Topic: A&E's "Shipping Wars" at Space & Rocket Center
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-22-2013 01:11 PM
The A&E reality TV show Shipping Wars, which follows independent carriers as they transport items that traditional carriers either cannot or will not haul, recently filmed the delivery of a NASA T-38 jet to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
The astronaut training jet will be going on display in Shuttle Plaza, alongside the space shuttle Pathfinder display and soon a Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA) as well.
Atlantis Member
Posts: 111 From: Cullman, AL Registered: Dec 2007
posted 06-22-2013 02:51 PM
Is that the one from Aviation Challenge or a different one?
sts205cdr Member
Posts: 649 From: Sacramento, CA Registered: Jun 2001
posted 06-23-2013 04:56 PM
It doesn't match up with my photos from Space Camp (and thus trips to AC) over the years, so I'm sure it's a different bird.
mikej Member
Posts: 481 From: Germantown, WI USA Registered: Jan 2004
posted 06-23-2013 05:46 PM
A USSRC Facebook post, the T-38 came from El Paso, TX. There are also additional photos of the move.
I also found a press release from last year about the T-38 leaving the El Paso Museum of History.
Atlantis Member
Posts: 111 From: Cullman, AL Registered: Dec 2007
posted 06-23-2013 06:53 PM
Thanks!
Any idea when the STA is set to arrive?
Gonzo Member
Posts: 596 From: Lansing, MI, USA Registered: Mar 2012
posted 06-23-2013 07:37 PM
OK, so they filmed it. Any idea when it will air? Don't see that on the links.
GACspaceguy Member
Posts: 2474 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
posted 06-24-2013 05:27 AM
quote:Originally posted by Gonzo: Any idea when it will air?
It aired last week Tuesday, June 18.
As far as the STA goes, I understand they have the funding to transport it on site but are still working to get enough sponsorship to produce a display area.
Spaceguy5 Member
Posts: 427 From: Pampa, TX, US Registered: May 2011
posted 06-24-2013 06:11 AM
Also at the moment, the STA (which is tail number N945NA) is disassembled in Birmingham, AL.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-24-2013 07:17 AM
quote:Originally posted by GACspaceguy: It aired last week Tuesday, June 18.
Posts: 1642 From: Olympia, WA Registered: Sep 2011
posted 06-24-2013 07:42 PM
I'm not 100% sure but I suspect this isn't a real NASA bird after all. N999NA is considered the very end of the registration # series alloted for NASA aircraft, I don't think they numbered any of them that far into the series from the T-38s I've seen in various places (including the lineup at Ellington a few years back). My understanding is that the T-38 formerly at the El Paso museum was a US Navy bird, not a NASA one.
It wouldn't be the first time, the F-104 painted in NASA colors at the Museum of Flight in Seattle is also not a NASA aircraft as well.
Huntsville has several other aircraft over at Aviation Challenge that can't be seen by the public, most of them came from AMARC. I'm not sure of the NASA-marked T-38 they already have over there, though. It always seemed odd they had that plane there when it really belonged over at the Space Museum instead.
Greggy_D Member
Posts: 977 From: Michigan Registered: Jul 2006
posted 06-24-2013 07:53 PM
The name on the canopy appears to read "Phil Vaughn." Is he a NASA pilot?
From looking at USSRC's pics, Bob Cabana's name is on the canopy also.
Atlantis Member
Posts: 111 From: Cullman, AL Registered: Dec 2007
posted 07-06-2013 08:11 PM
Here a few photos I shot this afternoon of it mostly together.
mmcmurrey Member
Posts: 114 From: Austin, TX, USA Registered: Jun 2012
posted 07-07-2013 10:31 AM
quote:Originally posted by p51: My understanding is that the T-38 formerly at the El Paso museum was a US Navy bird, not a NASA one.
I don't believe the USN ever had T-38's.
p51 Member
Posts: 1642 From: Olympia, WA Registered: Sep 2011
posted 07-08-2013 01:08 AM
quote:Originally posted by mmcmurrey: I don't believe the USN ever had T-38's.
You probably should have Googled "USN T-38" before typing that, and I'll bow out without further comment, hard as it is to do so...