NASA's original modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), NASA 905, has been amended with mission markings noting its history ferrying space shuttles. (Photo courtesy Tony Landis)
I have looked at the numbers and I cannot make sense of where those numbers came from.
OV-102 Columbia 60 Ferry Flights (my count 23 flights/55 hops)
Can anyone shed light on this? How do they count a flight? Does it include hops? Overnight stays?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47109 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-08-2012 08:37 PM
The tallies include the museum ferry flights, and were derived from NASA 905's flight log. Each time NASA 905 took to the air, it counted as a flight, so hops are individuals flights.
Lee Brandon Cremer Member
Posts: 55 From: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Registered: Dec 2008
posted 04-08-2012 09:56 PM
Well if that's true, Endeavour had 30+ hops. Also this list includes all SCA flights 905 and 911. I have a list (PDF) I have maintained for 30 years, and the numbers don't add up.
Anyone else have an official list?
On edit: Check that. This is only 905. Can we get a 911 count? Or a complete list anywhere?
X-Plane Fan Member
Posts: 152 From: CA, USA Registered: Jul 2007
posted 04-08-2012 10:53 PM
The numbers are for ferry flights and not ferry "missions." Each time 905 took off and landed that is counted as a flight as compared to one entire trek across the country which was counted as a mission.
The numbers were derived from the actual flight logs and double-checked by JSC Aircraft Ops.
I have the logs for 911 as well, but it will take some time to put those numbers together.
X-Plane Fan Member
Posts: 152 From: CA, USA Registered: Jul 2007
posted 04-09-2012 12:10 PM
In addition to the mission markings, the crew names for the final missions were also added to both sides of 905 last Friday afternoon.
garymilgrom Member
Posts: 2062 From: Atlanta, GA Registered: Feb 2007
posted 04-09-2012 12:14 PM
What are Phantom Rays and how do they relate to the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft or the space shuttles themselves?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47109 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
Posts: 48 From: La Tour de Salvagny, Rhone, France Registered: Oct 2001
posted 04-13-2012 10:24 AM
Following the free-flight tests of the ALT program, Enterprise was prepared for ferry flight tests. It flew four ferry flights on November 15, 16, 17, 18, 1977. I am looking for the complete 747 crew for these flights.
I have found some names on event cover, but I am sure that it is not complete:
(Note: L. Olsen, R. LaBash and J. Gravance were passengers and not flight crew members.)
astro-nut Member
Posts: 1018 From: Washington, IL Registered: Jan 2006
posted 04-14-2012 05:47 PM
Does someone have a complete list of pilots for each of the SCA flights?
X-Plane Fan Member
Posts: 152 From: CA, USA Registered: Jul 2007
posted 04-14-2012 07:53 PM
I only have scanned copies of all the flight logs for both SCAs. I look up data for each flight one page at a time. With nearly 1,100 flights (and nearly 300 ferry flights) between the two SCAs that would be a lot of data to type up.
If you have a specific flight or two you would like me to look up, I'm glad to do it, but I have no plans to retype the entire flight logs.
Lee Brandon Cremer Member
Posts: 55 From: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Registered: Dec 2008
posted 04-14-2012 08:43 PM
Here is my complete list (PDF) updated with the missing seven SCAs not identified previously. I hope it's of use to readers. I wouldn't want the task of naming every SCA crew... too daunting. This is a page from my book, which over time will be updated free.
I took the time to add full dates of ferry flights, not just start dates. That info was already in the book in each mission report, just not on this list.
Also for the early Enterprise dates, the book lists those separately from this list.
Lee Brandon Cremer Member
Posts: 55 From: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Registered: Dec 2008
posted 04-15-2012 01:43 AM
Note the colour codes on the SCA Flight history refer to paint schemes for SCAs. 905 had three colour schemes, 911 had two. See this chart that I created to help identify SCA/Orbiter paint variations. Some combinations never occurred.
