N927NA

The airframe bearing tail number N927NA is a Martin/General Dynamics WB-57F Canberra built in 1963 with serial 63-13295. It is registered in the United States and is owned by NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION, a government owner located in Houston, TX. The airframe carries the civil registration US and has been maintained in a mission-configured state rather than a conventional transport layout. Notable registry actions include its registration under N927NA and its current status as an agency-operated mission asset based in Houston; ownership by the NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION is the key historical transfer recorded for this serial.

The cabin of this WB-57F is configured for a two‑person crew with a mission payload and instrumentation fit; there is explicitly no conventional passenger or executive cabin. Avionics and onboard systems are aligned to support mission instrumentation rather than passenger services, reflecting the airframe’s role in specialized flights. Typical operations for this airframe are mission sorties launched from its operator base in Houston, TX, with flight planning and maintenance tailored to sustain instrumentation and payload integration. Maintenance considerations emphasize systems and payload support rather than passenger interior upkeep, and operational cycles are organized around mission readiness for instrumented flights.

The Martin/General Dynamics WB-57F Canberra airframe represented here was produced in an era focused on high‑altitude, mission-specialized fixed-wing multi-engine aircraft, with long range and high ceiling characteristics reflected in this airframe’s specifications. Its powerplant fit of Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-11 engines producing 16,000 lbf each supports the platform’s high-altitude capability to 63,000 ft, with endurance consistent with a 2,500 nm range and a cruise of 410 kts. Buyer and operator interest for this exact configuration is principally within government and research sectors given the mission payload fit and lack of a conventional passenger cabin, and resale or maintenance considerations center on sustaining specialized instrumentation and unique airframe systems.