List of NASA aircraft
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Throughout its history NASA has used several different types of aircraft on a permanent, semi-permanent, or short-term basis. These aircraft are usually surplus, but in a few cases are newly built, military aircraft.
Current aircraft
Aircraft
| Aircraft | Type | Use | Status (Qty) | Dates From To | Research Centers | Current Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aero Spacelines Super Guppy
|
Fixed Wing | Heavy transport aircraft | Active (1) | N/A | El Paso Forward Operating Location | ||
Aerojet General X-8  |
Rocket | Research, X-Planes, Upper air research and sounding[1] | Retired | Armstrong Flight Research Center | |||
| AeroVironment Centurion
|
Fixed Wing, UAV | Research, Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) | Retired (1) | Ames Research Center, Armstrong Flight Research Center | Centurion was an evolutionary solar and fuel cell system powered unmanned aircraft. | ||
| AeroVironment Gossamer Albatross
|
Fixed Wing | Research, Human Powered | Retired (1) | Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum | |||
| AeroVironment Helios
|
Fixed Wing, UAV | Research, Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) | Retired (1) | Ames Research Center, Armstrong Flight Research Center | NASA's Helios Prototype was an evolutionary solar and fuel cell system powered unmanned aircraft. | ||
| AeroVironment Pathfinder
|
Fixed Wing, UAV | Research, Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) | Retired (1) | Ames Research Center, Armstrong Flight Research Center | AeroVironment Pathfinder Prototype was an evolutionary solar and fuel cell system powered unmanned aircraft. | ||
| AeroVironment Pathfinder Plus
|
Fixed Wing, UAV | Research, Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) | Retired (1) | Ames Research Center, Armstrong Flight Research Center | Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum | Pathfinder Plus Prototype was an evolutionary solar and fuel cell system powered unmanned aircraft. | |
| AeroVironment RQ-14 Dragon Eye
|
Fixed Wing, UAV | Research Platform, Airborne Science Program | Active (1) | Ames Research Center | Ames Research Center | ||
Eurocopter EC135.jpg) |
Rotorcraft | Active (3) | Delivery of the first two on September 30, 2020,[2] the third on March 11, 2021.[3] | Kennedy Space Center | Kennedy Space Center | ||
| Beechcraft Super King Air (NASA 8)
|
Fixed Wing | Transport Personnel | Active (1) | Wallops Flight Facility | Wallops Flight Facility | Carries employees from Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia and Baltimore | |
| Beechcraft King Air B-200 (UC-12B)
|
Fixed Wing | Research Platform, Airborne Science Program | Active (2) | Armstrong Flight Research Center, Langley Research Center | Armstrong Flight Research Center, Langley Research Center | ||
| Beechcraft T-34C
|
Fixed Wing | Research Platform & Photographic Chase | Active (2) | Glenn Research Center, Armstrong Flight Research Center | Wallops Flight Facility, Armstrong Flight Research Center | ||
| Bell UH-1H Iroquois (Huey)
|
Rotorcraft | Retired | Wallops Flight Facility | Wallops Flight Facility | |||
Bell Lunar Landing Research Vehicle LLRV  |
Retired | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Armstrong Flight Research Center (#2) | ||||
Bell X-1A Glamorous Glennis  |
Research, X-Planes, | Retired | 1946 | Armstrong Flight Research Center | National Air and Space Museum | High-speed and high-altitude testing. First aircraft to break the sound barrier in level flight.Proved aerodynamic viability of thin wing sections.[4] | |
Bell X-1B  |
Research, X-Planes, | Retired | Armstrong Flight Research Center | National Museum of the United States Air Force | |||
Bell X-1E  |
Research, X-Planes, | Retired | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Armstrong Flight Research Center | |||
Bell X-5  |
Research, X-Planes, | Retired | 1951 | Armstrong Flight Research Center | National Museum of the United States Air Force | First aircraft to fly with variable geometry wings.[5] | |
| Bell XV-15
|
V/STOL, Tilt Rotor | Research, | Retired (1) | Ames Research Center | Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center | ||
| Bellanca Skyrocket II
|
Fixed Wing | Civil Aircraft Test | Retired (1) | Langley Research Center | |||
| Boeing 737, NASA 515
|
