can you ID this NASA plane?

[Huggyu2]

It's mod'd to get more altitude with various payloads. The pilots wear full pressure suits when they fly it, as they do in the U-2,.. eh, ER-2.

 

[psysicx]

I bet thats a tough job to get.

 

[I_Love_Lamp]

What's the x-wind limitation on that thing? Looks like it can't get much bank close to the ground...

 

[Lear Wanna Be]

They have two of them based at Ellington (EFD). High altitude research. Not unusual to see them at the Cape during a shuttle launch or recovery.

 

[bocefus]

Well that is interesting, I'd say it would be most unusual to see them at "the Cape". They were tasked with taking ascent photos of the Shuttle after the Columbia loss, but they operate out of Ellington. The shuttle landing facility does not have the ramp space or infrastucture to support their ops.

 

[Lear Wanna Be]

Didn't think that anyone would really care about the specifics, but since people use every oppurtunity to tell you how wrong you are around here....sorry. They were actually based at Patrick AFB Coco Beach, FL, right across the channel from the Cape. Which happens to be the controlling center for Cape Canaveral.

 

[bocefus]

Ok, I'll buy that, if you'll buy that PAFB is not referred to as "the Cape" nor is it even located on "the Cape".

 

[stall022]

What's the x-wind limitation on that thing? Looks like it can't get much bank close to the ground...

15 knots

http://jsc-aircraft-ops.jsc.nasa.gov/wb57/docs/WB-57FBrochure.pdf

 

[PA-44Typed]

They base at Patrick AFB for shuttle and rocket support.

 

[psysicx]

Are all of there pilots ex U-2 drivers?