Shuttle Carrier Aircraft - Specifications

Specifications

Data from Boeing 747-100 specifications Jenkins 2000

General characteristics

• Crew: 4: pilot, co-pilot, 2 flight engineers (1 flight engineer when not carrying Shuttle)
• Length: 231 ft 4 in (70.5 m)
• Wingspan: 195 ft 8 in (59.7 m)
• Height: 63 ft 5 in (19.3 m)
• Wing area: 5,500 ft² (510 m²)
• Empty weight: 318,000 lb (144,200 kg)
• Max. takeoff weight: 710,000 lb (322,000 kg)
• Powerplant: 4 × P&W JT9D-7J turbofans, 50,000 lbf (222 kN) each

Performance

• Cruise speed: Mach 0.6 (397 knots, 457 mph, 735 km/h)
• Range: 1,150 mi (1,000 nmi, 1,850 km) while carrying Shuttle
• Service ceiling: 15,000 ft (4,500 m) (with Shuttle)