NASA`s Fleet of Unique Aircraft

NASA has flown a decidedly eclectic fleet of aircraft throughout its history. Some of the aircraft that it flies are unique because they are purpose built test aircraft. Others are acquired from a variety of sources, for example, Boeing provided the 1st built 737 to NASA for use as a testbed. NASA bases its fleet as shown below. The tail number indicates the home base of the aircraft:

400 Wallops Flight Facility Wallops Island, Virginia
500 Langley Research Center Hampton, Virginia
600 Glenn Research Center Lewis Field, Cleveland, Ohio
700 Ames Research Center Moffett Field, California
800 Dryden Flight Research Center Edwards, California
900 Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas

The list below is certainly not exhaustive (just what I have photographed). A definitive reference for NASA aircraft is Flying the Frontiers: NACA and NASA Experimental Aircraft (Arthur Pearcy)

Note that most of the military types also have US Air Force, US Army or US Navy serial numbers.

Last Update: 21 Oct 2024  

RegPhotos / Notes

145546

161250

161355

52-0008

56-6672

75-0750

80-1063

80-1097

N179NA

N424NA

N428NA

1st P-3 built. Started life as an Electra

N429NA

N430NA

N431NA

N4NA

N515NA

First 737 built.

N550NA

1st F-5F built. Started life as an F-5E.

N702NA

N703NA

(see more photos of N703NA)

N707NA

N715NA

N718NA

N736NA

N747NA

(see more photos of N747NA)

N809NA

N810NA

N812NA

N816NA

N816NA

N905NA

(see more photos of N905NA)

N911NA

N930NA

N941NA

(see more photos of N941NA)

N94XNA

N962NA

OV-101

OV-103

(see more photos of OV-103)
 

menu_bg

Photos (unless otherwise noted) and web site © Sunil Gupta.  All rights reserved