Remarks: Mojave's gate guardian, complete with fading NASA livery, provides a very rare opportunity to shoot a full length Coronado these days. This aircraft was delivered as N5617 to American Airlines in 1962 and moved on to Modern Air Transport before being picked up by NASA in 1975. A pair of lamp housings have been placed on each wingtip whilst, just visible between the engines on the upper wing surface, is one of the four "Küchemann carrots" - two trailing edge blisters on each wing which served as anti-shock devices and which, at Mach 0.91, made the type the fastest airliner of it's time. I have many fond memories of seeing these smokers wearing the Swissair livery coming into LHR in the 1970s, so it's very rewarding to catch the sleek lines of this beautiful aircraft through the lens in 2010.
Remarks: [1600 pix] Great to see an old CV-990 again, sat at the gate to Mojave Airport. Took from this angle to show the speed farings on the back of the wings.
