« 2007
2009 »
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
All
- DSCN0317
- DSCN0318
- DSCN0319
- DSCN0320
- DSCN0321
- DSCN0322
- DSCN0323
- DSCN0324
- DSCN0325
- IMG 6560
- IMG 6561
- IMG 6566
- IMG_0264
3,500+ tourii line up for a look inside SOFIA - IMG_0265
The Kuiper Airborne Observatory, the predecessor to SOFIA, a modified former USAF C-141 Starlifter that flew from 1975 until 1996, carrying a 0.95 meter diameter reflector telescope for infrared and visible spectrum research - IMG_0267
The SOFIA aircraft has been upgraded with four of the latest-and-greatest General Electric 72,000-pound thrust CF6-80E1 turbofan engines, since the aircraft will be flying through at least the year 2030, and the newest engines will more than pay for themselves in fuel/thrust efficiency savings, especially given the price of oil these days, and almost certainly the future (a 747 burns around 3400 gallons of Jet-A fuel per hour at cruise altitude)