NASA's #817, DC-8 airborne science laboratory arrives at the new Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility at AF Plant 42, in Palmdale, CA. 11/8/2007 Photo: Jim Ross

11/14/2007 - NASA's DC-8 airborne science laboratory returned to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center recently after an absence of more than two years. The venerable flying science lab's missions had been managed by the University of North Dakota since late 2005, although Dryden flight crews continued to operate the aircraft on worldwide data gathering missions.

The converted jetliner is the first science aircraft to be based at Dryden's new Aircraft Operations Facility adjacent to Air Force Plant 42 in nearby Palmdale. Four other NASA science aircraft are due to be based there in coming months.

Pilot-in-command for the DC-8's return to Dryden Nov. 8 was veteran NASA research pilot Edwin Lewis, who later died in an unrelated plane crash that evening near Las Vegas, NV.

Source: NASA Dryden Press Release