Ellington Joint Reserve Base has a long, rich service history to this country since its opening in 1917. Ellington Field was established after the United States entered World War I and named in honor of a U.S. Army aviator, Lieutenant Eric Ellington, who perished in a plane crash in San Diego, California 1913.
Today Ellington is home to the 147th Attack Wing of the Texas Air National Guard,75th Innovation Command (Army), Reserve Center Houston (Navy) 1st Battalion, 23rd Marines, and Coast Guard Air Station Houston. Ellington is also home to the world-renowned U.S. Government agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA operates a fleet of approximately sixteen Northrop T-38 Talons, primarily from Ellington. The Talons are the primary jet trainer of the astronaut core, a chase plane, and travel aircraft to various NASA installations nationwide. NASA flight operations at Ellington fall under the aegis of the nearby Johnson Space Center.
Although this image collection below is not a complete inventory of the NASA aircraft at Ellington, I hope you enjoy these images as much as I did capture them. I look forward to adding any more in the years to come...stay tuned!
NASA Aero Spacelines B-377-SGT-F Super Guppy Turbine
March 8, 2021: NASA N941NA Aero Spacelines Super Guppy taking off from Ellington. This aircraft transports extremely large oversized payloads for the space program around the United States. The Super Guppy is "the only aircraft in the world designed to carry Apollo programs Saturn 5 rocket stages to today's Orion command modules.
March 8, 2021: NASA N941NA Super Guppy: This is a rare opportunity to photograph the Super Guppy in flight as this unique aircraft at Ellington. Awe-inspiring the cargo this aircraft has transported over its 30 years carrier with NASA.
March 8, 2021: NASA N941NA Super Guppy: Custom-made with parts from the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser, with a heavily modified, enlarged fuselage with more powerful engines.
NASA N941NA Super Guppy: In this photograph, the powerful Pratt & Whitney T-34-P-7WA Turbo prop show propeller tip vortices on takeoff from Ellington.
NASA N941NA Super Guppy: When NASA needs to haul two T-38s or the Shuttle Space cockpit, the Super Guppy is the only aircraft for the job!
March 12, 2021: NASA N941NA Super Guppy: Serial number 0004 is still in service with NASA based at the El Paso International Airport, Texas. The only one in the world still flying.
NASA Northrop T-38 Talon
NASA Northrop T-38 Talon N907NA on approach for a touch and go at Ellington. The T-38 is the world's first supersonic two-seat jet trainer. The Talon was introduced to NASA in the 1960s for essential astronaut skills for space flight. Astronauts train to hone their skills in navigation, reaction time, problem-solving and crew coordination.
March 17, 2021: NASA Northrop T-38 Talon N904NA narrow shapely fuselage on full display as the aircraft banks in for a landing approach.
March 5, 2021: NASA Northrop T-38 Talon N907NA in a banked turn for a touch and go at Ellington. The T-38 is a fixture for astronaut training for more than 30 years.
March 5, 2021: NASA Northrop T-38 Talon N966NA over Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base. A clear look at NASA’s iconic T-38 paint scheme, white and two-tone blue, with the NASA logo on the Aircraft’s tail.