Recently Retired Aircraft

  • STS-35 leaves Dryden on 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) bound for Kennedy Space Center

    Shuttle Carrier Aircraft 747

    NASA uses two modified Boeing 747 jetliners, originally manufactured for commercial use, as Space Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA).

  • Two T-38s in flight

    T-38 Talon

    The Northrop T-38 was used by the Air Force as a two-seat, supersonic trainer. This aircraft is used by NASA Dryden’s research pilots for proficiency and mission support flights.

  • F-16XL number one in flight

    F-16XL

    NASA's single-seat F-16XL (ship #1), tail number 849, is stationed at Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA. It arrived at Dryden in March 1989, from General Dynamics in Fort Worth, TX

  • F-15B flying of Borax mine in Boron CA.

    F-15B #837

    The F-15B research aircraft (tail number 837), the first two-seat F-15 built by McDonnell Douglas, was used initially for developmental testing and evaluation.