Special Mission Test Beds & Support Platforms (NT-43, ASTB, Dragon Star, etc.)

[quellish]

Attached is a list of *some* of the interesting or unique special mission support platforms and test beds. For the most part this is limited to currently operational aircraft; listing all of the Raytheon A-3s that are in storage would be a whole project itself. Some launch aircraft are included here as the information is relevant to some forum members, and hard to come by at times.

The dedicated can type this information into commercial flight tracking software and record the movements of some of these platforms. You will find some very interesting things over time.

May be useful to some people.

 

[Ian33]

There is a G520T in use???!!!???

OMG! thats amazing. I seen one on an airfield in Germany as a static piece and its wingspan was huge!

 

[quellish]

There is a G520T in use???!!!???

OMG! thats amazing. I seen one on an airfield in Germany as a static piece and its wingspan was huge!

It's been flying recently over the Pacific Missile Range and attached restricted airspaces.

http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=N520DM

A flight to Phoenix:
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N520DM

 

[Ian33]

One was in Glasgow UK?

????

What on earth would it be doing in the UK? I wonder if it was part of the air exercises we had recently? An amazing airplane and thank you for the links Quellish.

 

[Gridlock]

Re: Special Mission Test Beds & Support Platforms (NT-43, ASTB, Dragon Star, etc

I can't see why an aerial reconnaissance asset like that would be useful in air exercises, other than to simulate a mission profile maybe? Maybe the Ordnance Survey is due an update?

Excellent info Quellish, airliners.net and the APSoCal forum both provide good coverage of some of these.

 

[Sundog]

It's been flying recently over the Pacific Missile Range and attached restricted airspaces.

Any idea on the turret underneath? A sensor to detect missile launches and/or track them in flight?

 

[quellish]

Re: Special Mission Test Beds & Support Platforms (NT-43, ASTB, Dragon Star, etc

I can't see why an aerial reconnaissance asset like that would be useful in air exercises, other than to simulate a mission profile maybe? Maybe the Ordnance Survey is due an update?

Excellent info Quellish, airliners.net and the APSoCal forum both provide good coverage of some of these.

There is speculation it's supporting BAMS. Earlier this year it was flying racetracks over something out in the ocean.

 

[Ian33]

http://www.thenorthspin.com/photos_people_dave_c/20.jpg

This is a great picture of a test bed thats flying in support of the NG BAMS effort.

 

[quellish]

http://www.thenorthspin.com/photos_people_dave_c/20.jpg

This is a great picture of a test bed thats flying in support of the NG BAMS effort.

N82CR was originally modified at Mojave as a testbed to support BAMS, lately it's been carrying payloads for NG's bid for the undead Aerial Common Sensor.

http://www.flttest.com/