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DC-8 - AFRC

Current Status:
DC-8 Heavy Maintenance (ends 04/26/21)

The NASA DC-8 flight operations are provided by NASA /Armstrong Flight Research Center based out of Bldg 703 in Palmdale, CA. The University of North Dakota National Suborbital Education and Research Center provides science mission operations including payload integration engineering, data display and satcom systems and support, and education and outreach for the program.

Owner/Operator: 
NASA Armstrong (Dryden) Flight Research Center
Type: 
Conventional Aircraft
Duration: 
12 hours (payload and weather dependent)
Useful Payload: 
50,000 lbs
Gross Take-off Weight: 
350,000 lbs
Onboard Operators: 
42 not including 8 flight crew
Max Altitude: 
42,000 ft.
Air Speed: 
460 knots
Range: 
5,400 Nmi
NASA SMD User Fee per Hour: 
$6500
Point(s) of Contact: 

Charles E. Irving

Work: (661) 276-2385
Mobile: (661) 221-1158
Individual Aircraft Details: 

N817NA (NASA817) based at Palmdale/Bldg 703
  Year built: 1969
  Year entered ASP service: 1987

PDF icon DC-8 Experimenter's Handbook