NASA has unveiled the design of N577NA, a new flight-science research aircraft converted from a former JAL Boeing 777-200ER. The aircraft was operated by JAL for many years as JA704J and is scheduled to collect Earth-observation data as a flying laboratory to succeed the DC-8.
NASA has unveiled the design of N577NA, a new flight-science research aircraft. The base aircraft was operated by JAL as JA704J from 2003 to 2021 and flew both international and domestic routes.
After the retirement of the DC-8, NASA's Langley Research Center will own and operate the aircraft. Modifications, including observation windows and data communications systems, are currently underway, with the aircraft positioned as a “flying laboratory” for collecting data in the field of Earth science.
According to NASA, N577NA is scheduled to begin full-scale operations in fiscal 2027 and is expected to serve as a research aircraft for experiments aimed at addressing a range of Earth-science questions.