1967
1998
1967
1998
B O E I N G
Airplane PA099, Manufacturer Serial Number 19437 is the Boeing 737 Prototype. It is a Model 737-130 (-100 Series) built to a Lufthansa Detail Spec, and assigned the last customer variable number in the DLH PA001-PA099 block. The airplane was assembled in Boeing Plant II at Boeing Field, during the summer of 1966. In September 1966, it was moved out of the Plant II assembly bay, and had the vertical fin and both engines installed on the ramp in front of the factory building. It was then moved down the field to Position 1 of the Thompson site (a purpose-built factory building at the southwest end of Boeing Field), for systems installation.
The airplane was painted in December 1966 in an olive drab, dark green and yellow color scheme, and formally rolled out in a ceremony in the Thompson site the same month. Assigned registration was N73700. The airplane was then moved to the Flight Center flight line for final functional tests, fueling, and engine runs. The airplane made its first flight April 9, 1967 from Boeing Field to Paine Field. The Captain was Brien Wygle and the co-pilot was Lew Wallick. The airplane was the lead airplane of a six airplane (4 -100's and 2 -200's) certification fleet. Certification was received from the FAA in a ceremony in the B-52 hangar in December 1967. Initial production airplane deliveries and entry into revenue service occurred in January and February 1968.
The webmaster of this site participated, as a liaison engineer, and later as a field service engineer, in all the above activities.
Following FAA type certification, PA099 participated in the flight testing and certification of various follow-on mods and configuration changes as an experimental airplane in the Boeing flight test fleet. One major change was the testing and certification of the hydraulically powered target thrust reversers installed commencing line number 136 to replace the original pneumatically powered 727 clamshell door/deflector door reversers. The new reversers were known as HPTR for High Performance Thrust Reverser, and were based on the DC-9 reverser.
N A S A
After several years of Boeing flight test work, PA099 was placed in storage by Boeing for several years, until sold to the U.S. Government - National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as a flight test airplane. NASA had two blue and white color schemes over the life of the airplane. Their call sign was simply NASA 515. As a public use airplane, PA099 became N515NA on the FAA registry.
After
about 23 years in
NASA service, the airplane flew its last research flight from its base
at the Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia on June 27,
1997. The airplane was donated to the Museum of Flight in
Seattle, and was flown to Moses Lake, Washington for interim storage in
September 1997, pending creation of a permanent display location at
Boeing Field. NASA stipulated that the airplane be maintained
in
an airworthy condition. They also retained title to the
airplane
until such time as it was placed on permanent display. They
continue to hold title to the airplane as of this date.
PRESERVATION
After
retirement from
Boeing in 1995, I began volunteer work on “E1", the
727
Prototype at
Paine Field. I had worked on 737's for over 30
years. After
arrival of NASA 515 in September 1997, I began helping Tom Cathcart,
MOF Chief of Restorations, during his monthly visits to the
airplane. In November 1998, I took over complete
responsibility
for the airplane, and became Crew Chief.
I made visits
on approximately 4 week cycles thereafter. Ultimately, I
made
over 100 trips to Moses Lake. Often, I was accompanied by a
helper, many of whom were individuals associated with the airplane and
its history. Two of my "helpers" were Brien Wygle and Lew
Wallick, pilots of the first flight of this airplane. Steve
Huemoeller, a United Air Lines mechanic, was a very frequent assistant
and an individual without whom I could never have accomplished this
task. Jeff Akridge, owner of Columbia Pacific Aviation, the
FBO at Moses Lake was also key to our success.
Based on my experience with long-term storage of airplanes, including the Comet, 727, and B-52, it was apparent how rapidly the condition of the structure and systems can deteriorate if not maintained. Accordingly, a maintenance schedule was established that involved periodic operation of the airplane and its systems. The results were more than validated. The 737 condition remained superb. Virtually all systems on the airplane are still, today, fully functional, reliable, and in a nearly flight-worthy condition. The objective of an airworthy airplane capable of a final ferry flight with minimal maintenance restoration was met.
Each visit involved a detailed pre- and -post operation walk-around inspection, checking of, and servicing all fluids (engine and APU oil levels, CSD oil, hydraulic reservoirs), checking and servicing all tires and shock struts, brake and thrust reverser accumulators, engine and APU fire bottles, etc. Operation involved running the APU, operating all cockpit control systems, exercising all flight controls, trim systems, air conditioning packs, pumps, motors, fans, lights, and valves; all avionic systems, communication, fire protection, ice and rain protection systems. The engines were operated and the airplane was taxied around the airfield checking engine operation, thrust reverser, and brakes, as well ensuring the condition of the wheel bearings and tires. At the conclusion of each visit, all openings, inlets, exhausts and vents were closed and sealed with custom covers purpose built for this airplane. Special springtime surveillance was carried out to curtail, interrupt, and remove bird nesting activities.
At least one high spped taxi run down Runway 32R was normally accomplished. Ultimately, I taxiied the airplane over 600 miles!
DISPLAY
Plans
were approved,
and activities undertaken, to allow the airplane to be placed on
permanent display in the late spring of 2003. After its ferry
flight to Boeing Field, the airplane would join RA001 - the 747
prototype, and N874AA, an American Airlines 727-200 (that arrived at
the Museum 20 Jan 2003,) on static display across the street from the
Museum on the west side of East Marginal Way - a facility now known as
the Air Park..
On September 21, 2003, the airplane was flown
successfully to Boeing Field in Seattle, and on November 22 was moved
to the west side of East Marginal Way to its static display location.
Information
on the Final Flight can be
found here.
Information
on the display
of NASA 515 at the Museum's Air
Park can be
found here.
As a young engineer, I worked on the design, assembly, and flight testing of this airplane. Fate has allowed us to come together again, each in our retirement.
It has been an honor and a privilege, to work on, and to be the custodian of, this beautiful airplane.
A Happy Man at Work!
Last revised
30 Dec 2004
28 May 2006
4 Feb 2007
13 Apr 2007