NASA Airborne Science Laboratory... McDonnell Douglas DC-8-72
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Description:
| Crew: |
Two Pilots, Flight Engineer, Navigator |
| Length: |
157 feet |
| Wingspan: |
148 feet |
| Engines: |
Four CFMI CFM56-2-C1 High Bypass Turbofan Jet |
| Base: |
Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA |
Performance:
| Altitude: |
1,000 - 41,000 feet |
| Range: |
5400 nautical miles |
| Duration: |
12 hours; science missions average 10 hours |
| Speed: |
425 - 490 knots true air speed (cruise) |
| Payload: |
30,000 lb |
Specialized Modifications & Facilities:
| Sensor viewports at nadir, zenith, and 8° and 62° elevations |
| Wing pylons |
| Gyro-stabilized mirror system |
| Dropsonde delivery tube |
| Air and aerosol sampling probes |
| Data Acquisition and Distribution System (navigation, flight, environmental data) |
| Weather radar |
| Integrated navigation management system |
| Satellite-based time code generator |
| Stand-alone GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) system |
| APT weather system |
| Up to 22 experiment stations available for investigators |
| Immarsat Aero H SATCOM (Satellite Communications) system |
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