C141Heaven

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C-141 Tail Number:61-2775

This "A" model C-141 is the very first built. Its maiden flight took place on 17 December 1963, the 60th Anniversary of the Wright brothers first flight. This Starlifter spent its entire career as a test aircraft in numerous programs.

It was one of only four C-141's that was not modified into the B model configuration. This Starlifter spent its entire career as a test aircraft in numerous programs. Just before being retired to the AMC Museum at Dover, it was used to tow an F-106 fighter on a 1000-foot long towrope as a test to study the feasibility of launching the next generation of Space Shuttles from in-flight.

Now on static display at Dover AFB Delaware it was added to their collection in February, 1998. It sits near another C-141B.

The rollout of the FIRST C-141 at the Lockheed plant in Georgia.
Source:Lockheed archives.

Source:Nicholas Williams.

Early Test flight
Source:Lockheed archives.

Source:Dave Grant from Lockheed archives.

Landing after the first flight.
Source:Dave Grant from Lockheed archives.


First Flight of C-141 ...video on Youtube

Landing after the first flight. Signed by the crew.
Source:Dave Grant from Lockheed archives.

At Wright-Patterson about 1974 near the 4950 Test Sqdrn Ops building
Copyright:Mark McCarthy

Source:Paul Minert

Source:Paul Minert

Source:NASA.

NASA conducted some experiments in the late 1990's to see if it was practical to TOW a spacecraft into the air, from which it would be launched into space. This was called Project ECLIPSE.

I've got a few of the pics below but you can can see more NASA pictures of this experiment at the links:

Eclipse Tow Launch Demonstration #1

Eclipse Tow Launch Demonstration #2

There are hi-resolution stills and some movies to view as well.

In August of 2006 I made the mistake of buying a copy of the project report from a yahoo on eBay, who appears to have simply grabbed thing from the NASA website and printed it. Spend your $25 on beer instead and just your own copy, courtesy of NASA.

You can get a complete (6mb) PDF copy of the report at the link below:

NASA Report SP-2000-4523:The Eclipse Project

Ok, it's not a C-141, but it is ATTACHED to ONE!!!

Source:NASA

Source:NASA

Location: On the Ramp at Wright_Patterson where it was part of the 4950th Test Wing
(Thanks to John Schilling for updating this info)
Source:unknown.

The following three photos were taken in February, 1981 at Wright-Patterson AFB by Skip Daly. At that time, 61-2775 was assigned to the 4953rd Test Squadron in the 4950th Test Wing. The test wing was part of the Aeronautical Systems Division (ASD) of Air Force Systems Command (AFSC).

Copyright:©1981 Skip Daly

Copyright:©1981 Skip Daly

Copyright:©1981 Skip Daly

Copyright:Don Cook

Location: DOVER AFB, on arrival to be placed in the Dover AMC Museum
(Thanks to John Schilling for updating this info)
Source:unknown.