Omakase

Amazon Search
«  
  »

Frankenhornet

By lex, on November 25th, 2011

Look what NASA has done to my ride.

Share
November 25th, 2011 | Tags: , | Category: Flying, Tech Lust

11 comments to Frankenhornet

  • SK1
    November 25, 2011 at 5:59 am

    Kinda looks like when they take a car like the Chevy Impala and put it out on the track for NASCAR.

    Glad NASA has a mission and helping test new tricks and technology will make future flight better sounds like a good way to help all going forward.

    Don’t worry Cap, they’ll make sure they take real good care of the planes…honest.

  • Biff
    November 25, 2011 at 6:26 am

    Lex, I had the opportunity to fly one of the NASA hornets a couple of years ago on a Gulfstream program. We were demonstrating the ability to fly using high definition cameras. The canopy was completely obscured, two seat model of course. Very exciting program and fun to put a g-suit on again! But of course you know that given your new gig!

  • Spencer
    November 25, 2011 at 8:26 am

    Is 161744 in your log book?

  • Tuna
    November 25, 2011 at 8:49 am

    Is that conformal MER on the left engine standard, or something for NASA test equipment? Never really see that on a fleet bird for the ever-present drop tank.

  • Douglas
    November 25, 2011 at 10:20 am

    Interesting that they have “pre-production” bugs. Weren’t those non-carrier qual planes initially used by the Blue Angels?

    • BeachBum
      November 28, 2011 at 2:20 pm

      NASA brought one of their 2 seaters to Miramar for the airshow in October (shameless plug: http://www.flickr.com/photos/18842924@N03/6200371288/ ). I talked to the pilot about the plane, and while he told me it was a pre-production model, he never said anything about them being ex-Blues. The jet DID have controls in the back seat. NASA has had a couple dozen F-18s, maybe one of the others was a Blue jet once upon a time.

  • Edward
    November 25, 2011 at 11:36 am

    At least they didn’t modify the suspension put on the landing gear to make it a “high rider”.

  • Casey
    November 25, 2011 at 11:11 pm

    We all know Lex wants to drive that sucker. :)

    …What caught my eye was the mention of “wing warping” tests. Really!?

    Someone call the Wright Brothers… Heh.
eXTReMe Tracker

View My Stats