Fixed Wing | Research, Terminal Area Productivity (TAP) | Retired (1) | 1974-2003 | Langley Research Center | Museum of Flight | NASA 515 is the first Boeing 737 ever built. After being used to qualify the 737 design, NASA heavily modified the aircraft for continuing research. |
| Boeing 747-100SR
|
Fixed Wing | Shuttle Carrier Aircraft | Retired (2) | 1977–2012 | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Registered as N905NA (which is a 747-100 model that was acquired from American Airlines in 1974) and N911NA (a 747-100SR model purchased from Japan Airlines in 1988). In 2013, Space Center Houston announced plans to display SCA 905 with the mockup shuttle Independence mounted on its back. NASA 905 was erected on site at the space center, having been ferried in pieces from Ellington Field, and the replica shuttle was mounted in August 2014. The display opened in early 2016. N911NA is currently on display at the Joe Davies Heritage Airpark at Palmdale Plant 42. |
| Boeing 747, (SOFIA)
|
Fixed Wing | Airborne observatory, Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) | Retired (1) | 1997–2022 | Ames Research Center, Armstrong Flight Research Center | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Retired 2022[6] |
| Boeing 757
|
Fixed Wing | Research Platform, Advanced technology | Retired (1) | Ex–Eastern 757 | |||
Boeing B-52B  |
Fixed Wing | Research, Test Platform | Retired (2) | 1959-2004 | Ames Research Center, Armstrong Flight Research Center | Pima Air & Space Museum (003), Air Force Flight Test Center Museum (008) | Balls 8 (NB-52B) was used as a mothership for the X-15 program, 127 Lifting body flight tests such as the HL-10 test flight, to support development in the Space Shuttle program, and several other miscellaneous test programs.[7] After almost 50 years flying service Balls 8 was retired from active service with NASA on December 17, 2004, following its participation in the Hyper-X program.[8] |
| Boeing CH-47B Chinook
|
Rotorcraft | Research, Variable Stability Research Rotorcraft project | Retired (2) | Ames Research Center, Langley Research Center | It was equipped to fly by wire and had three on-board computers. After research was completed, it was returned to the US Army and upgraded to the CH–47D standard.[9] | ||
| Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker
|
Fixed Wing | Trainer, Reduced gravity aircraft | Retired (2) | 1973 - 2004 | Ellington Field, Houston, Texas | Ellington Field, Houston, Texas | USAF KC–135As (designated N930NA and N931NA) Potential astronauts were exposed to simulated near–weightlessness. These aircraft are also known as Vomit Comets. |
Boeing X-37  |
Research, X-Planes, | Active | 2006 (drop test), 2010 (orbital flight) | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Reusable orbital spaceplane.[10] | ||
Boeing X-40  |
Research, X-Planes, | Retired | 1998 | Armstrong Flight Research Center | 80% scale Space Maneuver Vehicle testbed.X-37 prototype.[11] | ||
| Boeing X-48
|
Fixed Wing, UAV | Research, X-Planes, Environmentally Responsible Aviation Project[12] | Retired (1) | Armstrong Flight Research Center | X-48 series was utilized to "evaluate the low-speed stability and control of a low-noise version of a notional hybrid-wing-body design." NASA is hoping that this particular aircraft will aid in the design "green airlines." Blended Wing Body (BWB) testbed.[13] | ||
Boeing X-45A  |
Fixed Wing, UAV | Research, X-Planes, | Retired | Armstrong Flight Research Center | National Air and Space Museum (#1 Blue), National Museum of the United States Air Force (#2 Red) | ||
Boeing X-53 Active Aeroelastic Wing  |
Research, X-Planes, | Retired | 2002 | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Active Aeroelastic Wing testbed.[14] | ||
| Boeing Vertol VZ-2 (Model 76)
|
V/STOL, Tilt Rotor | Research, | Retired (1) | Ames Research Center, Armstrong Flight Research Center | Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Paul E. Garber Facility.[15] | Built in the United States in 1957 to investigate the tiltwing approach to vertical take-off and landing. | |
| Cessna 206H
|
Fixed Wing | Research Platform, Airborne Science Program | Retired (1)[16] | 2001-2024 | Langley Research Center | Langley Research Center | |
| Cessna 337 Skymaster | Fixed Wing | Civil Aircraft Test, Small Aircraft Transportation System | Retired (1) | Langley Research Center | |||
| Cessna 318 T-37 Tweet
