One of the Air Force’s least photographed airframes was front and center and seemingly posing for pictures and videos last week as it left its normal haunts in the Nevada Test and Training Range for a broad-daylight trip to a civilian airport in Bentonville, Arkansas. The NT-43A radar cross section measurement aircraft even stopped for fuel on the return trip at the airport in Amarillo after visiting Bentonville. The aircraft itself offers some insight into just how long the Air Force may have been measuring stealth. It’s based on a first-generation Boeing 737-200, a turbojet-powered baby Boeing that first flew in the 1960s. Only a handful of those aircraft are still in service, most in the far North where the certified gravel kit available only on that model of 737 comes in handy for the unimproved runways at some airports and mines in the Canadian and Alaska Arctic.
As is evident from the close-ups from last week, there is some interesting stuff going on under the various fairings and extensions, but it could be that just about everything that can be discerned from the distinctly utilitarian modifications has already been figured out. For what it’s worth, The War Zone has deduced that the ancient 737 needed some kind of maintenance that couldn’t be done at its usual digs at Tonopah and Groom Lake ranges. The only other time the plane has ventured out of that zealously guarded airspace was to Admore Municipal Airport in Oklahoma in 2022. Both Bentonville and Admore are home to maintenance and modification facilities operated by King Aerospace, which does work for the Air Force and seems to specialize in old 737s.
Wow, thanks.
There are several B737-200s operating in northern Canada, because of the gravel runway kit that apparently only exists for the -200.
Most probably are the Convertibles, cargo-pax configuration.
Destinations may include Cambridge Bay, Resolute Bay, and resource sites such as diamond mines.
B737s because they are fast compared to prop aircraft. (Herc is fairly fast at medium altitudes but not certified for pax, L188 Electra fairly fast at medium altitudes but not desirable (some still fighting forest fires, Airspray of Edmonton has 14, but jets win by going high and fast.)
I think the gerbils are on a special diet and are exclusively restricted to this while they power the “ageless” Fat Albert. Paint job should include radar absorbing paint at the next refit/major inspection. Might be an opening for older bizjets here as well. Still think a fabric covered AN2 might be the “Stinker” here with it’s hug the earth altitude capability and it’s ability to fly sower than a police radar detector.
It’s “Ardmore,” Oklahoma, not “Admore.” I flew at Vance AFB for a year, so I remember Ardmore. And Pond Creek, and Waukomis, and Dogface, the aux field pattern at Kegelman.
Interesting that this aircraft (and all of its’ 18 sisters) were authorized and built solely for Navigator training. Congress, when they originally authorized the build, restricted them from any other use as they were afraid that they would get siphoned off into VIP transport activity. I know, I was a T-29 AC at Mather at the time and flew a lot of trips taking various “teams” to meetings with Boeing, United, and the Navy about how the aircraft could and would be used. Of course, Navigator training has faded and almost all of whatever remains of that school can certainly be done in simulators.
As an interesting aside, most of the original squadron operating those aircraft, the 454th FTS went on to become the core of Southwest Airlines. I was in the 455th and flew the T-29 until I was reassigned to the C-141 at KSUU in 74. Herb Kelleher saw a great opportunity in hiring the AF folks with full United Airlines training and lots of experience in the -200 and jumped on it as the guys came up to the ends of their AF commitments.
Ardmore..turbulence… New puppy getting G’s and a runway with an X. Oklahoma.. Gusty memories.
Isn’t that the place with the small museum on field?
The gravel kit includes:
Miscellaneous hardening of surfaces pebbles would impinge on..