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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.
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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).

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.
×

 

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
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.
×

 

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  
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.
×
  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
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.
×
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  
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.
×
  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.

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.
×

 

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

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.
×

0309255384_0088_001.jpg

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.

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.
×
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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.
×
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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.
×
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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.
×
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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.
×
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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.
×
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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.
×
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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.
×
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In the five decades since NASA was created, the agency has sustained its legacy from the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA) in playing a major role in U.S. aeronautics research and has contributed substantially to United States preeminence in civil and military aviation. This preeminence has contributed significantly to the overall economy and balance of trade of the United States through the sales of aircraft throughout the world. NASA's contributions have included advanced flight control systems, de-icing devices, thrust-vectoring systems, wing fuselage drag reduction configurations, aircraft noise reduction, advanced transonic airfoil and winglet designs, and flight systems. Each of these contributions was successfully demonstrated through NASA flight research programs. Equally important, the aircraft industry would not have adopted these and similar advances without NASA flight demonstration on full-scale aircraft flying in an environment identical to that which the aircraft are to operate-in other words, flight research.

Flight research is a tool, not a conclusion. It often informs simulation and modeling and wind tunnel testing. Aeronautics research does not follow a linear path from simulation to wind tunnels to flying an aircraft. The loss of flight research capabilities at NASA has therefore hindered the agency's ability to make progress throughout its aeronautics program by removing a primary tool for research.

Recapturing NASA's Aeronautics Flight Research Capabilities discusses the motivation for NASA to pursue flight research, addressing the aspects of the committee's task such as identifying the challenges where research program success can be achieved most effectively through flight research. The report contains three case studies chosen to illustrate the state of NASA ARMD. These include the ERA program and the Fundamental Research Program's hypersonics and supersonics projects. Following these case studies, the report describes issues with the NASA ARMD organization and management and offers solutions. In addition, the chapter discusses current impediments to progress, including demonstrating relevancy to stakeholders, leadership, and the lack of focus relative to available resources.

Recapturing NASA's Aeronautics Flight Research Capabilities concludes that the type and sophistication of flight research currently being conducted by NASA today is relatively low and that the agency's overall progress in aeronautics is severely constrained by its inability to actually advance its research projects to the flight research stage, a step that is vital to bridging the confidence gap. NASA has spent much effort protecting existing research projects conducted at low levels, but it has not been able to pursue most of these projects to the point where they actually produce anything useful. Without the ability to actually take flight, NASA's aeronautics research cannot progress, cannot make new discoveries, and cannot contribute to U.S. aerospace preeminence.

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