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Recapturing NASA's Aeronautics Flight Research Capabilities (2012)

Chapter: Appendix A: NASA Aircraft Assets

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Suggested Citation: "Appendix A: NASA Aircraft Assets." National Research Council. 2012. Recapturing NASA's Aeronautics Flight Research Capabilities. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13384.

A

NASA Aircraft Assets

Table A.1 is compiled from multiple sources that are not consistent. It includes all known current NASA aircraft, including those, like the T-38N Talon, which are used for astronaut training and those used primarily for scientific research, like the ER-2, WB-57, and SOFIA. Some of these aircraft have probably been disposed of by NASA, and many of them are not in flying condition but may be used for spare parts, ground tests, and so on. NASA has flown a wide variety of aircraft (see Figure A.1).

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TABLE A.1 NASA’s Aircraft Fleet


	N Number	Manufacturer	Model	Location

Research Aircraft
ARMD	501NA	Cirrus Design Corp.	SR22	Langley
ARMD	504NA	Cessna	206H	Langley
ARMD	515NA	Boeing	737-130	Langley
ARMD	524NA	North American	OV-10A	Langley
ARMD	529NA	Beechcraft	B-200	Langley
ARMD	535NA	Bell	UH-1H	Langley
ARMD	581NA	Rockwell	OV-10D	Langley
ARMD	592NA	Rockwell	OV-10D	Langley
ARMD	601NA	Lockheed	S-3B	Glenn
ARMD	602NA	Lockheed	S-3B	Dryden
ARMD	607NA	DeHavilland	DHC-6 Twin Otter	Glenn
ARMD	616NA	Learjet Inc.	25	Glenn
ARMD	801NA	Beechcraft	B-200	Dryden
ARMD	804NA	Gulfstream American Corp.	G-1159A	Dryden

ARMD	818NA	Lockheed	YO-3A	Dryden
ARMD	836NA	McDonnell Douglas	F-15B	Dryden

ARMD	853NA	McDonnell Douglas	FA-18A	Dryden
ARMD	880NA	Molino	OY-PIK-20E	Dryden
ARMD	NA	Bell	UH-60	Ames
ARMD	NA	Bell	UH-60	Ames
ARMD	Unknown	Gulfstream American Corp.	G-550	NASA Wallops
ARMD	Unknown	Boeing	B-777	Langley

ARMD	Unknown	Grupo-Aeromot-Ximango	TG-14	Dryden

ARMD	None	ATK	HyBolT	Langley
ARMD	None	NASA	AirSTAR	Langley
ARMD	None	NASA	1011	Langley
ARMD	None	NASA	DROID SUAV	Dryden
ARMD	None	Boeing	X-48B	Dryden
ARMD	None	Boeing	X-48C	Dryden
ARMD	None	Lockheed Martin	MUTT	Dryden
ARMD	None	Lockheed Martin	MUTT	Dryden
ARMD	None	NASA	IRVE-2	NASA Wallops
ARMD	None	NASA	IRVE-3	NASA Wallops
ARMD	None	NASA, AFRL, DSTO	HiFIRE	Langley
ARMD	None	Lockheed Martin	HTV-2	Dryden
ARMD	None	Yamaha	R-MAX	Ames
ARMD	None	Yamaha	R-MAX	Ames
ARMD	None	EAV Unmanned Aerial System		Ames

Science Aircraft
SMD	7J7NA	Boeing	747SP-21	Dryden
SMD	102Z	Lockheed	P-3C	NASA Wallops
SMD	426NA	Lockheed	P-3B	NASA Wallops
SMD	806NA	Lockheed	ER-2	Dryden
SMD	809NA	Lockheed	ER-2	Dryden
SMD	817NA	Douglas	DC-8	Dryden

SMD	870NA	General Atomics Aero Systems	MQ-9	Dryden

SMD	871NA	Northrop Grumman	Global Hawk	Dryden
SMD	872NA	Northrop Grumman	Global Hawk	Dryden

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Comments	Maximum Mach	Maximum Altitude