|
Fixed Wing | Civil Aircraft Test, Small Aircraft Transportation System | Retired (1) | Langley Research Center | |||
| Cirrus SR22
|
Fixed Wing | Civil Aircraft Test, Small Aircraft Transportation System | Retired (1) | Langley Research Center | |||
| Convair 880
|
Fixed Wing | Research, Controlled Impact Demonstration Program | Retired (1) | Ames Research Center, Langley Research Center, Armstrong Flight Research Center | |||
| Convair 990 (Galileo)
|
Fixed Wing | Airborne observatory, Galileo Observatory | Destroyed (1), Retired (1) & Crashed (1) | Ames Research Center, Armstrong Flight Research Center | Mojave Air and Space Port | The Galileo I aircraft was lost in a mid-air collision in 1973 with a P-3. The Galileo II continued service into the 1980s providing research into aeronautics, astronautics, astronomy, and earth observations, but was destroyed in 1985 by fire after the right main landing gear failed and punctured fuel tanks. NASA 810 was used to test the shuttle landing gear and braking systems, before being retired. | |
| Convair F-106 Delta Dart (QF–106A)
|
Fixed Wing | Retired | 1986 - 1998 | Langley Research Center | |||
| Convair C-131 Samaritan (Convair CV-240)
|
Fixed Wing | Training, Reduced gravity aircraft, Landsat Earth Resources Survey program (ERS) | Retired (2) | Langley Research Center, Ellington Field, Houston, TX | Project Mercury astronauts flew aboard a C-131 Samaritan flying as the "vomit comet | ||
| Dassault HU-25C Falcon
|
Fixed Wing | Research Platform, Airborne Science Program | Active (1) | Langley Research Center | Langley Research Center | ||
| de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo (Bisontennial) named in 1976
|
Fixed Wing | Research, STOL | Retired (1) | 1970s late - early 1980s | Ames Research Center | Fitted with a short-span Boeing wing incorporating split-flow turbofan engines based on the Rolls-Royce Spey (providing both propulsion and augmentor airflow for the powered lift system).[17][18][19][20] Beginning in 1972 with its first flight in this experimental configuration, this aircraft was used jointly by the NASA Ames Research Center and the Canadian Department of Industry, Trade and Commerce for STOL research.[19][21] | |
| de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo (QSRA)
|
Fixed Wing | Research, STOL, Quiet Short-Haul Research Aircraft program.[17][18][22]: 153 [23][24][25] | Retired (1) | 1970s late - early 1980s | Ames Research Center, Armstrong Flight Research Center | The experimental wing was designed, fabricated and installed by Boeing was a swept, supercritical design incorporating a boundary layer control system.[23][24]: 8 Instead of the standard engines, this aircraft was powered by four prototype Avco Lycoming YF102 high-bypass turbofan engines (originally from the Northrop YA-9 program) mounted above the wing to take advantage of the Coandă effect.[24]: 9–10 In 1980, this aircraft participated in carrier trials aboard USS Kitty Hawk, demonstrating STOL performance without the use of catapults or arrestor gear.[18][22]: 154 | |
| de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter (N607NA)
|
Fixed Wing | Research, aircraft icing | Retired (1) | Glenn Research Center[26] | Middle Tennessee State University at Murfreesboro Municipal Airport[27] | ||
| Doak VZ-4
|
VTOL | Research | Retired (1) | Langley Research Center | U.S. Army Transportation Museum | ||
| Douglas C-47 Skytrain
|
Fixed Wing | Test | Retired | Ames Research Center | |||
| Douglas C-118 Liftmaster
|
Fixed Wing | Wallops Flight Facility | |||||
| Douglas C-133 Cargomaster
|
Fixed Wing | Heavy Transport Aircraft | Retired | 1966–1969 | |||
Douglas D-558-1 Skystreak  |
Retired | Armstrong Flight Research Center | National Museum of Naval Aviation (#1), Carolinas Aviation Museum (#3) | ||||
Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket  |
Retired | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Planes of Fame Museum (#1), National Air and Space Museum (#2), Antelope Valley College (#3) | ||||
| Douglas F5D Skylancer
|
Fixed Wing | Trainer, Chase Plane | Retired (2) | 1961 - 1970 | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum (802), Ontario Municipal Airport (708) | Used as a testbed for supersonic research and to train pilots for the X-20 Dyna-Soar program. The F5D-1 Skylancer had a wing planform similar to the proposed design for Dyna-Soar. After the Dyna-Soar program was canceled in December 1963, one F5D-1 stayed on at Armstrong, eventually becoming a flight simulator for the M2-F2, and a chase plane for experimental flights until 1970. In May 1970 one of the aircraft was retired and donated to the Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum.[28] |