If you have questions, feel free.
astro-nut Member
Posts: 1018 From: Washington, IL Registered: Jan 2006
posted 04-15-2012 07:41 PM
I have listed the flights that I would like the crew information on.
Who were the SCA pilots that flew OV-101 to the Paris Air Show?
Who were the SCA pilots that flew OV-099 on July 4th, 1982 from Edwards to KSC?
Could you please list the flights of the SCA that Dick Scobee and Gordon Fullerton flew?
Also, has Kelly Latimer ever flown the SCA with a Space Shuttle aboard?
Final question, I read long time ago that Stephanie Stilson (Discovery flow manager) flew aboard the SCA with Discovery aboard as a passenger. Which flight did this occur?
X-Plane Fan Member
Posts: 152 From: CA, USA Registered: Jul 2007
posted 04-16-2012 11:13 AM
quote:Originally posted by astro-nut: I have listed the flights that I would like the crew information on.
Scobee flew the SCA from Nov. 14, 1978 to Nov. 11, 1985. He had 29 orbiter ferry flights.
Fullerton flew the SCA from Nov. 8, 1983 to Nov. 29, 2007 and had 98 orbiter ferry flights.
Kelly Latimer only flew the SCA as training for flying SOFIA and never made an orbiter ferry flight.
Unfortunately the flight logs stopped listing passengers around 1990, and I didn't see Stilson listed anywhere.
astro-nut Member
Posts: 1018 From: Washington, IL Registered: Jan 2006
posted 04-16-2012 11:59 AM
Thank you, very much for the information. It is very helpful. I like to keep notes on who flew the SCA just for my personal space collection.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47109 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-16-2012 01:21 PM
Time lapse of Discovery's mating to the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft:
astro-nut Member
Posts: 1018 From: Washington, IL Registered: Jan 2006
posted 04-17-2012 11:57 AM
I would like some more information on the SCA crews/pilots. I have listed the questions below:
Was Fitz Fulton, Jr. the first pilot of the SCA/905?
When NASA took delivery of the SCA/905 was Fitz Fulton at the controls?
When did Fitz Fulton retire from flying the SCA?
Also, after the ALT free flights, the SCA and OV-101 performed some ferry flights — where did the ferry flights occur?
Last question, how many pilots have flown the SCA 905/911?
Hart Sastrowardoyo Member
Posts: 3454 From: Toms River, NJ Registered: Aug 2000
posted 04-17-2012 12:17 PM
There was a different forward strut for the ALT tests, correct? What happened to that?
X-Plane Fan Member
Posts: 152 From: CA, USA Registered: Jul 2007
posted 04-17-2012 02:32 PM
Early flights of 905 were covered by a non-NASA civilian crew. 905 was delivered July 18, 1974 flown by M. Burton, P. Trott and J. Garrett. Burton was replaced by Speckels after the delivery flight and this crew flew all of 905's flights for the rest of 1974. The first NASA pilot to fly 905 was Joe Algranti in Jan. 1975. The first all-NASA crew flight occurred on June 17, 1975 with Fulton, Algranti, Guidry & Horton. 905 was delivered to Boeing on 3/30/76 for modification work to carry the shuttle. The first SCA check flight occurred on Dec. 16, 1976 with a Boeing crew on board (I don't have their names yet). 905 was redelivered to NASA as an SCA on Jan. 14, 1977 and the crew was Fulton, McMurtry, Horton, Roy, Guidry, Young and Browne.
Fulton flew the SCA from 6/17/75 to 3/20/86.
After ALT, OV-101 was ferried from Edwards to KSC, Vandenberg and Marshall as well as New Orleans for the 1984 World's Fair, the Paris trek and eventually Washington DC.
At last count there have been 19 pilots and 18 F/E's assigned to fly the SCA. This number does not include a number of guest crew members that have flown the SCA on local prof flights or the Boeing crew members that did the test flights after the SCA conversion.
The original 747 SCA ALT forward strut has been stored at DFRC since the end of the program. Last I heard it was to be donated to the Intrepid for their display.
