NASA’s new WB-57F, N927NA flies for the first time in 41 yrs

[suthg]

Up until now, there have been just two "Canberras" WB57F operating for NASA originally manufactured by Martin/General Dynamics as RB57F models and converted to high altitude reconnaissance with much longer wings and larger fuel tanks for an extended range and powered with much stronger engines than the English Electric Canberra B6's Rolls-Royce Avon Mk109 with 7400lbf thrust per engine by installing Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-11 turbofans, 16,000 lbf each. They look decidedly different with the altered twin cockpit style, much bigger engines and huge wings - the fin and tailplane looks the same though...

Firstly the original Canberra...




and now the redesigned US Martin WB57F (N927NA, more commonly referred to as NASA 927, started life as a B-57B with the 13th Bomber Squadron and with a serial of 53-3918.) ...



and another view... (not very pretty with all of the extra sensors on board and extended wings etc) (In 1964 this airframe was one of 21 that were rebuilt as RB-57Fs by General Dynamics, and was re-serialled as 63-13295) ...



She was displayed on Celebrity Row at the facility, now called AMARG (Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group), for a number of years, and was pulled from storage and dismantled in May 2011. She was trucked to Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) at Centennial Airport, Colorado, in order to be stripped and rebuilt back to flying condition.

A 27min flight from Colorado Springs to Denver, CO occurred on Friday August 9th


Seen as NASA927 in FlightAware here...

flightaware.com/live/flight/NASA927


Full story here... globalaviationresource.com/v2/2013/08/10/nasas-new-wb-57-n927na-flies/?fb_source=pubv1

on Global Aviation Resource ...

globalaviationresource.com/v2/


This is the third plane to be rebuilt for operation above 60,000ft for NASA for weather and satellite reconnaissance, the pilot and System Equipment Operator (SEO) wear full pressure suits.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin/General_Dynamics_RB-57F_Canberra

Also a story of English Electric Canberra PR9 XH134/G-OMHD returning to the skies in UK arriving at RAF Fairford on Friday, 19 July.

globalaviationresource.com/v2/2013/07/23/news-midair-squadrons-english-electric-canberra-pr9-xh134g-omhd-returns-to-the-skies/

[conman]

That's a lot of wing, not much of the original left in it

[ErrolC]

The WB-57F is 'Plane of the week' in the Airplane Geeks history segment - produced last week.

www.airplanegeeks.com/2013/08/07/episode-260-airventure-2013-debrief/

Their guest the week before was NASA's Chief Historian.