	0.31	25,000
	0.23	15,700
	0.82	35,000
	0.4	24,000
Cert Class–Restricted	0.5	35,000
	0.2	19,000
	0.4	24,000	Also registered as N34457
	0.4	24,000	Also registered as N3634U
Icing research	0.79	41,000
Icing research	0.79	41,000
Icing research	0.25	25,000
Icing research	0.81	45,000
In-flight background-oriented Schlieren	0.5	35,000
Laminer flow research in partnership with AFRL-SFW	0.85	45,000
	0.18	1,200
Research testbed for supersonic and hypersonic projects (AFTF, PFTF, CLIP)	2.5	65,000
(FAST), also flown as X-53	1.8	50,000

Army-RASCAL	0.29	19,000
Army	0.29	19,000
Noise level testing (leased)	0.89	51,000
Quiet technology demonstrator 2 (QTD-2) (leased-reiurned)	0.89	43,100
Used for noise measurement	0.18	20,000	Has USAF on side of aircraft and an N number

Hypersonic boundary layer transition
Small UAV-generic transport model
Small UAV
Small UAV
ERA	0.18	10,000
ERA	0.18	10,000
Partnership with AFRL-SFW	0.3	10,000
Partnership with AFRL-SFW	0.3	10,000
Inflatable re-entry vehicle
Inflatable re-entry vehicle
Hypersonic research with DTSO	8
DARPA-Army	20
Small UAV
Small UAV
Small UAV

SOFIA Observatory	0.92	45,000
Science	0.65	28,000
Science	0.65	28,000
Earth sciences	0.65	70,000
Earth sciences	0.65	70,000
Earth sciences	0.77	36,000
Flying science laboratory (NSERC)
Predator B (Ikhana)	0.4	25,000
Environmental studies
Earth sciences	0.65	65,000
Earth sciences	0.65	65,000

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	N Number	Manufacturer	Model	Location

SMD	926NA	General Dynamics	WB-57F	Johnson
SMD	928NA	General Dynamics	WB-57F	Johnson
SMD	None	Aerovironment	Global Observer	Dryden
SMD	None	Sierra Unmanned Aerial System		Ames
SMD	None	Sierra Unmanned Aerial System		Ames

Transport Aircraft
ARMD	528NA	Beechcraft	B-200	Langley
ARMD	7NA	Beechcraft	B-200	Dryden
ARMD	8NA	Beechcraft	B-200	NASA Wallops
ARMD	803NA	Grumman American Aviation Corp.	G-1159A	Dryden
ARMD	805NA	Grumman American Aviation	G-1159	Dryden
HEOMD	932NA	Douglas	DC-9	Johnson
HEOMD	934NA	McDonnell Douglas	DC-9-33F	Johnson
HEOMD	944NA	Gulfstream American Corp.	G-1159	Johnson
HEOMD	947NA	Grumman American Aviation	G-1159	Johnson

Special Use Aircraft
HEOMD	905NA	Boeing	747	Johnson
HEOMD	911NA	Boeing	747	Johnson
HEOMD	941NA	Boeing	377SGT-F	Johnson

Training Aircraft
HEOMD	511NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson
HEOMD	901NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson
HEOMD	902NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson
HEOMD	903NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson
HEOMD	904NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson
HEOMD	906NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson
HEOMD	907NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson
HEOMD	908NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson
HEOMD	912NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson
HEOMD	913NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson
HEOMD	915NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson
HEOMD	916NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson
HEOMD	917NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson
HEOMD	918NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson
HEOMD	919NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson
HEOMD	921NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson
HEOMD	931NA	Boeing	KC-135A	Johnson
HEOMD	945NA	Grumman American Aviation	G-1159	Johnson
HEOMD	946NA	Grumman American Aviation	G-1159	Johnson
HEOMD	955NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson
HEOMD	956NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson
HEOMD	959NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson
HEOMD	960NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson
HEOMD	961NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson
HEOMD	962NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson
HEOMD	963NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson
HEOMD	967NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson

