Space Shuttle 'Discovery' comes to the Air & Space Musuem | Page 2 | FerrariChat

Space Shuttle 'Discovery' comes to the Air & Space Musuem

Discussion in 'Aviation Chat' started by toggie, Apr 20, 2012.

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  1. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #26 donv, Apr 22, 2012
    Enterprise made many contributions to the program, but I don't think it could ever be considered a "spare" orbiter. My understanding is that before they built Endeavour, they considered using Enterprise, but it was actually cheaper (if not simply impossible) to start from scratch than to make Enterprise into a vehicle that could actually fly in space.

     
  2. Etcetera

    Etcetera Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #27 Etcetera, Apr 22, 2012
    Enterprise was too heavy and couldn't be made light enough to be useful so they built from new instead.
     
  3. It's Ross

    It's Ross Formula 3

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    #28 It's Ross, Apr 23, 2012
    I suspected there would be little glory for these used up tools.
     
  4. FarmerDave

    FarmerDave F1 World Champ
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    #29 FarmerDave, Apr 23, 2012
    I'll never forget being a child on the school playground a mile away from NAS Dallas and seeing the shuttle- 747 tandem flying low overhead as in landed there for some sort of planned, routine stop between California and Florida.
     
  5. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

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    #30 Spasso, Apr 24, 2012
    They would have been good candidates for water bomber conversions.
     
  6. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #31 donv, Apr 25, 2012
    There doesn't seem to be any shortage of -200s to convert. Is anyone converting another?

    Some friends of mine are converting MD-87s right now.

     
  7. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

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    #32 Spasso, Apr 25, 2012
    I think the term SCRAP is too harsh a word for the plight of the NASA 747's.
    I would think they are better maintained than most and the part salvage value would probably bring more money than the A/P as a whole.

    I was thinking Evergreen might be doing another tanker.
     
  8. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #33 donv, Apr 25, 2012
    Evergreen has plenty of 747-200s. I doubt they need any more.

    It is true, I'm sure, that they will part the 747s out rather than just saw them up and stick them in the smelter... but I thought that was assumed with the term "scrap."

     
  9. alexm

    alexm F1 Veteran

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    #34 alexm, Apr 26, 2012
  10. nathandarby67

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    #35 nathandarby67, Apr 26, 2012
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    I have a patient that used to work in the aerospace industry as an engineer (real-life rocket scientist!), so is still pretty tied in to that world. He sent me a bunch pictures a friend of his at Lockheed Aerospace sent him. Thought I'd share with the group:
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  11. nathandarby67

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    #36 nathandarby67, Apr 26, 2012
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  12. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #37 donv, Apr 26, 2012
    There was a blog written by one of the 747 pilots, but I can't seem to find it.

    I would guess that those are two of the lowest time 747-200s in the world!
     
  13. alexm

    alexm F1 Veteran

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    #38 alexm, Apr 26, 2012
    Very cool - thanks for posting!
     
  14. toggie

    toggie F1 World Champ
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    #39 toggie, Apr 26, 2012
    Those are very special photos.
    Very few people were granted access that close to the runway, etc.
    Thank you for posting them.
    .
     
  15. Zack

    Zack Formula 3

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    #40 Zack, Apr 26, 2012
    Do you know this for fact or are you "just saying'..."? Genuinely curious if you know something, or are just indulging in some jingoism. I can't imagine Russia (or any country, for that matter) really revealing what it spends on industrial espionage.
     
  16. chris_columbia

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    #41 chris_columbia, Apr 27, 2012
    How did they get the Shuttle off at Dulles? Certainly they don't have this tower there. Two big cranes?
     
  17. BMW.SauberF1Team

    BMW.SauberF1Team F1 World Champ

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    #42 BMW.SauberF1Team, Apr 28, 2012
    Yes.

    Enterprise being put on:

    http://media.washtimes.com/media/community/image/2012/04/23/enterprise-4_1_r640x453.jpg?c9f6f7c2167372918b42622c875fdab25859e137
    http://media.washtimes.com/media/community/image/2012/04/23/enterprise-2_1_r640x453.jpg?c9f6f7c2167372918b42622c875fdab25859e137
    http://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/shared/npr/styles/card/nprshared/201204/151510078.jpg
    http://media.washtimes.com/media/community/image/2012/04/23/enterprise-3_1_r640x453.jpg?c9f6f7c2167372918b42622c875fdab25859e137
     
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