| Douglas X-3 Stiletto
|
Fixed Wing | Research, X-Planes | Retired (1) | 1952–1956 | Armstrong Flight Research Center | National Museum of the United States Air Force | Titanium alloy construction; low aspect ratio wings. Planned to test long-duration high-speed flight. Incapable of reaching design speed, but provided insights into inertia coupling.[29] |
| Dyke Delta
|
Fixed Wing | ||||||
| Eiri-Avion PIK-20
|
Fixed Wing, Sailplane | Research, Lift & Aerodynamics | Retired (1) | 1981–1996 | Armstrong Flight Research Center | ||
| General Atomics ALTUS
|
Fixed Wing, UAV | Research, Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) | Retired? (2) | Armstrong Flight Research Center | |||
| General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (Predator-B IKHANA)
|
Fixed Wing, UAV | Research Platform | Active (1) | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Armstrong Flight Research Center | ||
| General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
|
Fixed Wing | Research, | Retired (2) | 1988 - 1999 | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Prototypes of the F-16XL, designed as a competitor to the F-15E Strike Eagle in the USAF's Enhanced Tactical Fighter program | |
| General Dynamics F-16 VISTA
|
Fixed Wing | Research, Variability in flight simulator aircraft | Retired (1) | Langley Research Center | Now in use by the USAF Test PIlot School under the designation X-62.[30] | ||
| General Dynamics F-16XL
|
Fixed Wing | Research, | Retired (2) | Armstrong Flight Research Center, Langley Research Center | Armstrong Flight Research Center (1) | ||
| Grumman Gulfstream I
|
Fixed Wing | Retired (7) | Johnson Space Center | ||||
| Grumman X-29
|
Fixed Wing | Research, X-Planes, Forward swept wing | Retired (2) | 1984–1991 | Armstrong Flight Research Center | National Museum of the United States Air Force | |
| Grumman Gulfstream II
|
Fixed Wing | Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA) | Active (4) | NA | El Paso Forward Operating Location, Ellington Field, Houston, Texas[31] (NASA C-11A) | ||
| Gulfstream G-III
|
Fixed Wing | Research Platform, Research Platform, Airborne Science Program, Unmanned Air Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) | Active (1) | 2003 - Today | Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Armstrong Flight Research Center | Armstrong Flight Research Center (NASA C–20A) | Acquired from the United States Air Force and modified by Armstrong Flight Research Center. The aircraft was equipped with a self-contained on-board Data Collection and Processing System (DCAPS), which allows for automated configuration setups thereby reducing engineering costs for each flight. The aircraft has been used by the Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) program, the Access 5 program alongside Scaled Composites Proteus aircraft, and as a test bed to develop collision avoidance systems and procedures.[32] |
| Gulfstream G-III, NASA one
|
Fixed Wing | Business jet of the NASA Administrator | Active (1) | 2003 - 2008 | NA | NASA one was a Gulfstream G-III with a seating capacity of 12 people. The jet is stored in an FAA hangar along with 3 other government planes.[33] NASA now shares a plane with FAA. | |
| Gulfstream X-54 | Research, X-Planes, | Proposed | Armstrong Flight Research Center | ||||
| Hawker Siddeley P.1127
|
V/STOL | Retired | Langley Research Center | ||||
| Kreider-Reisner XC-31
|
Fixed Wing | Research, DeIcing | Retired (1) | Langley Research Center | |||
| Learjet 23
|
Fixed Wing | Business jet | ? | ||||
| Learjet 24
|
Fixed Wing | Business jet | Ames Research Center, Armstrong Flight Research Center | Lear Jet Airborne Observatory[34][35] | |||
| Learjet 25
|
Fixed Wing | Business jet | Active | Wallops Flight Facility | Wallops Flight Facility | ||
| Learjet 28
|
Fixed Wing | Business jet | |||||
| Ling-Temco-Vought LTV XC-142
|
V/STOL, Tilt Wing | Research, Transport aircraft | Retired (1) | 1966–1970 | Langley Research Center | ||
| Lockheed C-5 Galaxy
|
Fixed Wing | Heavy transport aircraft | Active (2) | Flown by USAF crews. | |||
