Detailed tour through the Boeing 747 that carries the Space Shuttle Orbiter.

Join me in a tour inside and out of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft which was a heavily modified Boeing 747-100 used by NASA to carry the Space Shuttle Orbiter. It's now retired at the Space Centre Houston in Texas.

#aviation #airplane #planes

0:00 intro
0:20 starting at the nose
0:40 747 or C-5 Galaxy
1:25 Pratt and Whitney turbofans
2:45 modified tail section
3:35 entering the cabin
4:55 upper deck of a 747-200
05:55 lower deck again
07:00 bulkhead upgrades

[prestonsmith]

I did a walk through of one of the SCA's at the Moffett Airfield airshow. Two things you don't see in this great video. The SCA's had a rather large pump in the middle of the interior which carried liquid to stabilize temperatures in the orbiter while being ferried.

The second, and my favorite thing is a rather official looking stenciled warning on the fixing point for the strut connecting the Shuttle.
It reads: 
"ATTACH ORBITER HERE
NOTE: BLACK SIDE DOWN
Somebody at NASA has a sense of humor.

[jayfleegle]

Another great video Paul !!! Again.. sorry it took 3 years to watch it!!👍😎

[markylon]

I was delighted to witness this fly over London in 1983. Was totally awe inspiring.

[janetbruce]

What an amazing workhorse is the Boeing 747 - flying with a 78 tonne Space Shuttle on its back! So much more air drag and weight! Thanks Paul again for your commentary and videoing making this a really interesting presentation.

[kevinhedspeth]

Awesome aircraft!! I had the pleasure to work on both Shuttle Carrier 747s, N905NA and N911NA and was part of the team that accomplished the Engine Pylon Attachment Reinforcement Service Bulletins while they were based at Marana, Arizona.

[guitaristlife]

I have worked at Boeing for the last 15 years. So sad to see the very last 747 moving through the factory. True queen of the skies. A legend

[moe_]

Carrying an elephant on your back (or 20!!), is one thing... then trying to fly as well! Incredible stuff! Thanks Paul!

[Kingwoodish]

I hope you enjoyed your stay in Houston during your visit to this aircraft at Johnson Space Center. As a resident I take visitors to tour the shuttle and 747 carrier craft. It is spectacular and fun to visit during the mild Houston winters. This exhibit is also halfway from downtown Houston to the beach in Galveston.

[Paul-gtsn]

I've seen this plane in a Tennessee visit one Summer day. What a Beautiful, flying Laboratory!! It was still in service then. Lovely. It was a sight to behold such a huge, manmade bird!!!

[Peteski-]

You’ll never find attention to detail missing from any of your videos. I found this thoroughly informative as always. Thank you. Many questions answered

[tihspidtherekciltilc]

Those jet engines may not be as efficient or quiet as current models but are by far the coolest looking and will forever be my mental image of what a jet engine looks like. Thanks again for taking us on a tour as some of us couldn't if we wanted to due to health things.

[AlgorithmAl-vo]

Thanks for sharing this video. I was working in Jersey City when the shuttle carrier flew right over us in order to give Lower Manhattan a close up view. It was fascinating hearing those engines roar while being buzzed by a 747 with the Shuttle on top.

[louferrao]

I was up and close to one that landed at my army base in the late 90's. I got a nice picture of it with the Shuttle. Then when the shuttle Discovery was being brought to Dulles I got a picture of it on final approach to Dulles international. Iconic aircraft carrying an iconic space craft.

[therichieboy]

Say what you like about 21st century Boeing but, wow these guys used to build incredible planes!

[joaquinperez]

We here in Houston were devastated when NASA decided not to give us one of the remaining Space Shuttles, and are still bitter over how politics influenced where they would be retired. But getting the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft was a good consolation price, and the Johnson Space Center and Space Center Houston have done an amazing job turning a replica shuttle that was used for astronaut training into a very realistic mock-up and incorporating it into the entire display. I think that it is now a more thorough, interactive experience than what it would've ended up being with an actual Space Shuttle, but it still would've been nice to get one of them.

[Mik-lysp]

What a wonderful machine. Such a versatile aeroplane. Joe Sutter and his team did an outstanding job making the 747. If I'm quick hopefully I get to fly on one again as a pasenger.

[WRic]

If it's a video about a 747, LOVE thanks Paul

[archiemercer]

WOOOO NEW PAUL STEWART VID JUST DROPPED

[S-Ltd]

I was lucky enough to see this aircraft at Stansted in 1983 with the Enterprise attached. I still have photos of it.

[davidshepherd]

Great video, I'm so glad that both the SCAs ended up getting preserved, rather than being scrapped for parts.