X-Plane Fan Member
Posts: 152 From: CA, USA Registered: Jul 2007
posted 04-17-2012 08:44 PM
quote:Originally posted by astro-nut: I read long time ago that Stephanie Stilson (Discovery flow manager) flew aboard the SCA with Discovery aboard as a passenger. Which flight did this occur?
Stephanie Stilson has never flown on the SCA, only the pathfinder. I had a friend ask her about it this morning.
astro-nut Member
Posts: 1018 From: Washington, IL Registered: Jan 2006
posted 04-19-2012 11:17 AM
Tony, many thanks for all the great information on the 747/SCA.
Would it be possible for you to list the 19 pilots that have flown the SCA? Also, how many crew members are usually on a SCA when it flies a space shuttle? Is there a specific number or does it vary with each flight?
Finally, would it be possible to post a photo of the 747 when it was an American Airlines jet? Many thanks again for all your assistance.
astro-nut Member
Posts: 1018 From: Washington, IL Registered: Jan 2006
posted 04-20-2012 12:37 PM
Some more questions regarding the SCA.
Who were the pilots of the SCA when it experienced and engine failure on April 6, 1996 while transporting Atlantis following the STS-76 mission?
Also, I remember reading in USA Today (I think) an article about a ferry flight when one of the back bolts on the support struts on the SCA/Shuttle came loose and when they landed they had to re-tighten the bolts? This article was over 15 years ago (I think)?
astro-nut Member
Posts: 1018 From: Washington, IL Registered: Jan 2006
posted 04-29-2012 05:33 PM
Tony, is there any chance that you could list the 19 pilots that have flown the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA)? It would be neat to know who has flown them (905/911) with the shuttles aboard. Thank you, very much!!!
X-Plane Fan Member
Posts: 152 From: CA, USA Registered: Jul 2007
posted 04-29-2012 09:08 PM
747 SCA pilots, in no particular order:
Joseph A. Algranti
Arthur C. Beall
William F. Brockett
David H. Finney
Fitzhugh L. "Fitz" Fulton, Jr.
C. Gordon Fullerton
Kenneth R. Haugen
Charles J. Justiz
Frank J. Marlow
Thomas C. McMurtry
Jeffrey L. Moultrie
David L. Mumme
Robert J. Naughton
Jack A. Nickel
Arda J. "AJ" Roy
Francis R. "Dick" Scobee
William E. Rieke
Robert H. Zimmermann
Frank W. Batteas*
* Batteas is assigned to fly the SCA but has not yet ferried an orbiter. He is scheduled to fly one leg of the Endeavour delivery this fall.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47109 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-24-2012 10:06 PM
NASA905 made it final flight today (Sept. 24), flying from Los Angeles International Airport to Dryden Flight Research Center. According to FlightAware, the 19 minute flight landed at 10:18 a.m. PDT (1818 GMT).
Credit: NASA/Scott Andrews
Credit: CSC/Terbine
Ronpur Member
Posts: 1249 From: Brandon, Fl Registered: May 2012
posted 10-11-2012 10:55 AM
quote:Originally posted by Lee Brandon Cremer: Here is my complete list (PDF) updated with the missing seven SCAs not identified previously.
Is there an updated version of this chart? It shows 911 as doing the museum flights. But 905 did them.
Was 911 final ferry mission with OV-103 in 2009 after STS-128?
X-Plane Fan Member
Posts: 152 From: CA, USA Registered: Jul 2007
posted 10-11-2012 03:01 PM
Yes, the final ferry mission for 911 was STS-128 in Sept. 2009. Final flight was Feb. 8, 2012. 905 performed all the museum delivery flights.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47109 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-24-2012 09:44 AM
NASA905 has not yet made its final flight!
The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft will be flying to Houston today to be on display at the Wings Over Houston airshow at Ellington Field this weekend.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47109 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-28-2012 06:46 AM
A few photographs of NASA 905 at Ellington Field on Saturday (Oct. 27):
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47109 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
Houston, you have a space shuttle ...carrier aircraft.
