Lockheed L-300 was the sole civilian Starlifter which became a flying observatory for NASA
Posted by KJ_is_a_doomer@reddit | WeirdWings | View on Reddit | 25 comments
workahol_@reddit
This paint scheme makes it look extremely Soviet, I really thought this was going to be some kind of Il-76 variant.
Scared_Ad3355@reddit
Yes, and it is not just the livery. It is a copy of the Il-76.
Swisskommando@reddit
You beat me by 2 hours with this comment. Absolutely Soviet down to the engines and tail
turboboraboy@reddit
I saw it on a satellite view and thought the same thing. Had to do some digging to figure out what it was. There are some interesting aircraft at that airport.
Nebnotrab1965@reddit
Saw her at Travis afb a few times in the late 80’s
Cetophile@reddit
The plane was scrapped but they salvaged the flight deck area, and it just got delivered to the Pima Air Museum in Arizona.
murphsmodels@reddit
Cool. I wonder why they scrapped it though. The whole thing was at Edwards up to recently if I remember correctly.
ILikeB-17s@reddit
It was in extremely bad shape and would’ve required a lot of resources to restore (and if I remember correctly it would’ve required extra supports to not fall apart). Cockpit section is going to Pima, and I believe PlaneTags is getting some of the other parts.
murphsmodels@reddit
Still cool. Pima got SOFIA too, and has a NASA Super Guppy, and a Vomit Comet. They'll be able to open up a NASA section soon.
ILikeB-17s@reddit
now all they need is a Saturn V!
magnumfan89@reddit
I think they have one in the boneyard
signuporloginagain@reddit
It was at Moffett Field.
Viharabiliben@reddit
Currently parked at Moffett Federal Airfield next door to NASA Ames Research Center.
Trainnerd3985@reddit
Not anymore got cut up for stupid over priced kea chains the flight deck is going to the Pima museam tho
Viharabiliben@reddit
They should have moved the old bird into Hanger 1 onsite, along with the other interesting NASA aircraft there. The flight deck is cool, but the science payload area with the airborne telescope is even more cool.
The bird that replaced this one, a rare 747SP was recently retired. Hopefully that one gets treated better and is fully preserved.
Trainnerd3985@reddit
Yea the 747 Sophia is at Pima to I think the camera from this plane is going down to a different museam tho
schphinct@reddit
It’s a C-141A
KJ_is_a_doomer@reddit (OP)
Essentially. This was meant to be the demonstrator for civilian sales, hence the L-300 name. That venture failed and it ended up with NASA
schphinct@reddit
I’m type-rated in it too! Now there’s a useful addition to my ticket!🙂
ConsistentKale2078@reddit
Obviously, short chassis.
JesusTheSecond_@reddit
Is it just me or he look tiny af ?
waddlek@reddit
PlaneTags coming soon
blatherskyte69@reddit
It’s always odd to see one that hasn’t been stretched, like basically all the USAF/ANG ones were.
Hattix@reddit
Kuiper Airborne Observatory was replaced by SOFIA, also a weird wing!
KJ_is_a_doomer@reddit (OP)
true that! i'm doing my best to avoid reposts though