March 2017
Two of Boeing’s biggest stand guard in the California desert. In 1988, NASA procured a surplus 747SR from Japan Airlines to be the second Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA). It entered service with NASA in 1990, after undergoing the necessary structural modifications, and was first used in 1991 to ferry the new shuttle Endeavour from Palmdale to the Kennedy Space Center. This NASA aircraft was retired on February 8, 2012 and is now preserved and on display here at the Joe Davies Heritage Airpark under a long-term loan to the city from NASA.
This B-52 was delivered to the USAF in 1958 and served in frontline SAC service until 1961. Later transferred to Eglin AFB in 1963 and used as a weapons testing platform through 1970, retired from USAF service in 1973. This aircraft was displayed at the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds from 1974-2006 and added to the collection here in 2007. This is the only remaining example of an ‘F’ model B-52. Nikon D500 w/18-200mm.