Author
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Topic: Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) historical photos
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LM-12 Member Posts: 3208 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 08-11-2014 12:03 PM
The NASA website has this series of "SCA Historical Photos" taken at Kennedy Space Center in 2012.The Armstrong Flight Research Center has this great shot of both 747 aircraft (NASA 911 and NASA 905) in flight above Edwards Air Force Base in 2011. For the first time ever, NASA's two highly modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft briefly flew in formation over the Edwards Air Force Base test range on Aug. 2, 2011. Both aircraft were scheduled to be in the air on the same day, NASA 911 (foreground) on a flight crew proficiency flight, NASA 905 (rear) on a functional check flight following maintenance operations. The aircraft flew in formation for about 20 minutes while NASA photographer Carla Thomas captured still and video imagery of the formation flight from a NASA Dryden F/A-18. |
cspg Member Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
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posted 08-11-2014 01:27 PM
A great shot, indeed. |
Ronpur Member Posts: 1211 From: Brandon, Fl Registered: May 2012
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posted 08-11-2014 07:53 PM
It is indeed a cool shot. If one or both had a shuttle on their backs, it would have been even more spectacular. LOL |
LM-12 Member Posts: 3208 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 08-11-2014 08:57 PM
The photo was taken a few weeks after STS-135 landed.When was the last ferry flight for an orbiter that was still to fly a mission? |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-11-2014 09:08 PM
The last mission to land at Edwards Air Force Base was STS-128. Discovery was ferried back to Kennedy Space Center by NASA 911 on Sept. 20-21, 2009 to fly twice again before the end of the program. |
LM-12 Member Posts: 3208 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 08-12-2014 08:24 AM
Notice that the red chevron and the orbiting spacecraft are reversed in the NASA logo on right side of the 747 tail. |
cspg Member Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
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posted 08-12-2014 10:41 AM
Make a photo souvenir book out of those photos. |
LM-12 Member Posts: 3208 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 08-12-2014 10:53 AM
This photo of the formation flight shows the left side. I suppose that 911 is still in the NASA fleet. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-12-2014 11:03 AM
NASA 911 was retired in February 2012. It is now permanently grounded in Palmdale, Calif., where it is a parts donor for NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOPHIA). |
LM-12 Member Posts: 3208 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 08-12-2014 12:58 PM
So, it was the newer SCA (911) that was retired first, and it was NASA 905 that ferried both Discovery to Washington, and then Endeavour to Los Angeles later on in 2012. I think I got that right. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-12-2014 01:21 PM
Yes, NASA 905 flew all three museum deliveries (Enterprise included). |
LM-12 Member Posts: 3208 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 08-12-2014 07:07 PM
The Flight Research Center movie collection includes the 747 formation flight. |
LM-12 Member Posts: 3208 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 08-13-2014 10:39 AM
The NASA website mentions that one Shuttle Carrier Aircraft is a 747-100, and the other is a 747-100SR (short range). They look almost identical. Which is which? |
LM-12 Member Posts: 3208 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 08-15-2014 11:35 PM
Here is a video clip of that STS-128 ferry flight. |