| Lockheed C-121 Starliner
|
Fixed Wing | Retired | |||||
| Lockheed C-141A Starlifter
|
Fixed Wing | Airborne observatory, Kuiper Airborne Observatory | Retired (1) | 1974 - 1995 | Ames Research Center | ||
Lockheed F-104A Starfighter  |
Retired | Armstrong Flight Research Center | National Air and Space Museum (818) (N818NA), Air Force Flight Test Center Museum (N820NA) (0790) | ||||
Lockheed F-104B Starfighter .jpg) |
Retired | Armstrong Flight Research Center | McClellan AFB (N819NA) | ||||
Lockheed F-104G Starfighter  |
Retired | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Estrella Warbird Museum (N824NA), Armstrong Flight Research Center (N826NA) | ||||
Lockheed F-104N Starfighter .jpg) |
Fixed Wing | Chase | Retired (6) & Crashed (1) | 1963 - 1995 | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (N811NA) (4045), Lockheed Martin, Palmdale, CA (N812NA) | One of these aircraft, piloted by Joe Walker, collided with the XB-70 Valkyrie experimental bomber on June 8, 1966, killing Walker. |
| Lockheed JetStar
|
Fixed Wing | Research Platform | Retired (1) | 1964-1989[36] | Armstrong Flight Research Center | ||
| Lockheed NC-130B Hercules
|
Fixed Wing | Research Platform, Landsat Earth Resources Survey program (ERS) | Active (1) | Wallops Flight Facility | Wallops Flight Facility | ||
| Lockheed P-3 Orion
|
Fixed Wing | Research Platform, Airborne Science Program | Active (1) | Wallops Flight Facility | Wallops Flight Facility | ||
| Lockheed S-3 Viking
|
Fixed Wing | Research Platform | Retired | Glenn Research Center | |||
| Lockheed SR-71
|
Fixed Wing | Trainer | Retired (1) | 1991 - 1999 | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Pima Air Museum | The plane was permanently retired in 1998, and the Air Force quickly disposed of their SR-71s, leaving NASA with the last two airworthy Blackbirds until 1999.[37] All other Blackbirds have been moved to museums except for the two SR-71s and a few D-21 drones retained by the NASA Dryden Research Center.[38] |
| Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird | Fixed Wing | Trainer | Retired (1) | 1991 - 1999 | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Armstrong Flight Research Center | The plane was permanently retired in 1998, and the Air Force quickly disposed of their SR-71s, leaving NASA with the last two airworthy Blackbirds until 1999.[37] All other Blackbirds have been moved to museums except for the two SR-71s and a few D-21 drones retained by the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center.[38] |
| Lockheed SR-71B Blackbird | Fixed Wing | Trainer | Retired (1) | 1991 - 1999 | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum | The plane was permanently retired in 1998, and the Air Force quickly disposed of their SR-71s, leaving NASA with the last two airworthy Blackbirds until 1999.[37] All other Blackbirds have been moved to museums except for the two SR-71s and a few D-21 drones retained by the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center.[38] |
| Lockheed U-2 "Dragon Lady"
|
Fixed Wing | Research Platform, Airborne Science Program, Landsat Earth Resources Survey program (ERS), High Altitude | Active (2) | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Modified to the ER-2 (Earth Resources-2) standard | ||
| Lockheed YF-12
|
Fixed Wing | Research, | Retired (1) | Armstrong Flight Research Center, Langley Research Center, Glenn Research Center | National Museum of the United States Air Force | ||
| Lockheed YO-3 Quiet Star
|
Fixed Wing | Research | Retired (1) | Armstrong Flight Research Center | |||
X-33 Venture Star  |
Research, X-Planes, | Retired (1) | Prototype never completed | Lockheed Martin | Half-scale reusable launch vehicle prototype.[39] | ||
| Lockheed Martin X-44 MANTA | Research, X-Planes, | Retired | Cancelled | Armstrong Flight Research Center | F-22-based Multi-Axis No-Tail Aircraft thrust vectoring testbed.[40] | ||
Lockheed Martin X-56 (MUTT)  |
Fixed Wing, UAV | Research Platform, X-Planes, Multi-Utility Technology Testbed | Retired (1) | 2012 | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Active flutter suppression and gust load alleviation technology for potential use in future high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) reconnaissance aircraft.[41] | |
Lockheed Martin X-59 QueSST  |
