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Sofia 747 Received Major Avionics+Cockpit Upgrade

Ronaldo747 From United States of America, joined Feb 2009, 309 posts, RR: 0
Posted (5 months 3 weeks ago) and read 3884 times:

The SOFIA flying telescope based on a Boeing 747SP received a major Avionics and Cockpit upgrade. Following NASA statement with High Res photos before/after upgrade. Enjoy!

http://www1.nasa.gov/mission_pages/SOFIA/sofia_status_12_03.html

10 replies: All unread, jump to last

limaniner From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 391 posts, RR: 0
Reply 1, posted (5 months 2 weeks 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 3775 times:

How far does that upgrade go? Is this still a 3-man cockpit, where the LCDs have simply replaced the analog dials?

rwessel From United States of America, joined Jan 2007, 1991 posts, RR: 2
Reply 2, posted (5 months 2 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 3719 times:

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Quoting limaniner (Reply 1):
How far does that upgrade go? Is this still a 3-man cockpit, where the LCDs have simply replaced the analog dials?

I was wondering the same thing. The first photo at the NASA site appears to show the corner of a display screen in what would be the lower-left corner of the FE's station.

747classic From Netherlands, joined Aug 2009, 1789 posts, RR: 11
Reply 3, posted (5 months 2 weeks 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 3372 times:

AFAIK it's still a three man crew aircraft.
Modifying the aircraft in a two pilots aircraft would be an economical disaster. The re-certification costs would be enormous.
Navigation updates (FMS/GPS), EGPWS and all analogue instruments replaced at the pilots positions.
The analogue autopilots are retained.
At the F/E panel it seems that part of the old indicators have been replaced by digital indication.
I would indeed like to see a photo of this modified F/E panel.

[Edited 2012-12-08 00:15:29]

Spacepope From Vatican City, joined Dec 1999, 2739 posts, RR: 1
Reply 4, posted (5 months 2 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 3287 times:

Any idea when it's going to be back in the air? Last flight I can find was a year ago. It usually flies under "NASA747"

The last of the famous international playboys

SSTeve From United States of America, joined Dec 2011, 434 posts, RR: 0
Reply 5, posted (5 months 2 weeks 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 3263 times:

Quoting 747classic (Reply 3):
Modifying the aircraft in a two pilots aircraft would be an economical disaster. The re-certification costs would be enormous.

The SOFIA program has been a bit of an economical disaster. However-- I'm wondering if this upgrade has something to do with operating from airfields other than NASA's own? Though I have no idea whether that was actually a restriction to this point.

747classic From Netherlands, joined Aug 2009, 1789 posts, RR: 11
Reply 6, posted (5 months 2 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 3144 times:

In the first place the aircraft has to have a certain navigation accuracy to keep the aircraft operational.
That's the main driver for this modification.

With the old navigation equipment this wasn't possible anymore. The photo of the "old cockpit clearly showed that the original Delco INS navigation was still present. These old INS systems are also a maintenance nightmare in the present time. Less and less possibilities for repairs of this mechanical/analogue equiment are available in the near future.

The integration of a FMS , with a less accurate "strap-down" IRS but updated by GPS in an analogue built aircraft is already certified by several STC's on many 747 classics and is relative cheap.

IMHO the only "new"part of this upgrade is the size of the LCD screens and the fact that for the first time a (part of) the old dial instruments at the F/E panel are replaced by LCD screen(s).
This part of the modification is to lower the maintenance costs, because the analogue instruments will become very difficult to be serviced (=very expensive) in the near future.

Clearly this cockpit modification was the most cost-effective option to stay operational and satisfy the present and future navigational requirements and at the same time to lower the maintenance costs.
Modifying a more recent digital built aircraft to "Sofia-standard" would be far more expensive and funding for that project almost impossible.

[Edited 2012-12-09 02:31:20]

Max Q From United States of America, joined May 2001, 3291 posts, RR: 19
Reply 7, posted (5 months 2 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 2940 times:

It may be functional but it's the ugliest 'lash up' conversion i've seen of a classic cockpit to meet nav requirerments.

The Classic Cockpit may be old fashioned by todays standards but it was not only functional but an aesthetic delight.

I know, I just like old cockpits, I'm an incurable fan of the queen of the skies and it's look, inside and out.

The best contribution to safety is a competent Pilot.

rcair1 From United States of America, joined Oct 2009, 927 posts, RR: 25
Reply 8, posted (5 months 2 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 2818 times:

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What happened to the Oxygen masks?

If you look to the right - on the edge - did the FE panel get upgraded too?

rcair1

Max Q From United States of America, joined May 2001, 3291 posts, RR: 19
Reply 9, posted (5 months 2 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 2767 times:

If you look just to the right of where the F/O's knee would be you can see a sort of red cap sticking up.

I bet that is the newer generation 'inflatable' oxygen mask installation. It looks very similar to the arrangement
we have on the 75/67.

The best contribution to safety is a competent Pilot.

rcair1 From United States of America, joined Oct 2009, 927 posts, RR: 25
Reply 10, posted (5 months 1 week 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 2638 times:

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Thanks - never would have seen that.

I have to say - I'm a bit disappointed in the quality of the photo. If you view the large image - really grainy.

rcair1

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