F-104B "819" (57-1303) N819NA chasing NASA "008" B-52B launch aircraft, known as "Balls Eight" for its tail number "008"

F-104B, construction number 283-5015, model 283-93-03, US serial number 57-1303, built by Lockheed
delivered to the Air Force on October 2, 1958, AFFTC support, used at Ames from October 3, 1958 to December 16, 1959 as 71303
arrived at NASA FRC on December 16, 1959 as FG-303-NASA 71303, 1977 as "NASA 819" N819NA
After 19 years of extensive use 57-1303 was retired from service in April of 1978 (last NASA flight April 21, 1978)
and flown to the US Air Force's AMARC (Aircraft Maintenance and Recovery Center) facility in Tucson, Arizona
During its career of more than 18 years of NASA flight test work, 57-1303 flew 1.731 flights
and was flown by at least 19 different pilots (sixteen from Dryden, two from Ames, and one from the US Air Force)
These individuals included Apollo astronauts (such as Rusty Schweikert), X-15 pilots (Bill Dana, Joe Walker), and lifting body
as well as XB-70 and YF-12 pilots. Transferred to McClellan AFB, California on June 16, 1983
(It was flown to the museum in a C-130 on July 13, 1983); on display at McClellan AFB, California as "71303-FG-303" 1986; 2005 noted; October 2024 noted.

A Flight Test Museum Moment: NB-52B "Stratofortress", s/n 52-0008, nicknamed "Balls 8", was retired from active service with NASA on 17 December, 2004 after almost 50 years flying service. 
"Balls 8" was famous for dropping aerospace research vehicles from a pylon that was fitted under the right wing between the fuselage and the inboard engines. 
During its operational service life, it flew a total of 159 captive-carry and launch missions in support of the X-15 program. It also flew missions supporting the X-24, HiMAT, Lifting Body vehicles, X-43 and numerous others.
"Balls 8" was originally an RB-52B that was first flown on 11 June,1955. It entered service with NASA on 8 June 1959 and was the oldest active B-52 still in service at the time of its retirement. 
It was originally modified at North American Aviation's Palmdale facility in order to allow it to carry the X-15. At the time of its retirement, "Balls 8"was the last B-52 in service of any type other than the H model. 
It also had the lowest total airtime of any operational B-52. NB-52B, s/n 52-0008 is on permanent public display near the north gate of Edwards Air Force Base and is part of the collection of the Flight Test Museum, Edwards AFB, CA. 

38°40'28.3"N 121°23'28.7"W

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