The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is preparing to say goodbye to its old but iconic Douglas DC-8. NASA has operated the Douglas quadjet for decades, first taking it in February 1986, and using it ever since as a flying science laboratory.

The airplane was not new when it arrived with NASA, having originally been delivered to Alitalia in 1969 and flying with Braniff from 1979 until 1986. For NASA, it flies under registration N817NA, and is used to collect data for a range of experiments on behalf of the world’s scientific community, with operations costing scientists approximately $6,500 per hour.

NASA DC-8 flying science lab
Photo: NASA

The DC-8-72 is now approaching 54 years old, and despite being meticulously maintained by NASA, she is reaching the end of her useful life. As such, the Administration has lined up a replacement for the jet - a Boeing 777.

The Boeing 777

NASA’s new Boeing 777 isn’t really that new at all. The aircraft is almost 20 years old, having first rolled off the production line in April 2003. In May that year, it was delivered to its operator - Japan Airlines - who flew it under registration number JA704J from then right through to July 2020.

Its final revenue flight was from Sapporo to Tokyo on May 29th, 2020. After a few weeks standing at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, it was ferried out to Victorville for storage on July 1st. There it remained until NASA decided to take it on.

On December 15th last year, the triple seven took on the US registration of N774LG and was moved from Victorville to Hampton, Virginia, home to Langley Air Force Base. There, it has been undergoing modification at the NASA Langley Research Center.

According to Scramble, the Dutch Aviation Society, NASA’s budgets suggest the administration acquired the 777 at a cost of under $30 million. This budget would likely include the costs involved in the heavy modification of the jet required to turn it into a flying research lab worthy of taking the place of its iconic DC-8.

Cheerio DC-8

It’s all change at NASA, with the administration recently sunsetting its Boeing 747SP known as SOFIA - the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy. SOFIA has found a new home at Arizona’s Pima Air And Space Museum; with the DC-8 also set for retirement, hopes are high that it will see a similar fate rather than wasting away in an airplane graveyard somewhere.

NASA DC-8
Photo: NASA

The DC-8 is fast becoming a rare breed in terms of aircraft still flying. Just three airplanes are listed as being in active service today, the other two with Trans Air Cargo Service, according to ch-aviation. A further two are in maintenance just now, suggesting they could soon fly again. One operates for humanitarian purposes with Samaritan’s Purse, while the other is taken care of by SkyBus Cargo Charters.

It will be a sad day when the DC-8 finally leaves NASA’s care. However, the extensive modifications and testing of the 777 could take several months, even years, so the DC-8 could still be seen working for NASA for some time to come.

Source: Scramble