From NASA: Wingless Flight: The Lifting Body Story(
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19980169231_1998082126.pdf)
From Wikipedia:
NASA M2-F1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
M2-F1
Role: Lifting body Technology Demonstrator
Manufacturer: Dryden Flight Research Center
Designed by: Ames Research Center
First flight: 16 August 1963
Retired: 16 August 1966
Status: On display
Primary user: NASA
Number built: 1
Unit cost: US$30,000
Variants: Northrop M2-F2 & Northrop M2-F3
The NASA M2-F1 was a lightweight, unpowered prototype aircraft, developed to flight test the wingless lifting body concept. It looked like a "flying bathtub," and was designated the M2-F1, the "M" referring to "manned" and "F" referring to "flight" version. In 1962, NASA Dryden management approved a program to build a lightweight, unpowered lifting body prototype. It featured a plywood shell placed over a tubular steel frame crafted at Dryden. Construction was completed in 1963.
Development
The lifting-body concept originated in the mid-1950s at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics' Ames Aeronautical Laboratory, Mountain View, California. By February 1962, a series of possible shapes had been developed, and R. Dale Reed was working to gain support for a research vehicle.
The construction of the M2-F1 was a joint effort by Dryden and a local glider manufacturer, the Briegleb Glider Company. The budget was US$30,000. NASA craftsmen and engineers built the tubular steel interior frame. Its mahogany plywood shell was hand-made by Gus Briegleb and company. Ernie Lowder, a NASA craftsman who had worked on Howard Hughes' H-4 Hercules (or Spruce Goose), was assigned to help Briegleb.
Final assembly of the remaining components (including aluminum tail surfaces, push rod controls, and landing gear from a Cessna 150, which was later replaced by Cessna 180 landing gear[2]) was done at the NASA facility.
The wingless, lifting body aircraft design was initially conceived as a means of landing a spacecraft horizontally after atmospheric reentry. The absence of wings would make the extreme heat of re-entry less damaging to the vehicle. Rather than using a ballistic reentry trajectory like a Command Module, very limited in manoeuvering range, a lifting body vehicle had a landing footprint the size of California.[3]
Tow testing
The M2-F1 and its 1963 Pontiac convertible tow vehicle
The first flight tests of the M2-F1 were at Rogers Dry Lake, at the end of a tow rope attached to a Pontiac Catalina convertible. On April 5, 1963 test pilot Milt Thompson lifted the M2-F1's nose off the ground for the first time on-tow.[2] Speed was 86 miles per hour (138 km/h) . The little craft seemed to bounce uncontrollably back and forth on the main landing gear, and stopped when he lowered the nose to the ground. He tried again, but each time with the same results. He felt it was a landing gear problem that could have caused the aircraft to roll on its back if he had lifted the main gear off the ground.[citation needed]
After looking at movies of the tests, it was decided that the bouncing was probably caused by unwanted rudder movements. Flight control system number two was replaced in favor of number one, and it never bounced again.[citation needed]
It was found that the car used to tow the aircraft was not powerful enough to entirely lift the M2-F1 off the ground, so the FRC arranged to have the tow car hot-rodded by Bill Straub, a conversion that tuned the engine for increased power, added a rollbar, and turned the front passenger seat to face aft so the passenger could observe the aircraft. This proved successful and tow tests continued.[2]
Speeds on tow inched up to 110 miles per hour (180 km/h) , which allowed Thompson to climb to about 20 feet (6.1 m) , then glide for about 20 seconds after releasing the line. That was the most that could be expected during an auto tow.
M2-F1 in tow behind a C-47
These initial tests produced enough flight data about the M2-F1 to proceed with flights behind a U.S. Navy C-47[2] tow plane at greater altitudes.
Flight testing
A NASA C-47 was used for all of the aero tows. The first was on August 16, 1963. The M2-F1 had recently been equipped with an ejection seat and small rockets - referred to by the test team as "instant L/D"[2] - in the tail to extend the landing flare for about 5 seconds if needed, and Thompson prepared for the flight with a few more tows behind the Pontiac.
Forward visibility in the M2-F1 was very limited on tow, requiring Thompson to fly about 20 feet (6.1 m) higher than the C-47 so he could see the plane through the nose window. Towing speed was about 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) .
The C-47 took the craft to an altitude of 12,000 feet (3,700 m) where free flights back to Rogers Dry Lake began. Pilot for the first series of flights of the M2-F1 was NASA research pilot Milt Thompson. Typical glide flights with the M2-F1 lasted about two minutes and reached speeds of 110 to 120 miles per hour (180 to 190 km/h)
Tow release was at 12,000 feet (3,700 m) The lifting body descended at an average rate of about 3,600 feet-per-minute (1,100 m/min). At 1,000 feet (300 m) above the ground, the nose was lowered to increase speed to about 150 miles per hour (240 km/h) , flare was at 200 feet (61 m) from a 20 degree dive. The landing was smooth, and the lifting body program was on its way.
