Convair NC-131H Samaritan at the National Museum of the United States Air Force

Posted by shadrackandthemandem@reddit | WeirdWings | View on Reddit | 31 comments

The Convair NC-131H Samaritan, also known as the Total In-Flight Simulator (TIFS), is a modified Convair C-131 Samaritan that was used to study aircraft handling characteristics. Built as a C-131B, the aircraft underwent extensive conversion and modification by the United States Air Force, NASA, Calspan and others from the late 1960s until the 2000s. TIFS' maiden flight was in 1970.

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user_uno@reddit

I've been there and seen that! Well worth the walk to the number of planes sitting outside. And the rail car waaaay out there. They don't get much attention.

But this one is definitely interesting. Going over to the port side, you can see inside a little bit. Apparently there is some passageway between the sections.

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Emach00@reddit

Tell me about the rail car.

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Vertexzr132@reddit

Will have to double check myself but I believe the rail car referenced could be to do with the cold war ICBM trains the USA ran. From the UK so not able to visit it myself but they're cool bits of kit to read up on.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peacekeeper_Rail_Garrison?wprov=sfla1

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Emach00@reddit

Nukes on rails? Groovy.

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Vertexzr132@reddit

Cold war had both sides acting up. The USSR had its own system as well.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RT-23_Molodets?wprov=sfla1

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Emach00@reddit

I knew the Russians were obsessed with armored trains but wasn't aware they put launchers on them. That's cool thanks for sharing.

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user_uno@reddit

Emach covered everything. I just feel bad for the railcar. The planes themselves don't get much love from visitors. The few people that do go out there seem to even more rarely go out to what just seem like a rail car with a placard in front of it.

But I'm nosy. So made the walk. It is as described. And it's not going anywhere. The tracks other than underneath it have all been removed.

Just an interesting bit of history. And some obvious unique engineering to launch a rocket. Well, obvious when you get up close.

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