASA 911, a Boeing 747-100SR short range version, was the second Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. It was built in November 1973 and was flown in commercial airline service by Japan Air Lines for about 15 years. It was obtained by NASA in 1989 and after modifications by The Boeing Co., it was delivered to NASA on Nov. 20, 1990 to serve as a carrier aircraft for the space shuttles for the next 21 years.
Including its final flight, NASA 911 amassed 33,004.1 flight hours over its more than 38-year flying career.
Credit: NASA/Tony Landis
[i][b]Above[/b]: Jeff Moultrie, Bob Zimmerman and Henry Taylor of Johnson Space Center's Aircraft Operations Directorate took a brief moment for the photographer in the flight deck of NASA Shuttle Carrier Aircraft 911 after crewing its final flight.[/i]