The M2-F1 was flown until August 16, 1966. It proved the lifting body concept and led the way for subsequent, metal "heavyweight" designs. Chuck Yeager, Bruce Peterson and Don Mallick also flew the M2-F1.
More than 400 ground tows and 77 aircraft tow flights were carried out with the M2-F1. The success of Dryden's M2-F1 program led to NASA's development and construction of two heavyweight lifting bodies based on studies at NASA's Ames and Langley research centers—the Northrop M2-F2 and the Northrop HL-10, both built by the Northrop Corporation, and the U.S. Air Force's X-24 program. The lifting body program also heavily influenced the Space Shuttle program.
The M2-F1 program demonstrated the feasibility of the lifting-body concept for horizontal landings of atmospheric entry vehicles. It also demonstrated a procurement and management concept for prototype flight research vehicles that produced rapid results at very low cost (approximately $US 50,000, excluding salaries of government employees assigned to the project).
M2F1 Pilots
Milt Thompson - 45 flights
Bruce Peterson - 17 flights
Chuck Yeager - 5 flights
Donald M. Sorlie - 5 flights
Donald L. Mallick - 2 flights
Jerauld R. Gentry - 2 flights
Bill Dana - 1 flight
James W. Wood - 1 ground tow
Fred Haise - 1 ground tow
Joe Engle - 1 ground tow
Aircraft serial number
NASA M2-F1 - N86652, 77 flights, 400 ground tows
Specifications (M2-F1)
NASA M2-F1 Lifting Body Diagram
General characteristics
Crew: one
Length: 20 ft (6.1 m)
Wingspan: 14 ft 2 in (4.32 m)
Height: 9 ft 6 in (2.89 m)
Wing area: 139 ft² (12.9 m²)
Empty weight: 1,000 lb (454 kg)
Loaded weight: 1,182 lb (536 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 1,250 lb (567 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Solid fuel rocket, 24 lbf (kN)
Performance
Maximum speed: 150 mph (240 km/h)
Range: 10 mi (16 km)
Wing loading: 9 lb/ft² (44 kg/m²)
M2-F1 flights
Vehicle
Flight #
Date
Pilot
Duration
Velocity (km/h)
Altitude (m)
Comments
M2-F1 #0
March 1, 1963
Thompson
135
0
First Ground Tow.
400 total ground tows.
M2-F1 #1
August 16, 1963
Thompson
0:02:00
240
3,650
First M2-F1 Flight. 77 total flights.
M2-F1 #2
August 28, 1963
Thompson
0:02:09
240
3,650
M2-F1 #3
August 29, 1963
Thompson
0:02:25
240
3,650
M2-F1 #4
August 30, 1963
Thompson
0:04:42
240
3,650
1st flight of day
M2-F1 #5
August 30, 1963
Thompson
240
3,650
2nd flight of day
M2-F1 #6
September 3, 1963
Thompson
0:04:50
240
3,650
1st flight of day
M2-F1 #7
September 3, 1963
Thompson
240
3,650
2nd flight of day
M2-F1 #8
October 7, 1963
Thompson
0:01:26
240
3,650
M2-F1 #9
October 9, 1963
Thompson
0:01:51
240
3,650
M2-F1 #10
October 15, 1963
Thompson
0:02:20
240
3,650
M2-F1 #11
October 23, 1963
Thompson
0:03:00
240
3,650
M2-F1 #12
October 25, 1963
Thompson
0:03:52
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #13
October 25, 1963
Thompson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #14
November 8, 1963
Thompson
0:07:45
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #15
November 8, 1963
Thompson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #16
November 8, 1963
Thompson
240
3,650
3rd flight of the day
M2-F1 #17
December 3, 1963
Thompson
0:01:00
240
3,650
M2-F1 #18
December 3, 1963
Yeager
0:01:35
240
3,650
M2-F1 #19
December 3, 1963
Peterson
0:03:15
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #20
December 3, 1963
Peterson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
Broke landing gear
M2-F1 #21
January 29, 1964
Thompson
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #22
January 29, 1964
Thompson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #23
January 29, 1964
Peterson
0:04:44
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #24
January 29, 1964
Peterson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #25
January 29, 1964
Yeager
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #26
January 29, 1964
Yeager
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #27
January 30, 1964
Yeager
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #28
January 30, 1964
Yeager
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #29
January 30, 1964
Mullick
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #30
January 30, 1964
Mullick
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #31
February 28, 1964
Thompson
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #32
February 28, 1964
Thompson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #33
March 30, 1964
Peterson
0:02:25
240
3,650
M2-F1 #34
April 9, 1964
Thompson
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #35
April 9, 1964
Thompson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #36
April 9, 1964
Peterson
0:08:00
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #37
April 9, 1964
Peterson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #38
April 9, 1964
Peterson
240
3,650
3rd flight of the day
M2-F1 #39
May 19, 1964
Peterson
0:04:08
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #40
May 19, 1964
Peterson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #41
June 3, 1964
Thompson
240
3,650
M2-F1 #42
July 24, 1964
Peterson
0:06:50
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #43
July 24, 1964
Peterson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #44
July 24, 1964
Peterson
240
3,650
3rd flight of the day
M2-F1 #45
August 18, 1964
Thompson
240
3,650
M2-F1 #46
August 21, 1964
Thompson
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #47
August 21, 1964
Thompson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #48
August 21, 1964
Thompson
240
3,650
3rd flight of the day
M2-F1 #49
August 21, 1964
Thompson
240
3,650
4th flight of the day
M2-F1 #50
February 16, 1965
Thompson
240
3,650
M2-F1 #51
May 27, 1965
Thompson
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #52
May 27, 1965
Thompson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #53
May 27, 1965
Thompson
240
3,650
3rd flight of the day
M2-F1 #54
May 27, 1965
Thompson
240
3,650
4th flight of the day
M2-F1 #55
May 27, 1965
Sorlie
0:06:00
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #56
May 27, 1965
Sorlie
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #57
May 27, 1965
Sorlie
240
3,650
3rd flight of the day
M2-F1 #58
May 28, 1965
Thompson
240
3,650
M2-F1 #59
May 28, 1965
Sorlie
0:04:30
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #60
May 28, 1965
Sorlie
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #61
July 16, 1965
Thompson
240
3,650
M2-F1 #62
July 16, 1965
Dana
240
3,650
M2-F1 #63
July 16, 1965
Gentry
0:00:09
200
10
Rolled M2-F1 on liftoff.
