Strange 727 at LAX

[Bjammin]

I was taxying in today at LAX and near the far west end there was a weird 727 with a long nose and antenna on the side in a hangar. It looked like a government plane, but I have not been able to find it on airliners.

Any one have any info?

 

[ATR-DRIVR]

B, is it this one?
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Boeing-727-223-Adv/0484066/L/
If so that is Raytheons test bed.

 

[TXDanno]

You didn't see any plane, let alone a highly modified flux-capacitated Boeing three-holer. There was nothing there. Please repeat that several times.

And again.

And one more cycle... ok, breath...out with the bad conspiracy-laden air, in with the happy happy joy joy sunshine is good air.

Don't you feel better now? I thought so. BTW, several friends from your government will be stopping by for a brief visit. Nothing too formal. Just a standard physical, and some forms you will need to sign.

That is all.

Don't call me again at this number. Ever.

 

[Bjammin]

B, is it this one?
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Boeing-727-223-Adv/0484066/L/
If so that is Raytheons test bed.

That's it!!!

Thanx!

 

[Bjammin]

You didn't see any plane, let alone a highly modified flux-capacitated Boeing three-holer. There was nothing there. Please repeat that several times.

And again.

And one more cycle... ok, breath...out with the bad conspiracy-laden air, in with the happy happy joy joy sunshine is good air.

Don't you feel better now? I thought so. BTW, several friends from your government will be stopping by for a brief visit. Nothing too formal. Just a standard physical, and some forms you will need to sign.

That is all.

Don't call me again at this number. Ever.

Good stuff!

 

[414Flyer]

There are a few of those strange planes flying out there. There is the CATBIRD 757, also a certain DC-10 that goes out to watch ballistic missile launches, a T-43 (737) with some very interesting nose and tail radars based somewhere in the netherworld, and then DEA has its own spook aircraft.

Sometimes the planes are outwardly quite noticable, sometimes really not noticable and hidden in plane sight, like the Center Spike birds could be.

 

[727gm]

If you remember that strange 767 with the hump and ventral fins that sat on the south end of KBFI for years, it was 767 s/n 1, it would periodically go out to the pacific missile range to watch re-entry vehicles using a gimballed infrared telescope. I was jumpseating into PHNL one night on Connie and we followed it in, saw it taxiing over to Hickam. I thought I heard the airframe got scrapped not too long ago....

 

[Spooky 2]

If you remember that strange 767 with the hump and ventral fins that sat on the south end of KBFI for years, it was 767 s/n 1, it would periodically go out to the pacific missile range to watch re-entry vehicles using a gimballed infrared telescope. I was jumpseating into PHNL one night on Connie and we followed it in, saw it taxiing over to Hickam. I thought I heard the airframe got scrapped not too long ago....

Sorry but I'm going to have to call you on that one. That Paul Allen's (MicroSoft) aircraft undergoing some communications / in-flight entertainment design evaluations. eyeroll please!

 

[AirBadger]

Paul Allen must get a $hit load of channels!
http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Army/Boeing-767-200(AST)/0730739/L/

 

[mzaharis]

Paul Allen must get a $hit load of channels!
http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Army/Boeing-767-200(AST)/0730739/L/

Yeah, 767 SN1 (767BA) is a known ballistic missile defense test aircraft.

http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=N767BA&distinct_entry=true

EDIT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_767#Airborne_Surveillance_Testbed

Do a google on "Airborne Surveillance testbed"

 

[727gm]

I was an design engineer for the IR telescope subcontractor in the 80's. Our competitor was downselected, so only the forward cupola had a sensor in it. Was called AOA(Airborne Optical Adjunct) back "Star Wars" days, but later changed to AOS(Airborne Optical System), and the whole airplane was AST. My elders there were also responsible for the pointing window on the old Airborne Laser Lab(707/-135), another wierd aircraft.