Support Aircraft
ARMD	608NA	Beechcraft	T-34C	Glenn
ARMD	SI9NA	Beechcraft	T-34C	Dryden
ARMD	843NA	McDonnell Douglas	FA-18A	Dryden
ARMD	846NA	McDonnell Douglas	FA-18B	Dryden

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Comments	Maximum Mach	Maximum Altitude

Earth sciences	0.8	65,000
Earth sciences	0.8	65,000
United States Special Operations Command (Leased)	0.04	65,000
Small UAV
Small UAV

Transport	0.5	35,000
	0.5	35,000	S/N BB-997
Transportation	0.5	35,000
	0.85	45,000	C/N 309
	0.85	45,000
	0.78	37,000	Registration expired 12/31/11
	0.78	37,000
	0.85	45,000	S/N 144

Transport	0.85	45,000

Shuttle carrier aircraft	0.89	43,000
Shuttle carrier aircraft	0.89	43,000
Super Guppy transport	0.38	32,000

Astronaut training	1.3	50,000
Astronaut training	1.3	50,000
Astronaut training	1.3	50,000
Astronaut training	1.3	50,000
Astronaut training	1.3	50,000
Astronaut training	1.3	50,000
Astronaut training	1.3	50,000
Astronaut training	1.3	50,000
Astronaut training	1.3	50,000
Astronaut training	1.3	50,000
Astronaut training	1.3	50,000
Astronaut training	1.3	50,000
Astronaut training	1.3	50,000
Astronaut training	1.3	50,000
Astronaut training	1.3	50,000
Astronaut training	1.3	50,000
Zero G training	0.79	50,000
May be shuttle landing trainer	0.85	45,000
May be shuttle landing trainer	0.85	45,000
Astronaut training	1.3	50,000
Astronaut training	1.3	50,000
Astronaut training	1.3	50,000
Astronaut training	1.3	50,000
Astronaut training	1.3	50,000
Astronaut training	1.3	50,000
Astronaut training	1.3	50,000
Astronaut training	1.3	50,000

Proficiency/Chase	0.4	30,000
Proficiency/Chase	0.4	30,000
	1.8	50,000
	1.8	50,000

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	N Number	Manufacturer	Model	Location

ARMD	850NA	McDonnell Douglas	FA-18A	Dryden
ARMD	852NA	McDonnell Douglas	FA-18B	Dryden
ARMD	863NA	Northrop	T-38N	Dryden
ARMD	864NA	Northrop	T-38N	Dryden
ARMD	865NA	Beechcraft	T-34C	Dryden
ARMD	884NA	McDonnell Douglas	F-15D	Dryden
ARMD	885NA	McDonnell Douglas	F-15D	Dryden
ARMD	897NA	McDonnell Douglas	F-15D	Dryden

Other Aircraft in Databases
	1NA	Gulfstream American Corp.	G-1159A
	2NA	Grumman American Aviation	G-159	Dryden

	3NA	Grumman American Aviation	G-159
	4NA	Grumman American Aviation	G-159
	415NA	Bell	UH-1B	NASA Wallops
	420NA	Bell	UH-1H	NASA Wallops
	424NA	Bell	UH-1B	NASA Wallops
	427NA	Lockheed	EC 130Q	NASA Wallops
ARMD	502NA	Schweizer	SGS 1-36	Dryden
ARMD	530NA	Bell	204-B	Langley
ARMD	557NA	Boeing	757-225	Langley
ARMD	564NA	Northrop Grumman	T-38B	Dryden
ARMD	703NA	Bell	301	Ames
ARMD	710NA	Convair	30	Ames
ARMD	714NA	Lockheed	300-50A-01	Ames
ARMD	837NA	McDonnell Douglas	F-15B	Dryden
ARMD	840NA	McDonnell Douglas	FA-18A	Dryden
ARMD	845NA	McDonnell Douglas	FA-18B	Dryden
ARMD	847NA	McDonnell Douglas	FA-18A	Dryden
ARMD	851NA	McDonnell Douglas	FA-18A	Dryden
HEOMD	909NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson
HEOMD	914NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson
HEOMD	920NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson
HEOMD	922NA	Gulfstream American Corp.	C-1159A	Johnson
HEOMD	923NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson
HEOMD	924NA	Northrop	T-38N	Johnson
HEOMD	933NA	Learjet Inc.	23
HEOMD	948NA	Grumman	G-1159	Johnson
HEOMD	949NA	Grumman	G-1159	Johnson
HEOMD	950NA	Grumman	G-1159	Johnson