Research, X-Planes | In Development (1) | 2022 | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Low boom quiet super sonic demonstrator.[42] | ||
| Martin WB-57 Canberra
|
Fixed Wing | Research Platform - Airborne Science Program, Landsat Earth Resources Survey program (ERS) High Altitude | Active (3) | Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center | Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center | Earth Resources Technology Satellite program (ERTS), Cirrus Regional Study of Tropical Anvils and Cirrus Layers - Florida Area Cirrus Experiment (CRYSTAL - FACE) and Clouds and Water Vapor in the Climate System (CWVCS) | |
Martin-Marietta X-24A  |
Research, X-Planes, | Retired | Armstrong Flight Research Center | National Museum of the United States Air Force | Low-speed lifting body handling testbed.Lifting body aerodynamic shape trials.[43] | ||
Martin-Marietta X-24B  |
Research, X-Planes, | Retired | 1973 | Armstrong Flight Research Center | National Museum of the United States Air Force | Low-speed lifting body handling testbed.Lifting body aerodynamic shape trials.[43] | |
| McDonnell 188 (Breguet 941)
|
STOL | Retired (1) | 1964 - 1965 | Armstrong Flight Research Center, Langley Research Center | McDonnell conducted demonstrations with the prototype of French Breguet plane from June 9, 1964, to April 16, 1965. The aircraft was evaluated by both NASA and the US military | ||
| McDonnell Douglas DC-8
|
Fixed Wing | Research Platform, Airborne Science Program | Retired [44] | 1987-2024 | Armstrong Flight Research Center | ||
| McDonnell Douglas C-9 Skytrain II
|
Fixed Wing | Training, Reduced gravity aircraft | Active (1) | 2005 - TBD | Johnson Space Center | Ex-USN C-9B | |
| McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II
|
Fixed Wing | Chase Plane | Retired | Armstrong Flight Research Center, Langley Research Center | X-15 program, Lifting body flights (also collected biomedical data and used to see if sonic booms could be used as a weapon) | ||
McDonnell Douglas F-15A RPRV/SRV  |
Retired | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Armstrong Flight Research Center | ||||
| McDonnell Douglas F-15 STOL/MTD
|
Fixed Wing | Research Platform, advanced propulsion concepts | Retired (1) | 1993 – 1999 and IFCS programs 2002 – TBD | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Armstrong Flight Research Center F-15S/MTD | 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. |
McDonnell Douglas F-15B  |
Active (1) [45] | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Armstrong Flight Research Center | ||||
McDonnell Douglas F-15D  |
Active (2) [46] | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Armstrong Flight Research Center | ||||
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet  |
Active (3) [47] | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Armstrong Flight Research Center | ||||
| McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet (842NA)
|
Fixed Wing | Research | Retired | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Clear Channel Stadium | ||
| McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 HARV
|
Fixed Wing | Research, High Alpha Research Vehicle | Retired | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Virginia Air and Space Center (840NA) | ||
McDonnell Douglas X-36  |
Research, X-Planes, | Retired | 1997 | Armstrong Flight Research Center | National Museum of the United States Air Force | 28% scale tailless fighter testbed.[48] | |
| McCulloch J-2
|
Rotorcraft | Civil Test | Retired? (1) | 1973 | Langley Research Center | ||
Micro Craft X-43 Hyper-X  |
Research, X-Planes, | Retired | 2001 | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Scramjet hypersonic testbed (Mach 9.68) (110,000 ft).[49] | ||
NASA X-57 .jpg) |
Research, X-Planes, | In Development (1) | 2021 | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Fully electric powered aircraft demonstrator.[50] | ||
| MIT Daedalus
|
Fixed Wing | Research, Human Powered | Retired (1) | 1988 | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Museum of Science (Boston) | |
| NASA AD-1
|
Fixed Wing | Research, Oblique Wing | Retired (1) | 1979 - 1982 | Ames Research Center, Armstrong Flight Research Center | Hiller Aviation Museum | Successfully demonstrated an aircraft wing that could be pivoted obliquely from zero to 60 degrees during flight.[51] |
| NASA Hyper III
|
Fixed Wing, UAV | Retired (1) | Armstrong Flight Research Center | ||||
