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NASA Boeing 747 Damaged By Severe Weather In New Zealand
The Boeing 747SP, registration N747NA, owned by NASA and modified to carry a reflecting telescope for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) mission, was damaged in New Zealand earlier this week. This iconic aircraft is currently grounded and receiving maintenance. What happened? NASA reported that on Monday, July 18, the SOFIA Boeing 747SP was damaged by a storm that affected the area around Christchurch International Airport (CHC) in New Zealand. During the severe weather… (www.msn.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
It is sad to know that this 747SP will be retired. It is one of the few left that still fly. I may have to take that 4-hour drive up to Palmdale and see it before they ship it to the Boneyard. Maybe they will fly it over to Victorville.
its still on the ground at CH-CH Int Airport
I'm thinking it will just be grounded now.
NASA - "The end of operations was announced on April 28 2022, confirming that there would be no more mission extensions for the modified Boeing 747 SP and its telescope. Operations will cease "no later than Sept 30, 2022" once the current mission extension comes to an end."
NASA - "The end of operations was announced on April 28 2022, confirming that there would be no more mission extensions for the modified Boeing 747 SP and its telescope. Operations will cease "no later than Sept 30, 2022" once the current mission extension comes to an end."
I have heard that many pilots from PAN AM and United affectionately referred to the SP as a sportscar
Someone did not catch the weather forecast? Get it out of the bad weather?
B747s are rather large' I don't believe there are any hangars big enough to enclose contain a B747. If the large tail of an SP747 caught the wind and moved within a nose in hangar situation the damage would have been more severe if not terminal! Partial enclosure Did I read the aircraft moved in the wind - perhaps the steps it struck should have been taken further away from the aircraft.
wasn't a hanger issue - the stairs moved in the wind..