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Printed black and white photograph of Enterprise on the back of a Boeing 747 mid flight
Enterprise in Flight
Printed black and white photograph of Enterprise on the back of a Boeing 747 mid flight
Printed black and white photograph of Enterprise on the back of a Boeing 747 mid flight

Enterprise in Flight

Object NamePhotograph
Dateca. 1983
PeriodCold War
Mediumphotographic paper
ClassificationsCommunication Artifacts
Credit LineCollection of the Intrepid Museum. Gift of Charles Guibord. P2021.41
Object numberP2021.41
DescriptionPhotograph, Black and white; Official horizontal image of the Space Shuttle Orbiter (OV-101) Enterprise, mounted to a modified 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), in flight. Note that the bi-pod (nose attachment) is of the "ferry flight" length, keeping the two aircraft level with each other. The bi-pod used during the ALT drop tests (in 1977) where longer, giving the orbiter a pronounced positive angle on incidence. There are additional black painted areas, primarily visible on the vertical tail surface, forward of the rudder. This paint marking was added prior to the Paris Airshow appearance in 1983. The markings on the SCA are consistent with those found on the aircraft in 1983. The orbiter has its tail-cone in place. There are clouds in the sky. There is a white border around the image.
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