BOACVC10 From United States of America, joined Jul 2006, 514 posts, RR: 0 Posted (5 years 3 months 1 week 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 5146 times:
Hello, I was searching for pictures of the NASA Shuttle Carrier Aircraft N905NA Boeing 747-123 (SCA) that carries the shuttlecraft, (oooops, mea culpa, Space Shuttle) between missions.
I just realised the livery changed from silver metallic, to white sometime between the two photos below:
I actually built a model of the SCA with Space Shuttle Enterprise as a kit when I was a teenager, and remember painting the model (747) silver metallic, and applying the red, white and blue decals over the windows. When did the livery change, and why did they not keep the "patriotic" red/white/blue color scheme ? An example of this (almost identical to the picture of the kit model I was building!) is below. I remember wondering about the need somehow to duplicate the differing colors of the "bulge" just below the support struts using a small paint brush.
Thorny From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (5 years 3 months 1 week 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 5072 times:
Please note that there are two NASA Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, 905 and 911.
The original paint scheme of 905 was a "minimum changes" alteration after it was procured from American Airlines. Hence, it has the American Airlines paint scheme of the '70s, except that "American" was painted over (you could still see it if you looked carefully.)
905 was repainted to the white paint scheme for the 1983 "mission" to the Paris Air Show with Enterprise.
UnattendedBag From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 2240 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (5 years 3 months 1 week 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 5072 times:
Quoting BOACVC10 (Thread starter): I just realised the livery changed from silver metallic, to white sometime between the two photos below:
better late than never, that's what I always say.
Quoting BOACVC10 (Thread starter): and why did they not keep the "patriotic" red/white/blue color scheme ?
It wasn't meant to be partiotic. The aircraft was owned by American Airlines prior to NASA. I imagine they changed it to better fit the NASA color scheme of white and blue.
FlagshipAZ From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 3419 posts, RR: 15 Reply 3, posted (5 years 3 months 1 week 3 days ago) and read 4900 times:
If memory serves me correctly, NASA also painted the SOFIA 747SP in the same scheme as well.
It would be cool to have all 3 747s pose for a group photo shoot.
Regards.
"Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." --Ben Franklin
Flighty From United States of America, joined Apr 2007, 7435 posts, RR: 2 Reply 4, posted (5 years 3 months 1 week 2 days ago) and read 4736 times:
Quoting FlagshipAZ (Reply 3): NASA also painted the SOFIA 747SP in the same scheme as well.
It would be cool to have all 3 747s pose for a group photo shoot.
Flyby!!
The US Government could put on some neat air shows, every day for a month. Including a Shuttle landing for example!
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11708 posts, RR: 52 Reply 6, posted (5 years 3 months 1 week 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 4724 times:
Quoting DfwRevolution (Reply 5): I think Boeing could do a good marketing campaign for the 747 by taking a composite shot of all those specialized 747s:
- SCA with Orbiter attached
- SOFIA
- Air Force One
- E4B NAOC
- Air Borne Laser
- Dreamlifter
There was also the former TWA B-747-100s/-200s that were converted into KC-747s for the IIAF (but, I doubt they can get one of those).
FlagshipAZ From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 3419 posts, RR: 15 Reply 7, posted (5 years 3 months 1 week 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 4709 times:
Quoting DfwRevolution (Reply 5): I think Boeing could do a good marketing campaign for the 747 by taking a composite shot of all those specialized 747s:
- SCA with Orbiter attached
- SOFIA
- Air Force One
- E4B NAOC
- Air Borne Laser
- Dreamlifter
Can we add the Evergreen's SuperTanker to this list of specialized 747s?
Regards.
"Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." --Ben Franklin
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