B747 that's a big hole!!

[3788sam]

http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/autopia/2010/01/413311main_ed09-0352-03_1024-7681-300x225.jpg

Is this from the aft ABL or something else?

[SomeSailor]

It's from SOFIA.

We used to have the predecessor at NAS Moffett Field (Ames Reasearch Center) in the Kupier Airborne Observatory.

Here's an article about it: Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (http://www.sofia.usra.edu/)

[Webjammin]

Ken

The "SOFIA" A/P. is a heavily modified 747SP, The 747SP (747Special Purpose) 1977 vintage was based on the original 747-100. It was a short lived 747 variant, that doesnt make a lot of buisness sense in todays market, but back in the 70's a Hot Rod 747 had a little bit of appeal to somebody at Pan Am. but so did all those funky Braniff paint jobs.

[SomeSailor]

There used to be several of those flying around Moffett Field that did different things. One was the design platform for what ended up being Hubble.

I used to work for a gal in the Navy who was an amateur astronomer who quit the Navy to go be a tech on it (the 707 Kupier). They would fly around in pressure suits on oxygen while this huge camera took pics of the sky. WAY cold as she explained it. We thought she was nuts.

[3788sam]

Thanks for the info I figured you guys would have the answers. Looks like an older style engines hanging form the wings.

[Randygh]

Just think of the turbulence around that antenna. That puppy has some stoutsas bolts and welding attaching it to the airframe.