As already explained previously, NASA still operates the last two flying WB-57Fs, NASA 926 and 928.
Both have been flying research missions since the early ’60s.
They are based at Ellington Field, Texas, but they are often deployed to different bases, both within CONUS and abroad and, alongside scientific projects (hurricanes, radiation impact on clouds, and so on) they often undertake some “special operations”.
Few months ago, I discovered that WB-57 had been deployed to Afghanistan after conducting test flights at Nellis Air Force Base.
Indeed, the aircraft is currently on a BACN deployment at Kandahar Airfield until Dec. 5, 2012. It will be back in Houston for maintenance until Feb. 2013, and then leave agian on Feb. 28, 2013, on another deployment outside the U.S. (most probably in Afghanistan) until Sept. 30, 2013.
On the other hand NASA 928, 926’s sister plane, is currently deployed to MCAS Miramar for what the NASA’s program website calls “”BACN JUON 2012 I&T” which sounds like integration and testing for the BACN (Battlefield Airborne Communications Node) under a JUON (Joint Urgent Operational Need) contract signed in 2012.
BACN payloads are believed to include sensors and antennas used by the WB-57 to relay comms between command and control centers and ground troops located within valleys and ridges in the Afghanistan mountains.
According to the NASA website, NASA 928 will operate from Miramar until Sept. 15, 2012, then it will be back in Houston until leaving for a CONUS deployment from Oct. 4 to Dec. 14, 2012. Since the aircraft is not scheduled to depart for Afghanistan soon, it may be testing payloads to be carried by other planes.
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The question is: why is it testing the new sensors at MCAS Miramar?
Noteworthy, a reader of The Aviationist has sent us the pictures you can find in this post, showing the WB-57 NASA 928 with a civilian color scheme slightly different from the previous one.
Just like some Air Force Special Operations Command planes, NASA’s platforms performing airborne science missions or BACN sorties abroad wear a color scheme to keep a “low profile” and appear similar to general aviation aircraft during their clandestine missions.
By the way, you can track NASA 928 on FlightAware and, as I’m writing this post, it is flying a weird racetrack around Miramar at FL500…
