NASA's B-57 Warbirds

[mrhenniger]

I am currently listening to the live feed from CBSNews.com. They are covering the launch of Discovery this morning. One of the topics mentioned is the use of two WB-57s for recording the ascent of the shuttle from high altitude.

It is good to see these airframes soldiering on.

Joe Baugher's lists provide the following info...

52-1418 ... 52-1425
Martin B-57A-MA
1418 transferred to NASA as 218 6/19/57.

52-1493 ... 52-1594
Martin B-57B-MA
1576 transferred to NASA DFRC as 809 and registered as N516NA.

63-13286 ... 63-13302
Martin/General Dynamics RB-57F-CF
13298 was B-57B 52-1536.
later loaned to NASA as 928.
later re-registered as N928NA

63-13500 ... 63-13503
Martin/General Dynamics RB-57F
Remanufactured from existing RB-57Ds. All later redesignated
WB-57F.
13501 was RB-57D 53-3975. Later loaned to NASA as 925, registered
as N925NA. Now on display at Pima Air Museum, AZ. (BM0141)
13503 was RB-57D 53-3974. To NASA as 926. Later reregistered
as N357AR and then N926NA. To AMARC 1996

Does anyone know the serials of the two WB-57s in use by NASA currently? Joe's lists don't seem to include them.

Mike

[Mike]

The only one that I could find on the FAA database is General Dynamics WB-57F N926NA 63-13503A.

[Swiss Mustangs]

ask them....

http://jsc-aircraft-ops.jsc.nasa.gov/wb57/

Martin

[RMAllnutt]

Wow.... those -57's look really bizarre with the new wings, tail, engines... you could hardly call them B-57's any more!

Cheers,
Richard

[RickH]

They built two new detachable noses for the telescope/camera system. We watched them roll the first one over to the hangar prior to installation. There was some concern that the airframes would reject them because they were so ugly ! They are supposed to be able to track and video the shuttle launch through external fuel TANK separation ! We see them fly all the time but I don't rememmber the numbers. All of the Houston NASA aircraft start with 9. Maybe that will give you some help with ID.

[mrhenniger]

I just fired an email off to a gentleman in NASA using an email address obtained from the site pointed to by Martin.

I provide an update if I receive anything in return.

Mike

[JohnH]

Whatever happened to that guy from Idaho Steve Picatti's B-57 (who was busted for weapons violations). He rebuilt Lone Star's F6F Hellcat.

John

[JohnH]

To answer my own question, its' flying career seems to have come to a sad end several years ago, here's an interesting web page on it:

http://www.bywat.co.uk/229-story.html

Found another page too with this info:

Was subject of legal dispute and ownership changed to Tom Leek. Reportedly damaged when it suffered an accidental landing gear retraction whilst parked. Reports of it being grounded by FAA due to unqualified ground crew and maintenance issues. As unable to fly it out, wings and tailplane where removed and the aircraft was removed by road from Boise, Idaho during 1999. During wing removal substantial damage was done to centre section wing mounting bosses. This means 229 may not fly again.
Last report has it registered to Jack Stringer of California 28/03/00. Noted in Australian Aviation 11/04 as being parked in the GA area of Redding Airport, California as of 04/08/2004.

[dhfan]

Amazing longevity. The RAF still have a few in service, although they are still recognisably Canberras.

[Paul Krumrei]

NASA 926 and NASA 928 are the only two WB-57s still flying in the world today.

[krlang]

Hey,

I was told that one of them flew into Bedford a while back. I missed it.
I was arriving late after a doctors appointment the other day and I saw the Proteus departing to the west.

[CWBuff]

Several shots showing NASA WB-57s have been posted on usenet in the last few days. For those who don't subscribe to a usenet server you can see them here...

Usenet Replayer Search - alt.binaries.pictures.aviation

Scroll down and click 'Start Searching'... should be on the second or third page, depending on how many new images have been added to the archive since this post.


Fade to Black...

[tom d. friedman]

a friend of mine from arizona was a career usaf pilot, retired a major. he had significant time in the b-57 in the 50's. when president jfk was assassinated in 1963, my buddy was on duty in south korea. the mayhem / confusion from the tragedy put him on defcon 2 alert while he was a b- 57 pilot. he spent near 12 hours suited up in the cockpit waiting for the the go word. he ended his b-57 career in the mid 60's over new york, his canopy accidentally blew off / malfunctioned & he made an emergency landing. went on to c-130's in vietnam, retired with his skin after a great tour their. i may do an article about him soon. best, tom

[JeffH]

Luckily for me I get to see them fly out of Ellington fairly regularly down here in Houston. On my last flight I had to hold for 1 as it came in. Pretty neat site watching that thing land right in front of you.