| NASA Mini-Sniffer
|
Fixed Wing, UAV | Research, atmosphere, high altitude | Retired (3) | 1975 - 1982 | Langley Research Center, Armstrong Flight Research Center | ||
| NASA M2-F1
|
Fixed Wing | Model | Retired (1) | Ames Research Center, Armstrong Flight Research Center | Armstrong Flight Research Center | The NASA M2-F1 was a lightweight, unpowered prototype aircraft, developed to flight test the wingless Lifting body concept. It looked like a "flying bathtub," and was designated the M2–F1, the "M" referring to "manned" and "F" referring to "flight" version. In 1962, NASA Dryden management approved a program to build a lightweight, unpowered Lifting body prototype. It featured a plywood shell placed over a tubular steel frame crafted at Dryden. Construction was completed in 1963.[52] | |
| NASA Paresev
|
Fixed Wing, Paraglider | Research, Space Capsule Safety (1) | Retired (4) | 1961 - 1965 | Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum | Was designed to study the ability of the Rogallo wing, also called Parawing, to descend a payload such as the Gemini space capsule safely from high altitude to ground.[53][54] Specifically, the Paresev was a test vehicle used to learn how to control this paraglider for a safe landing at a normal airfield. | |
| NASA X-43
|
Fixed Wing, UAV | Research, X-Planes | Retired (3) | Langley Research Center, Armstrong Flight Research Center | |||
| North American AJ Savage
|
Fixed Wing | Trainer, Reduced gravity aircraft | Retired (3) | 1960 - TBD | |||
| North American A3J-1 Vigilante | Fixed Wing | Research - Supersonic transport program | Retired (3) | Armstrong Flight Research Center | A3J-1 147858 to NASA as 858. Brought from NAS Patuxent River and spent one year at in support of supersonic transport program. | ||
| North American F-82 Twin Mustang
|
Fixed Wing | Research, Handling & Performance | Retired (1) | Langley Research Center | |||
| North American F-86 Sabre
|
Fixed Wing | Chase | Retired | Armstrong Flight Research Center | |||
| North American F-100 Super Sabre
|
Fixed Wing | Retired | Armstrong Flight Research Center | ||||
| North American OV-10 Bronco
|
Fixed Wing | Research, Noise & Wave Turbulence | Retired | Langley Research Center | |||
| North American X-15 (Rocket plane)
|
Fixed Wing | Research, X-Planes, Hypersonic Flight | Retired (1) | 1959 - 1968 | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum | Conceived by NACA, three were built and explored the regime of hypersonic flight, often regarded as a direct predecessor to the Space Shuttle |
North American X-15A-2  |
Retired | Armstrong Flight Research Center | National Museum of the United States Air Force | ||||
| North American XB-70A Valkyrie
|
Fixed Wing | Research, | Retired (1), Crashed (1) | 1965 - 1969 | Ames Research Center, Armstrong Flight Research Center | National Museum of the United States Air Force | NASA participated heavily in the design and testing of the XB-70 Valkyrie in the mid to late 1960s. NASA and the United States Air Force had a joint agreement to use the second XB–70A prototype for high–speed research flights in support of the proposed SST program. These plans went awry on June 8, 1966, when the second XB–70 crashed following a midair collision with NASA's F–104N chase plane. After 33 research flights following the mid–air collision, the remaining XB–70A was flown to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base on February 4, 1969, for museum display.[55] |
| North American YF-93
|
Fixed Wing | Research, | Retired (2) | Ames Research Center, Armstrong Flight Research Center | |||
North American F-107  |
Retired | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Pima Air and Space Museum (#1) (55–5118) | ||||
| Northrop HL-10
|
Fixed Wing | Research, Lifting body | Retired (1) | Ames Research Center, Armstrong Flight Research Center | Armstrong Flight Research Center | ||
| Northrop M2-F2
|
Fixed Wing | Research, Lifting body | Retired (1) | Ames Research Center, Armstrong Flight Research Center | |||
| Northrop M2-F3
|
Fixed Wing | Research, Lifting body | Retired (1) | Ames Research Center, Armstrong Flight Research Center | Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum | ||
| Northrop T-38 Talon
|
Fixed Wing | Trainer | Active, Retired | 1960s - Today | El Paso Forward Operating Location, Ellington Field, Houston, Texas | Used as a jet trainer for its astronauts since the 1960s. | |
