During the 1970s and 1980s, NASA worked on an experimental aircraft research project that examined Short Takeoff and Landing technology. Thus, the Quiet Short-Haul Research Aircraft was born, a strange-looking plane made up of salvaged parts from other programs.
Unlike other experimental aircraft, NASA’s airfleets are primarily used to obtain data with some of the most cutting-edge technology in the world through testing, not design and production.
Because of this, the organization strives to cut costs as much as possible, and using old parts sometimes comes at the expense of the vehicles’ appearance. The QSRA, with its four giant Lycoming turbofans, was no exception.
Although it was not the most pleasant aircraft to look at, the QSRA was the center of hundreds of successful research flights and experiments, including a four-day stint on the California coast.
It also performed dozens of landings aboard the USS Kitty without any kind of arresting gear, putting its STOL capabilities on the edge…
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