NASA N712NA \"Galileo II\" Convair CV-990 Coronado Mahogany Desk Model - 16\" TAM For Sale

Rare NASA Research Aircraft — Handcrafted Mahogany Desk ModelExcellent Condition

This is a large, handcrafted mahogany desk model of NASA\'s Convair CV-990 Coronado, tail number N712NA, \"Galileo II\" — one of NASA\'s legendary airborne astronomical/atmospheric observatories operated out of Ames Research Center from the estate of one of NASA\'s test pilots,

Model Details:

• Solid Philippine mahogany construction, hand-carved and hand-painted
• Produced by TAM, a well-known Clark Air Base–area model shop specializing in commercial, military, and NASA/spacecraft subjects
• Wingspan: 16\" | Length: 18\" | Approx. scale 1:90–1:93
• Accurate NASA \"712\" tail markings, \"Galileo II\" nose script, blue cheatline, and US flag
• Lacquered finish, display-ready — stand included

Why This One\'s Special:
This isn\'t a generic airliner model — it\'s a piece of NASA history. N712NA replaced the original Galileo (N711NA) after that aircraft was lost in a 1973 mid-air collision. Galileo II went on to fly ozone research and solar eclipse observation missions before an aborted takeoff fire ended its service in 1985. The Convair 990 itself was a remarkable aircraft — cruising up to 610 mph with a 41,000-ft ceiling, once the fastest civilian jetliner in the world.

The combination of an obscure airframe (very few CV-990 models exist) and genuine NASA research provenance makes this a standout for collectors of NASA memorabilia, Ames Research Center alumni, or aviation history enthusiasts — far more desirable than the common 737s and F-16s that dominate this maker\'s catalog.

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