Minuteman
I HAVE STRONG OPINIONS ABOUT AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING
NASA coronated their new-ish 777-200ER as a replacement for their DC-8. It was originally delivered to JAL back in 2003.
airbornescience.nasa.gov
It is interesting to me that NASA's fleet "jumps" from King Airs and Gulfstreams to a 777, with no 737/757-sized aircraft (U2 & WB-57 held aside ... and possibly the SR-71 again?). The world has several 8-hour-plus scheduled 737 flights so endurance doesn't seem limiting, unless that 10-16 hour windows espescially valuable. The aircraft is currently undergoing modifications for a series of flights for the "NUTURE" program.
espo.nasa.gov
NASA B777 | NASA Airborne Science Program
It is interesting to me that NASA's fleet "jumps" from King Airs and Gulfstreams to a 777, with no 737/757-sized aircraft (U2 & WB-57 held aside ... and possibly the SR-71 again?). The world has several 8-hour-plus scheduled 737 flights so endurance doesn't seem limiting, unless that 10-16 hour windows espescially valuable. The aircraft is currently undergoing modifications for a series of flights for the "NUTURE" program.