N747NA: SOFIA and Clipper Lindbergh
SOFIA was a passenger 747SP transformed into a flying infrared observatory. Its large telescope door and specialised cabin were the final stage in an airframe history that began with Pan Am and continued with United Airlines.
SOFIA was a passenger 747SP transformed into a flying infrared observatory. Its large telescope door and specialised cabin were the final stage in an airframe history that began with Pan Am and continued with United Airlines.
Aircraft identity
- Registration: N747NA
- Variant: Boeing 747SP-21
- Serial number: 21441
- Former registrations: N536PA, N145UA
- Operator history: Pan Am 1977 - 1986; United Airlines 1986 - 1995; USRA acquisition 1997; NASA and DLR SOFIA science programme
- Record status: Preserved
Aircraft history
| Date or period | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 25 April 1977 | First flight of serial number 21441, later named Clipper Lindbergh by Pan Am. Source |
| 13 February 1986 | Purchased by United Airlines and registered N145UA. Source |
| 27 October 1997 | Purchased by USRA for conversion into SOFIA. Source |
| 26 April 2007 | First test flight after the observatory conversion. Source |
| 26 May 2010 | The telescope recorded its first astronomical observations in flight. Source |
| 29 September 2022 | Final science flight. Source |
| 13 December 2022 | Final aircraft flight to Tucson for preservation at Pima. Source |
What makes this aircraft important
The final science flight and the final aircraft flight were separate events. NASA's December account identifies Davis-Monthan Air Force Base as the arrival point before preparation for museum display.
Status and access
The official collection or venue record lists this aircraft at Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson. Interior access, tours and opening arrangements can change. Check the venue information before visiting.
Sources checked: 3 October 2026. Dates are as specific as the confirming source; an undated milestone is labelled as a period rather than given an invented day.
Related
| Manufacturer | Boeing |
|---|---|
| Variant | 747SP-21 |
| First flight | 25 April 1977 |
| Status | Preserved |
| Engines | 4× Pratt & Whitney JT9D |
Sources
Facts on this page are checked against the primary and institutional references below.
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