NASA Douglas DC8-72 N817NA set to return - UPDATED 08 MAY 2018

As forecast last week, the NASA Douglas DC8-72 N817NA arrived Christchurch late afternoon 04 May from Nadi via a data gathering exercise which included a low level (below 2000ft) fly-by of Lauder. It departed on the long journey to Punta Arenas 07 May lifting off from runway 02 at 0820. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted 01 May 2018:

Once again, Christchurch is set to host the NASA Douglas DC8-72 N817NA as the classic jet conducts aerial work for the Atmospheric Tomography Mission (AToM). 

It has arrived into Kona/HI from Anchorage 29 April 2018 (Hawaii date) and is due to Nadi 02 May and onto Christchurch 04 May. A departure for Punta Arenas is expected on 07 May. 

Posted 02 February 2017: 

N817NA departed Christchurch 11 February on the continuation of its global mission with its next stop being Punta Arenas. Its plan, of just under 10hr 30min, saw the jet head as far south as 65S. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

As reported a couple of days ago, the NASA Douglas DC8-72 N817NA has arrived in Christchurch touching down on runway 02 at 1807 after a somewhat circuitous data gathering flight from Nadi.

NASA's Douglas DC8-72 N817NA is headed for another visit to New Zealand as part of its participation in the ongoing Atmospheric Tomography (AToM) mission. It is due Kona/HI to Nadi 04 February then to Christchurch 06 February. It will depart for Punta Arenas/Chile 10 February before making its way Ascension, Lajes, Thule, Anchorage and home to Palmdale arriving 22 February. 

For more on the mission please click HERE

Interestingly, while trawling around the world-wide web, we discovered NASA's Lockheed ER-2 N806NA is operating from Hickam/Honolulu on mission HyspIRI Tropical (Hawaii) from 13 January through until 04 March.