ARMD	965NA	Northrop	T-38N	Dryden
ARMD	966NA	Northrop	T-38N	Ames
HEOMD	992NA	Gulfstream American Corp.	C-1159A	Johnson

NOTE: AFRL, Air Force Research Laboratory; AFTF, Advanced Flight Test Fixture; ARMD, Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate; CLIP, Centerline Instrumented Pylon; DARPA, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency; DTSO, Defence Science and Technology Organisation (Australia); ERA, Environmentally Responsible Aviation; FAA, Federal Aviation Administration; HEOMD, Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate; HIFiRE, Hypersonics International Flight Research Experimentation; NSERC, National Suborbital Education and Research Center; PFTF, Propulsion Flight Test Fixture; RASCAL, Rotorcraft Aircrew Systems Concepts Airborne Laboratory; SFW, Subsonic Fixed Wing; SMD, Science Mission Directorate; SOFIA, Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy; UAV, unpiloted aerial vehicle. SOURCE: Compiled from the following websites: http://www.faa.gov, http://www.airport-data.com, http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/ad/na.html, http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/aircraft/index.html.

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Comments	Maximum Mach	Maximum Altitude

	1.8	50,000
	1.8	50,000
Support/Chase	1.3	50,000
Support/Chase	1.3	50,000
Chase/Support	0.4	30,000
	2.5	65,000
	2.5	65,000
	2.5	65,000

	0.76	45,000	No longer assigned
	0.46	33,600	C/N 309, also see N2NA and N992NA
Deregistered 8/18/2006	0.46	33,600
Deregistered 6/2/2004	0.46	2,540
Deregistered 02/11/1991	0.2	19,000
Sold	0.2	19,000
Sold	0.2	19,000
Kenosha Military Museum Ltd.	0.44	28,000
Sale reported	0.76	45,000
Deregistered 6/12/2009	0.18	19,390
Sold, now N144DC	0.82	35,000
	1.3	50,000	No longer assigned
XV-15, Sale reported	0.45	29,500
Deregistered 06/29/2009	0.81	41,000
(C-141) Sold	0.74	41,000
Deregistered 11/17/2011	2.5	65,000
Deregistered 12/8/2011	1.8	50,000
Deregistered 11/17/2011	1.8	50,000
Deregistered 11/17/2011	1.8	50,000
Deregistered 11/17/2011	1.8	50,000
Undel Tri	1.3	50,000	No FAA record
Undel Tri	1.3	50,000	No FAA record
Undel Tri	1.3	50,000	No FAA record
	0.76	45,000	Reserved but no aircraft assigned
Undel Tri	1.3	50,000	No FAA record
Undel Tri	1.3	50,000	No FAA record
	0.74	45,000	N number reserved
May be shuttle landing trainer	0.85	45,000	Appears to be at Pima Museum
	0.85	45,000	May now be N805NA
	0.85	45,000	Transferred to Missile Defense Agency?
	1.3	50,000	N number reserved
Undel Tri	1.3	50,000	FAA record status expired
	0.85	45,000	C/N 309, also see N2NA and N992NA

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FIGURE A.1 A collection of NASA’s research aircraft on the ramp at the Dryden Flight Research Center in July 1997: X-31, F-15 ACTIVE, SR-71, F-106, F-16XL Ship #2, X-38, and X-36. SOURCE: NASA Dryden Flight Research Center Photo EC97-44165-149 by Tony Landis, http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/IMAGES/LARGE/GPN-2000-000172.jpg.