NASA has a history of working with the United States Air Force in developing
and experimenting with new aircraft. Some of the aircraft they owned and operated
may be surprising to a good many people. NASA has a large annual budget of over
$22 billion — approximately the same as the entire military budgets of Australia, Canada,
and Israel. While that is still small compared to the three branches of the military, that is a
massive amount of money. And back during the Space Race with the USSR, it was much higher still.
NASA has over 17,000 employees, and it operates a range of aircraft.
In addition to building and testing space rockets and probes, they have also tested
a range of experimental aircraft (especially back in the Cold War). They have even operated
the legendary B-52 Stratofortress. They still operate interesting aircraft today.
Here are some of the most surprising NASA aircraft.
10. Aero Spacelines Super Guppy
The Super Guppy is actually still in service in NASA and operates out of El Paso in Texas.
Only five of these strange-looking large, wide-bodied cargo aircraft were ever built.
Most of the other four are on display in different museums around the world.
The Super Guppy first took to the skies in 1965 and has been involved in the Apollo program.
The Super Guppy was partially built from the old Boeing 377 Stratocruiser passenger plane.
9. AeroVironment Helios Prototype
This odd aircraft resembled a flying solar panel more than an actual aircraft. It first flew in
1999 but was destroyed in 2003 as it crashed into the ocean around the Hawaiian Islands.
The Helios was developed by NASA's Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology
(ERAST) program and was intended more as a testing platform for developing atmospheric satellites to
aid in communication. This is actually only one of a number of very similar NASA solar aircraft.
8. Lunar Landing Research Vehicle
Coming as a reminder that NASA does in fact operate in space,
the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle was produced in 1964 and 5 of two different
types were built. This vehicle was used to train the astronauts how to land on the moon.
They were powered by a General Electric CF700-2V turbofan engine
that was on a gimbal. It was always pointing vertically and was adjusted
so that it would cancel 5/6s of the aircraft's weight.
7. Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 was the largest commercial passenger aircraft until the development of
the Airbus A380 (both are no longer produced as passenger aircraft). The 747 has seen numerous
variants and adaptations - including the presidential Air Force One (the Boeing VC-25).
And among the uses, the Boeing 747 has found is the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft
(SCA). Two Boeing 747's were converted to carry shuttles for NASA. Oddly enough,
NASA purchased these two aircraft from American Airlines and Japan Airlines.
6. Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
When we think of the mighty Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
we don't normally think of space exploration and NASA. But it turns out that these monstrous
long-range strategic bombers are good for more than bombing enemies to smithereens.
NASA operated two of these aircraft as "mother ships". These modified B-52s were dubbed Balls 8.
Its job was to carry other aircraft aloft and then release them into the atmosphere.
The Air Force still uses them for this task now.
5. Vertol VZ-2
In a time before the iconic V-22 Ospreys and their distinctive tiltrotors,
NASA was experimenting with tiltrotors with its odd-looking Vertol VZ-2 aircraft.
It was first flown in 1957 and was retired in 1965.
Only one was ever built, and today it is preserved by the National Air and Space Museum
and is currently in storage. Tilitrotors with their vertical take-off and landing
abilities have long since been sought by Air Forces all around the world.
4. General Dynamics F-16 VISTA
One could rightfully question why NASA would acquire an F-16 Falcon — a
multirole fighter jet. Like, no matter how much one would modify it for space,
it's not going to be very effective in fighting off space aliens.
This F-16 Falcon was used for a variety of experimental uses by NASA — certainly not for
combating Martians. Today, NASA uses a range of retired Air Force and Navy fighter jets,
including other modified F-15s and F-18s.
3. Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV) XC-142
Continuing the long tradition in the Air Force and NASA in trying to hybridize the concepts of
a helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft, NASA also experimented with the XC-142.
This was another go at developing a viable tiltrotor aircraft.
It first flew in 1964 and, unlike other experimental aircraft,
NASA was the primary user. Only 5 were ever built. Of those five,
only one is preserved today and is on display at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.
2. Lockheed U-2
The Blackbird isn't the only spy plane NASA has operated.
In fact, it is still operating 2 Lockheed U-2 "Dragon Ladies". These are old and were first
flown way back in 1955 - one Air Force U-2 was even shot down over Cuba in the Cuban Crisis.
In addition to the Air Force and NASA, U-2s have also been operated by the CIA
(at least one would better understand why THEY would want spy planes).
1. Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird
One of the most secretive projects ever carried out by the United States Air Force
was the iconic Blackbird. It was also in NASA service. This strategic reconnaissance aircraft
first flew in 1994 and was retired by NASA in 1999.
It was funded through a secretive Black Budget. NASA was interested
in using them for experimental purposes. The Air Force retired their aircraft in
1998 meaning for a time the 2 in NASA service were the only ones left flying.
In summary, NASA has had a whole range of bizarre and wonderful aircraft.