SOFIA Rolls Along the Taxiway Under Its Own Power

"I Want to Fly", Says Modified 747-SP Carrying Hubble-size Telescope

August 19 , 2006

The SOFIA aircraft passed another major milestone this week in Waco, Texas, at the L3 Communications Integrated Systems facility. The Aircraft Operations Team, led by USRA's Tom Speer, and the L3 Production Team, led by Bobby Cryns and Dave Charo, performed full power engine runs on Saturday, 19 August 2006. Following engine checkout, the aircraft taxied onto the runway under its own power for the first time since modification of the aircraft began in 1998.

The aircraft will complete final engine checks this week, then go to the L3 paint hangar for application of the full NASA-approved paint scheme.

The program continues to hold to the November 2006 First Flight schedule. Following a series of functional check flights in Texas, the aircraft will be flown to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center for the beginning of the SOFIA flight test profiles.

Click here to download document detailing the SOFIA engine run ground operations

Click here to download 9.2MB video