The Varied History of a Boeing 747SP: From Braniff Airliner to NASA Parts Source
A specific Boeing 747SP, with serial number 21934, had a remarkable and varied career after its construction in 1979. The aircraft initially flew for Braniff International Airways on long-haul routes, including a notable service from Dallas to Seoul. Following Braniff's collapse, the jet was later acquired by the now-defunct Fry's Electronics and converted into a private corporate aircraft. Its final chapter was with NASA, which purchased the plane not for flight, but as a vital source of spare parts for its SOFIA 747SP airborne observatory. After its useful components were harvested, the historic airframe was ultimately dismantled and scrapped.
Official Source: https://simpleflying.com/boeing-747sp-flew-braniff-frys-electronics-nasa-scrapped-parts/
Related Aviation News:
- Why The Boeing 747SP's Short-Body Design Solved A Problem No Other Aircraft Could In Its Era
- Boeing 747: The Jumbo Jet That Democratised Air Travel
- Questa si che è una bella “seconda” vita. A Los Angeles arriva il Boeing 747 di Korean Air: un nuovo motivo per visitare il California Science Center
- Boeing 747 Fuselage Suspended Between Seattle Towers in Striking Architectural Tribute
- The $300,000,000 Boeing 747 gifted to the US is the most luxurious Air Force One in history but it is missing a critical feature