Northrop X-4 Bantam  |
Research, X-Planes, | Retired | 1948 | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Air Force Flight Test Center Museum#Air Force Flight Test Museum | Evaluated handling characteristics of tailless aircraft in the transonic speed region.[56] | |
| Northrop-Grumman F-5E modified
|
Fixed Wing | Research, Shaped Sonic Boom Demonstration (SSBD) | Retired (1) | 2003–2007 | Armstrong Flight Research Center, Langley Research Center | Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum | The Shaped Sonic Boom Demonstration was a two-year program that used an F-5E with a modified fuselage in order to demonstrate that the aircraft's shockwave, and accompanying sonic boom, can be shaped and thereby reduced.[57] |
Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk  |
Fixed Wing, UAV | Research Platform, Airborne Science Program | Active (2) | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Armstrong Flight Research Center | ||
Orbital Sciences X-34  |
Fixed Wing | Research, X-Planes, | Retired | Never flew | National Museum of the United States Air Force | Reusable unmanned space plane testbed.[58] | |
| OMAC Laser 300
|
Fixed Wing | Civil Test | Retired (3) | Langley Research Center | |||
Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche  |
Retired | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Kings River Community College (808NA) | ||||
| Pitcairn PAA-1
|
V/STOL | Research, | Retired (1) | Langley Research Center | |||
| Rockwell RPRV-870 HiMAT
|
Fixed Wing, UAV | Research, Highly Maneuverable Aircraft Technology | Retired (2) | Ames Research Center, Armstrong Flight Research Center | Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum | ||
| Rockwell-MBB X-31
|
Fixed Wing | Research, X-Planes, Enhanced Fighter Maneuverability (EFM) | Retired (1), Crashed (2) | Armstrong Flight Research Center, European Aeronautic, Defense and Space Company | Oberschleißheim Museum (part of the Deutsches Museum) | ||
| Rutan VariEze
|
Fixed Wing | Research, Civil Air | Active | Langley Research Center | |||
| Ryan VZ-3 Vertiplane
|
VTOL | Experimental VTOL aircraft | Retired (1) | Moffett Federal Airfield | United States Army Aviation Museum | ||
| Ryan XV-5 Vertifan
|
V/STOL | Research, Rescue Research | Retired (1) | Ames Research Center | United States Army Aviation Museum | ||
Scaled Composites X-38  |
Research, X-Planes, | Retired (2) | 1999 | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum (V-131), Strategic Air and Space Museum(V-132) | Lifting body Crew Return Vehicle demonstrator.[59] | |
| Systems Integration Evaluation Remote Research Aircraft (SIERRA)
|
Fixed Wing, UAV | Research Platform, Airborne Science Program | Crashed (1) | Ames Research Center | Lost at Sea | ||
Schweizer X-26 Frigate  |
Research, X-Planes, | Retired | 1967 | Armstrong Flight Research Center | National Soaring Museum (1-36) | Training glider for yaw-roll couplingQuiet observation aircraft testbed.[60] | |
| Sikorsky CH-54B Tarhe
|
Rotorcraft | Utility | Retired (1) | 18 Mar 1972 - 15 Jan 1974 | Langley Research Center | Firefighting helicopter | NASA s/n was NASA 539. Now owned by US Leaseco Inc Aurora, OR, US https://www.helis.com/database/cn/5060/ |
| Sikorsky H-19
|
Rotorcraft | Utility | Retired (1) | Langley Research Center | |||
| Sikorsky S-72, RSRA
|
V/STOL | Research, | Retired (2) | 1979-? | Ames Research Center, Armstrong Flight Research Center | RSRA, Rotor Systems Research Aircraft | |
| Vought F-8 Crusader (Fly by Wire)
|
Fixed Wing | Research Platform, Digital Fly–By–Wire Control System | Retired (1) | 1970s | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Technology has become standard on modern high performance military aircraft. |
| Vought F-8 Crusader (Supercritical wing)
|
Fixed Wing | Research Platform, Supercritical wing | Retired (1) | 1970s | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Armstrong Flight Research Center | Technology has become standard on modern high performance military aircraft. |
| Vought XF8U-3 Crusader III
|
Fixed Wing | Research, Atmospheric Platform | Retired (3) | 1958-? | |||
| eXperimental Sensor-Controller Aerial Vehicle (XSCAV) | Fixed Wing, UAV | Research Platform, Airborne Science Program | Active (1) | Ames Research Center | Ames Research Center | ||
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