L1011 still flying
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L1011 still flying
Didn't know that NASA had operational 1011 ?
Does NASA own it or is it leased ? Must be dificult to maintain and obtain spares...
NASA launches tiny satellites to measure hurricane winds - CNN.com
Does NASA own it or is it leased ? Must be dificult to maintain and obtain spares...
NASA launches tiny satellites to measure hurricane winds - CNN.com
It's the one and only operational TriStar. It's originally an Air Canada aircraft, subsequently converted from -22Bs to 524s.
It looks in pretty good nick, too:
I'll admit to having a soft spot for the aeroplane, having worked on them for many years.
It looks in pretty good nick, too:
I'll admit to having a soft spot for the aeroplane, having worked on them for many years.
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Here is this morning's flight, looks like they launched the Pegasus rocket while at FL390 going eastbound.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/a...140sc/#be5deb5
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/...225Z/KXMR/KXMR
The L1011 is owned and operated by Orbital ATK under NASA contracts:
https://spaceflightnow.com/2015/04/1...s-carrier-jet/
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/a...140sc/#be5deb5
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/...225Z/KXMR/KXMR
The L1011 is owned and operated by Orbital ATK under NASA contracts:
https://spaceflightnow.com/2015/04/1...s-carrier-jet/
They used be a common sight at Heathrow - BA, Air Canada, Gulf Air. A fine looking aircraft and years ahead of its time by all accounts. Long may this example stay in the air.
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The 'Stargazer' N140SC is flying back to Vandenburg AFB, looks like the aircraft type is mistyped by a few decades :
N140SC 16-Dec-2016 KXMR - KVBG FlightAware
After the VBG stop a short hop over to Mojave is scheduled.
N140SC 16-Dec-2016 KXMR - KVBG FlightAware
After the VBG stop a short hop over to Mojave is scheduled.
Recent photos certainly appear to show it in reasonably good nick, though they have already missed a couple of scheduled dates for its ferry to Kansas City, so I suspect it isn't quite ready to fly yet.