N905NA

The airframe bearing tail number N905NA is a Boeing 747-123 built in 1970 with manufacturer serial number 20107. It was acquired and operated by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (a government owner based in Houston, TX, US) and is registered in US registry records. This specific airframe is notable for having been a dedicated Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and, following retirement from ferry duties, was preserved and is currently configured as a museum exhibit with public access. Historic registry change and conversion actions reflect its transition from active large-cargo ferry operations to an exhibit platform.

The airframe was extensively modified for its role supporting the Space Shuttle: the main cabin was stripped for Shuttle support while forward passenger seating was retained historically for NASA operations and crew transport. Avionics and structural reinforcements were adapted to meet the unique aerodynamic and attachment loads of Shuttle ferry missions; routine mission profiles consisted of low-altitude transport, positioning, and ferry flights between Shuttle processing and display sites. Based at NASA facilities in Houston during its operational career, the aircraft required specialized maintenance and inspection regimes for its reinforced upper fuselage and attachment hardware. In its current role as a museum exhibit the interior is configured with interactive displays and public access, emphasizing education and preservation over transport capability.

The Boeing 747-123 is an early-production member of the 747 family, occupying the long-range, high-capacity niche that established the large widebody market. In performance terms its cruise speed and ceiling align with heavy intercontinental transports of its era; competitors historically included other early widebodies from manufacturers seeking long-range high-capacity platforms. On the secondary market, airframes with extensive mission-specific modifications—such as Shuttle carrier reinforcements or cabin removals—present limited resale potential for conventional operators and impose elevated maintenance and refurbishment costs compared with standard passenger-configured 747s.