#747sp-21

[usafphantom2]

NASA Boeing 747SP-21 N747NA SOFIA by Mark Allison Via Flickr: NASA's SOFIA performing in the flying display at the Aerospace Valley Air Show 2022 at Edwards Air Force Base. This is the first and last time SOFIA has appeared at any airshow, having completed her final operational flight on the night of the 28th September 2022.. At the time of writing, she is expected to make one more flight to a yet undisclosed museum. Note the telescope door open with telescope visible, another first for SOFIA at such a low altitude! -15/10/2022

[usafphantom2]

NASA Boeing 747SP-21 N747NA SOFIA by Mark Allison Via Flickr: NASA's SOFIA performing in the flying display at the Aerospace Valley Air Show 2022 at Edwards Air Force Base. This is the first and last time SOFIA has appeared at any airshow, having completed her final operational flight on the night of the 28th September 2022. During this flight, SOFIA headed back to Palmdale for the final time. At the time of writing, she is expected to make one more flight to a yet undisclosed museum. -16/10/2022

[usafphantom2]

NASA Boeing 747SP-21 N747NA SOFIA by Mark Allison Via Flickr: NASA's SOFIA performing in the flying display at the Aerospace Valley Air Show 2022 at Edwards Air Force Base. This is the first and last time SOFIA has appeared at any airshow, having completed her final operational flight on the night of the 28th September 2022. During this flight, SOFIA headed back to Palmdale for the final time. At the time of writing, she is expected to make one more flight to a yet undisclosed museum. -16/10/2022

[usafphantom2]

NASA Boeing 747SP-21 N747NA SOFIA by Mark Allison Via Flickr: NASA's SOFIA performing in the flying display at the Aerospace Valley Air Show 2022 at Edwards Air Force Base. This is the first and last time SOFIA has appeared at any airshow, having completed her final operational flight on the night of the 28th September 2022. During this flight, SOFIA headed back to Palmdale for the final time. At the time of writing, she is expected to make one more flight to a yet undisclosed museum. -16/10/2022

[shafdogg009]

VQ-BMS took off from runway 19R, flew a large arc pattern south of the airport while maintaining 19,000 feet and cruising speed of 381 knots, then came back to the airport and landed. Total flight time was approx. 30-35 minutes. My guess is that the flight was a maintenance flight. 

The 35-year-old jet is a former Pan American World Airways and former United Airlines 747SP-21 currently in service with the Las Vegas Sands Corporation.