November 14, 2007

Dryden Flight Research Center
P.O. Box 273
Edwards, California 93523
Phone 661/276-3449
FAX 661/276-3566

Alan Brown
NASA Dryden Flight Research Center
Phone: (661) 276-2665
alan.brown@nasa.gov 
RELEASE: 07-67P

NASA'S DC-8 AIRBORNE SCIENCE LABORATORY RETURNS TO DRYDEN

NASA's DC-8 airborne science laboratory returned to NASA's Dryden 
Flight Research Center recently after an absence of more than two 
years. The venerable flying science lab's missions had been managed 
by the University of North Dakota since late 2005, although Dryden 
flight crews continued to operate the aircraft on worldwide data 
gathering missions. The converted jetliner is the first science 
aircraft to be based at Dryden's new Aircraft Operations Facility 
adjacent to Air Force Plant 42 in nearby Palmdale. Four other NASA 
science aircraft are due to be based there in coming months. 

Pilot-in-command for the DC-8's return to Dryden Nov. 8 was veteran 
NASA research pilot Edwin Lewis, who died in an unrelated plane crash 
that evening near Las Vegas, Nev. 

PHOTO EDITORS: A publication-quality photo to support this release is 
available for downloading off the Dryden on-line photo gallery at:
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/DC-8/index.html 

TELEVISION EDITORS: Video footage of the DC-8 flying laboratory's 
arrival at NASA Dryden's Aircraft Operations Facility at Palmdale, 
Calif., is available by calling NASA Dryden public affairs, 
661-276-3449. 

For more information about NASA Dryden Flight Research Center and its 
research projects, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden 

	
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