Marting B-57F takes to the skies above Centennial Airport in Colorado on its first test flight after 41 years in storage.
(Image Credit: Paul Filmer/Global Aviation Resource)
Marting B-57F takes to the skies above Centennial Airport in Colorado on its first test flight after 41 years in storage. (Image Credit: Paul Filmer/Global Aviation Resource)All too often when planes are sent to long-term storage by the military it’s just a pause along their path to the grave. While the US has the advantage of desert storage facilities that slow the decomposition process, more often than not the planes are picked apart for parts or just stay a while before being scrapped. One plane that has escaped this fate is a Martin WB-57F Canberra which NASA pulled out of storage where it had been languishing for around four decades and brought it back to life. The Canberra took to the air earlier this month on its first flight since Nixon was president.
Martin B-57F in its hangar at Centennial Airport (Image Credit: Paul Filmer/Global Aviation Resource)B-57F during its long sojourn at Davis Montham AFB (Image Credit: Glenn Beasley/Global Aviation Resource)NASA 926 and 928 in flight (Image Credit: NASA)This plane started its life as a Martin B-57B Canberra, a licence-built and modified variant of the English Electric Canberra. The plane served in the United States Air Force under serial number 53-3918 with the 13th Bomber Squadron, later it was one of several planes converted for high altitude flight by General Dynamics, becoming a WB-57F in 1964 and serving as a weather reconnaisance plane, operated by the 58th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron out of Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The plane was retired to “The Boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona in 1974, where she sat for approximately 40 years before NASA decided to acquire her in May 2011. The plane was disassembled and shipped overland to Colorado where aerospace contractor, Sierra Nevada Corporation refurbished the craft.
NASA currently has two other WB-57F Canberras flying in its fleet, NASA 926 and NASA 928. Uses for these planes have varied from filming the Space Shuttle’s launch and re-entry, aerial surveys and collecting cosmic dust from the upper atmosphere in addition to missions supporting US military operations overseas, the details of which are rather murky. Whether bringing this plane out of mothballs is in anticipation of the retirement of one of the existing NASA Canberras or an addition to the fleet is as yet unknown.
Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
Served with the 58th Weather Recon Squadron 1968-1971. A very amazing aircraft and was lucky to have flown in her during my service.
SSGT R. Atwell, Crew Chief
I was in the 58th from 1969-1972. I was the Crew Chief on 295 for a short period of time before I went to Docks. I did get to fly in her while TDY to Argentina in !971. That was a great thrill. Two years ago I went over to NASA and saw her and gave her a big kiss. After the AF I went back to college and took a commission in the Army and retired after 20 years. I remember SSGT Atwell. Emmet Cook
Glad to see that they are getting some use out of the old girl, instead of scrap metal
Served with the 58th Weather Recon Squadron 1968-1971. A very amazing aircraft and was lucky to have flown in her during my service.
SSGT R. Atwell, Crew Chief
I was in the 58th from 1969-1972. I was the Crew Chief on 295 for a short period of time before I went to Docks. I did get to fly in her while TDY to Argentina in !971. That was a great thrill. Two years ago I went over to NASA and saw her and gave her a big kiss. After the AF I went back to college and took a commission in the Army and retired after 20 years. I remember SSGT Atwell. Emmet Cook
Were they sensitive in pitch and yaw ? The big (chord and span) wing gives me that impression.