Originally published at: Rare Air Force Stealth Measurement 737 Makes Public Appearances - AVweb
The NT-43A stealth measurement platform, normally kept under wraps in Nevada, made a daylight flight to Arkansas last week.
Wow, thanks.
There are several B737-200s operating in northern Canada, because of the gravel runway kit that apparently only exists for the -200.
Most probably are the Convertibles, cargo-pax configuration.
Destinations may include Cambridge Bay, Resolute Bay, and resource sites such as diamond mines.
B737s because they are fast compared to prop aircraft. (Herc is fairly fast at medium altitudes but not certified for pax, L188 Electra fairly fast at medium altitudes but not desirable (some still fighting forest fires, Airspray of Edmonton has 14, but jets win by going high and fast.)
I think the gerbils are on a special diet and are exclusively restricted to this while they power the “ageless” Fat Albert. Paint job should include radar absorbing paint at the next refit/major inspection. Might be an opening for older bizjets here as well. Still think a fabric covered AN2 might be the “Stinker” here with it’s hug the earth altitude capability and it’s ability to fly sower than a police radar detector.
It’s “Ardmore,” Oklahoma, not “Admore.” I flew at Vance AFB for a year, so I remember Ardmore. And Pond Creek, and Waukomis, and Dogface, the aux field pattern at Kegelman.
Interesting that this aircraft (and all of its’ 18 sisters) were authorized and built solely for Navigator training. Congress, when they originally authorized the build, restricted them from any other use as they were afraid that they would get siphoned off into VIP transport activity. I know, I was a T-29 AC at Mather at the time and flew a lot of trips taking various “teams” to meetings with Boeing, United, and the Navy about how the aircraft could and would be used. Of course, Navigator training has faded and almost all of whatever remains of that school can certainly be done in simulators.
As an interesting aside, most of the original squadron operating those aircraft, the 454th FTS went on to become the core of Southwest Airlines. I was in the 455th and flew the T-29 until I was reassigned to the C-141 at KSUU in 74. Herb Kelleher saw a great opportunity in hiring the AF folks with full United Airlines training and lots of experience in the -200 and jumped on it as the guys came up to the ends of their AF commitments.
Ardmore..turbulence… New puppy getting G’s and a runway with an X. Oklahoma.. Gusty memories.
Isn’t that the place with the small museum on field?
The gravel kit includes:
- a flat plate around the nose gear tires near ground, to keep them from throwing pebbles toward engines
- an air boom projecting from bottom of nacelle to disrupt the vortex that occurs from inlet at low speed. (You can see it in rain, obvious on 727 center engines from terminal windows.)
Miscellaneous hardening of surfaces pebbles would impinge on..
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