Boeing 747SP · SP21 MSN 21441

Timeline

History

Boeing 747-SP21, serial number 21441, line number 306, first flight 25 Apr 1977. Delivered to Pan Am on 6 May 1977, registered N536PA. Operated by United Airlines on 13 Feb 1986 as N145UA. Seen at LasV 12 Nov 1995, seen 14 Sep 1996 basic nw colours. Operated by NASA/DLR on 20 Oct 1997. Ferried LasV-San Francisco 5 Feb 1997, converted with telescope, Ay-Pim Airport 30 Apr 1997, seen at Waco Aug 1998 for modifications, due in service 2002 with SOFIA telescope behind piece cut out of aft fuselage, due Sofia titles, N747NA requested Dec 2004. Re-registered with NASA on 8 Apr 2005 as N747NA. Seen at TSTC Waco Airport green protective coloring 27 Sep 2005, "SOFIA"-program might be cancelled probably after summer 2006, final flight Oct 2010, seen at Cologne-Bonn, Germany 18 Sep 2011, NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center (Edwards Air Force Base) 8 Jul 2015, program ended (not funded) 30 Sep 2022, flew PMD-NUQ-EDW-PMD 14-16 Oct 2022 aircraft due withdrawn from use, ferried Palmdale Regional Airport / USAF Plant 42 Airport to Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson 13 Dec 2022 for preservation. Current status: stored.