NASA's original jumbo jet that was used to ferry the space shuttles around the country has landed at Ellington Field in Houston, where it is to stay.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 47109 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 12-18-2012 12:14 PM
NASA 905 took to the air today (Dec. 18), on an hour and a half circle that took it out over Louisiana before returning to Ellington Field.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3608 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
Posts: 3608 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 09-22-2021 11:27 PM
quote:Originally posted by Lee Brandon Cremer: Can anyone shed light on this?
This HAER No. TX-116 document has a list of Shuttle Ferry Flights (excluding Enterprise) on page 86. The list includes flight legs.
Between March 1979, when SCA N905NA delivered Columbia to KSC, and September 2009, when SCA N911NA returned Discovery after mission STS-128, the two SCAs completed a total of seventy-six ferry flights comprised of 238 legs.
There are some entries in the list that are confusing, though. For example:
The STS-28 post-mission ferry flight to KSC begins with "EDW-EDW" on August 18, 1989. It is counted as a leg. Did it take off from Edwards and return for some reason?
There are several similar examples in the list.
OV-105 Member
Posts: 869 From: Ridgecrest, CA Registered: Sep 2000
posted 09-23-2021 07:55 AM
I think on the STS-28 ferry flight they took off and then had an engine warning light come on and they returned to Edwards AFB.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3608 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 09-23-2021 09:15 AM
I believe that was the STS-76 post-mission ferry flight in 1996.
That explains one of them. But there are several other post-mission ferry flights on the list that also have "EDW-EDW" shown as the first leg: STS-33, 36, 35, 42, 49, 59 and 76. A few modification ferry flights have "PMD-PMD" (Palmdale) as the first leg. Were those all scrubbed ferry flights?
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3608 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 09-24-2021 11:46 AM
Also on the list: the modification ferry flight to Palmdale in August 1991 begins with "X68-X68" and that is counted as a leg.
(X68 is the airfield identifier for the Shuttle Landing Facility at KSC.)
mmcmurrey Member
Posts: 181 From: Austin, TX, USA Registered: Jun 2012
posted 09-24-2021 12:17 PM
quote:Originally posted by LM-12: This HAER No. TX-116 document has a list...
What an interesting read on the schedule and use of the SCA. Thanks for posting.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3608 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 09-24-2021 01:35 PM
quote:Originally posted by OV-105: I think on the STS-28 ferry flight they took off and then had an engine warning light come on and they returned to Edwards AFB.
As mentioned earlier, that was actually the STS-76 post-mission ferry flight to KSC in 1996. The SCA was NASA 905. Here is the April 6, 1996 NASA news release:
NASA's 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), made a precautionary landing at approximately 1:10 p.m. PST today back at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The ferry flight originated from NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif., for Abilene, Tx., enroute to Kennedy Space Center, Fl.
The 747 aircraft carrying the Shuttle Orbiter Atlantis took off from Edwards AFB, Calif., at approximately 12:55 p.m. PST. Five minutes after take off, the flight crew observed a fire warning indicator light for engine #3, the right inboard engine. The crew shut the engine down as a precaution and returned to Edwards Air Force Base, where they landed without further incident. There was no reported damage to the 747 or to the Orbiter.
The 747 and Shuttle Orbiter Atlantis will remain at Edwards while the aircraft is inspected to determine the cause of the engine warning light. The return flight has tentatively been rescheduled for Thursday, April 11.
The SCA had been flying under the guidance of pilot Gordon Fullerton and copilot Tom McMurtry of Dryden for five minutes when the warning light came on.
Atlantis landed at Edwards March 31, 1996 at 5:29 a.m. PST after its crew ended their nine day mission in space.
The first planned refueling stop the shuttle's ferry flight to KSC was to be at Dyess Air Force Base, Abilene, Tx.
posted 04-08-2012 08:35 PM
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