Spotted a flying observatory!

[JohnnyE]

Was up late 2 nights ago.... just randomly started up FR24 on my phone and there was just 1 plane passing NI (at 1am)





NASA? In a 747? Tapped it for more info......





Sure enough, a NASA owned 747, based in Cologne, doing a wide lap round Ireland.....





Turns out, its a 747 converted to be a high altitude telescope. Most trans-atlantic stuff tops out at 35,000ft but this one was over 43,000ft.





More info: SOFIA Overview

[StampeSV4]

That’s interesting, never heard of one of those before.

Do you know if NASA posts the results of anything like this on its website or is there a live feed - NASA has those on Youtube?

Thanks for posting this.

Regards

Jon.

[oldoakknives]

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/S...ges/index.html

[StampeSV4]

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/S...ges/index.html

Brilliant - thanks for finding that.

Regards

Jon.

[JohnnyE]

[jaytip]

The guy in that video is like a real life Doc Brown.

[AlphaOmega]

Very interesting. Didn't know this existed, either.

Thanks for posting.

[jools]

Up now over the UK https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=aa0db8

[JohnnyE]

Up now over the UK https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=aa0db8

Well spotted! Looks like the same loop as last night (so far).

Another good video here... the telescope weighs 17 ton!!!

[Sinnlover]

I am another that did not know it existed. Flying it would be a really unique and cool job.
It would be interesting to see the structural modifications undertaken to make it work, the pressure vessel would have to be altered both in front of the opening and behind. Beefing up around the door would also be needed. I wonder how much the aircrafts centre of gravity has changed... yes I am a geek

To be honest I am more shocked that there is an SP still flying. It must be one of the last if not the last in use. Iran Air grounded their example around 2015. A few were used as VIP transport by Middle East nations but not sure if they are still being used.

Geek Fact: the 747SP was the fastest Airliner in service after Concord.
I still think it may be faster than any airliner in service today.

[PickleB]

04 Feb SOFIA Begins First Series of Science Flights From Germany...hence she's been in and out of Cologne Airport a lot recently. And it seems she's a regular in Christchurch NZ.

Wiki has a page on SOFIA that a some external links that I'm still exploring.

Thanks to the OP for posting.


Edit SOFIA has a facebook page: www.facebook.com/SOFIAtelescope.

[PickleB]

I am another that did not know it existed. Flying it would be a really unique and cool job.
It would be interesting to see the structural modifications undertaken to make it work, the pressure vessel would have to be altered both in front of the opening and behind. Beefing up around the door would also be needed. I wonder how much the aircrafts centre of gravity has changed... yes I am a geek

To be honest I am more shocked that there is an SP still flying. It must be one of the last if not the last in use. Iran Air grounded their example around 2015. A few were used as VIP transport by Middle East nations but not sure if they are still being used.

Geek Fact: the 747SP was the fastest Airliner in service after Concord.
I still think it may be faster than any airliner in service today.

According to Wiki there are 6...see current operators link.

[Sinnlover]

According to Wiki there are 6...see current operators link.

6 out of 46 is not bad
The Las Vegas Sands one looks to be beyond repair so no longer in service.

[PickleB]

6 out of 46 is not bad
The Las Vegas Sands one looks to be beyond repair so no longer in service.

I've only just spotted that Wiki said 6 were operational but only listed 5.

Sands had 2, VQ-BMS and VP-BLK. The former was written off (4248D9) but the latter is shown as 'active' (4240DD), while the Omani one is 'parked' (70C020).


Edit Photo of VP-BLK dated 14 May 2020...link. Has it had an accident since then?

[oldoakknives]

I am another that did not know it existed. Flying it would be a really unique and cool job.
It would be interesting to see the structural modifications undertaken to make it work, the pressure vessel would have to be altered both in front of the opening and behind. Beefing up around the door would also be needed. I wonder how much the aircrafts centre of gravity has changed... yes I am a geek

To be honest I am more shocked that there is an SP still flying. It must be one of the last if not the last in use. Iran Air grounded their example around 2015. A few were used as VIP transport by Middle East nations but not sure if they are still being used.

Geek Fact: the 747SP was the fastest Airliner in service after Concord.
I still think it may be faster than any airliner in service today.

Interesting I'd never heard of the Boeing 747SP, there's plenty of info on them out there.

https://www.747sp.com

https://simpleflying.com/boeing-747-sp/

[Sinnlover]

I've only just spotted that Wiki said 6 were operational but only listed 5.

Sands had 2, VQ-BMS and VP-BLK. The former was written off (4248D9) but the latter is shown as 'active' (4240DD), while the Omani one is 'parked' (70C020).


Edit Photo of VP-BLK dated 14 May 2020...link. Has it had an accident since then?

I did not realise Sands had two.
My school up was under the flight path to Heathrow (Richmond) PanAms SPs were always a favourite of mine, along with the Queens Flight VC10 and Concord. I remember the IL62 and IL86s of Aeroflot as well. Plane spotting was so much better in the 90s

[Sinnlover]

It’s back up over the uk again tonight
Just over Bath currently

[Crouchy]

Some interesting activity this evening, a pair of Boeing Ospreys, out of LN, in close formation in the vicinity of Lowestoft.

[PickleB]

SOFIA is sitting in Hamburg at the moment: https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=aa0db8.

Maybe she need a follow up on her recent maintenance...link.

[PickleB]

SOFIA hss now retired:

• http://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-s-r...arizona-museum
  
  
• https://blogs.nasa.gov/sofia/2022/12...-final-flight/