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Writer's pictureJorge A. Zajia
Apr 4

Up Close and Personal with NASA's Flying Science Laboratory: DC-8-72 N817NA

Updated: Oct 22

NASA's SEAC4RS study, which stands for Studies of Emissions and Atmospheric Composition, Clouds and Climate Coupling by Regional Surveys, was conducted in Houston, Texas between August 1 and September 30, 2013. More info here.


Several aircraft participated in the study collecting atmospheric samples. For aviation enthusiasts, it was quite the show. Even though Ellington Field in southeast Houston is home to several cool NASA aircraft, SEAC4RS brought some interesting visitors from the Dryden Flight Research Center in California. I was lucky to be working at Ellington Field at the time, but anyone in the Houston area could watch the aircraft flying some unique patterns. My favorite one was the Electra (N426NA) spiraling up from low altitude over the morning traffic near downtown.


On August 22, 2013, NASA hosted a press conference, and I managed to get a pass as a photographer. A friend and I published a short article about the event on the now-defunct SVZM Spotters site.


One of the most iconic aircraft that participated in the study was N817NA, a heavily modified Douglas DC-8-72, originally delivered as a -62 in May of 1969 to Alitalia. It also flew for Braniff as N801BN before joining NASA in 1986 as N717NA (it got re-registered later).


N817NA landed at Palmdale, California three days ago (April 1, 2024) after finishing its last mission in Asia. As the aircraft readies for its retirement, I thought it would be appropriate to dust off some of the photos I took of it in 2013.


Enjoy:


A United Airlines 737-900 and a NASA DC-8-72 at Ellington Field Airport in Houston Texas
August 16, 2013, United Airlines 737-924ER N28457 operating MEX-IAH diverted to EFD due to storms on the north side of town. NASA DC-8-72 N817NA returns from an 8-hour SEAC4RS flight.

A NASA DC-8-72 at Ellington Field in Houston Texas
NASA DC-8-72 N817NA returning to its temporary home at Ellington Field after an 8-hour long SEAC4RS mission flight. Aug. 16, 2013.


All the subsequent photos show NASA DC-8-72 N817NA on August 22, 2013 at Ellington Field in Houston, Texas:


NASA DC-8-72 N817NA Flying Science Laboratory

NASA DC-8-72 N817NA Flying Science Laboratory

NASA DC-8-72 N817NA Flying Science Laboratory

NASA DC-8-72 N817NA Flying Science Laboratory

NASA DC-8-72 N817NA Flying Science Laboratory

NASA DC-8-72 N817NA Flying Science Laboratory

NASA DC-8-72 N817NA Flying Science Laboratory

NASA DC-8-72 N817NA Flying Science Laboratory

NASA DC-8-72 N817NA Flying Science Laboratory

NASA DC-8-72 N817NA Flying Science Laboratory

NASA DC-8-72 N817NA Flying Science Laboratory

NASA DC-8-72 N817NA Flying Science Laboratory

NASA DC-8-72 N817NA Flying Science Laboratory

NASA DC-8-72 N817NA Flying Science Laboratory

NASA DC-8-72 N817NA Flying Science Laboratory

NASA DC-8-72 N817NA Flying Science Laboratory

NASA DC-8-72 N817NA Flying Science Laboratory and 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft N905NA
747-123 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft N905NA in the distance.

NASA DC-8-72 N817NA Flying Science Laboratory and 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft N905NA
747-123 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft N905NA can also be seen in this photo.

NASA DC-8-72 N817NA Flying Science Laboratory

NASA DC-8-72 N817NA Flying Science Laboratory

NASA DC-8-72 N817NA Flying Science Laboratory

NASA DC-8-72 N817NA Flying Science Laboratory

NASA DC-8-72 N817NA Flying Science Laboratory

NASA DC-8-72 N817NA Flying Science Laboratory

NASA DC-8-72 N817NA Flying Science Laboratory


If you would like to share photos from this article, please credit them to Jorge A. Zajia



The handsome editor of yankeevictor400.com

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