This Buffalo started out as a CV-7A Buffalo for the US Army with serial 63-13687. Designed as a CV-2 Caribou replacement, it got caught up in an inter service rivalry when the USAF objected to Army large fixed wing transports. The program was taken over by the Air Force and only four test aircraft were delivered. Transferred to the University of Michigan (N325D), it was operated for the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Transferred to NASA in 1975, the aircraft was modified as a Quiet Short-Haul Research Aircraft (QSRA) and was registered as N715NA in 1978 for the program.

Delivered to the US Army as CV-7A 63-13687 in 1965. To the USAF a C-8A in 1966. Assigned to Air Force Systems Command for testing. To the University of Michigan as N326D in 1973 operating for National Center for Atmospheric Research then to NASA Ames Research Center, NAS Moffett Field, CA as NASA 715 in 1974 then N715NA by 1983. Used for boundary layer control, STOL and V/STOL research. Modified as a Quiet Short-Haul Research Aircraft [QSRA] by Boeing. Stored at Moffett Field, CA by 1998, For sale in 2023.

The highly modified DHC-5 Buffalo Quiet Short-Haul Research Aircraft (QSRA) was photographed stored on the NASA Ames Research Center ramp at Moffett Federal Airport in Mountain View, California in February 2020. It was also known as the Quiet STOL Research Aircraft.

Taking off on what I assume is the first flight of the aircraft. It was used for research of STOL capabilities, using a new wing, engines and lift characteristics. The aircraft demonstrated its STOL performance by operating aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk without a need for catapult launch or landing arresting gear.

The QSRA was created in the late 1970's/early 1980's for experimental flight research, aimed at developing technology for quiet short haul commercial airliners with short take off and landing capabilities. The aircraft was remanufactured from the DHC-5 Buffalo. Boeing created an all-new wing incorporating boundary layer control, four Lycoming turbofans which exhaust over the upper surfaces of the wings and new engine nacelles and cross-ducting Coanda flaps. This made it possible to research upper surface blowing, which allowed the aircraft to fly at very high lift coefficients.

This unique DHC-5 Quiet Short-Haul Research Aircraft (QSRA) variant was a NASA research aircraft modified to study and develop Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) technology. The QSRA was among other things modified with 4 Lycoming F102 turbofan engines. It first flew in this configuration in 1978. This aircraft even performed a landing and takeoff on the US aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk, (of course) requiring neither arresting gear nor catapult launch. The techniques learned from this Buffalo stood model for the Boeing YC-14/C-17 programme and is now preserved at Moffett Museum's airpark (CA)