Recovered. Safe landing.
M2-F1 #64
August 30, 1965
Thompson
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #65
August 30, 1965
Thompson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #66
August 30, 1965
Thompson
240
3,650
3rd flight of the day
M2-F1 #67
August 31, 1965
Thompson
240
3,650
M2-F1 #68
October 6, 1965
Thompson
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #69
October 6, 1965
Thompson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #70
October 8, 1965
Thompson
240
3,650
M2-F1 #71
March 28, 1966
Thompson
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #72
March 28, 1966
Thompson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #73
August 4, 1966
Peterson
0:02:00
240
3,650
M2-F1 #74
August 5, 1966
Peterson
0:04:00
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #75
August 5, 1966
Peterson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #76
August 5, 1966
Peterson
240
3,650
3rd flight of the day
M2-F1 #77
August 16, 1966
Gentry
200
10
Rolled M2-F1 on liftoff. Recovered.
Fired landing rockets.
Safe landing. Last flight.
References
1.^ Reed, R. Dale; Darlene Lister (2002). Wingless Flight: The Lifting Body Story. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0813190266. also available as a PDF file.
2.^ a b c d e Jenkins, Dennis R. (2001). Space Shuttle: The History of the National Space Transportation System (3rd edition ed.). Voyageur Press. ISBN 0-9633974-5-1.
3.^ Dryden's 60 Years of Flight Research: The Lifting Body Era
NASA Dryden M2-F1 Photo Collection
An M2-F1 gallery, from NASA Dryden:
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The Northrop M2-F2
From youtube:
From Wikipedia:
Northrop M2-F2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
M2-F2
Role: Lifting body Technology Demonstrator
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Northrop
First flight: 12 July 1966
Retired: 10 May 1967
Status: Rebuilt as M2-F3
Primary user: NASA
Number built: 1
Developed from: NASA M2-F1
Variants
Northrop M2-F3
The Northrop M2-F2 was a heavyweight lifting body based on studies at NASA's Ames and Langley research centers. Built by the Northrop Corporation in 1966. The "M" refers to "manned" and "F" refers to "flight" version.
Development
The success of Dryden's M2-F1 program led to NASA's development and construction of two heavyweight lifting bodies based on studies at NASA's Ames and Langley research centers—the M2-F2 and the HL-10, both built by the Northrop Corporation. The "M" refers to "manned" and "F" refers to "flight" version. "HL" comes from "horizontal landing" and 10 is for the tenth lifting body model to be investigated by Langley. (See also NASA Ames Research Center).
The M2-F2 made its first captive flight (attached to the B-52 carrier aircraft throughout the flight) on March 23, 1966.
The first flight of the M2-F2 - which looked much like the "M2-F1" - was on July 12, 1966. Milton O. Thompson was the pilot.
By then, the same B-52 used to air launch the famed X-15 rocket research aircraft was modified to also carry the lifting bodies. Thompson was dropped from the B-52's wing pylon mount at an altitude of 45,000 feet (13,700 m) on that maiden glide flight. He reached a gliding speed of about 450 miles per hour (720 km/h).
Operational history
The crash site of the M2-F2
Before powered flights were undertaken, a series of glide flights were conducted. On May 10, 1967, the sixteenth and last glide flight ended in disaster as the vehicle slammed into the lake bed on landing. With test pilot Bruce Peterson at the controls, the M2-F2 suffered a pilot induced oscillation (PIO) as it neared the lake bed. At the core of this problem was the fact that the wings of the M2-F2 (essentially the body of the aircraft) produced considerably less roll authority than most aircraft. This resulted in less force availible to the pilot to control the aircraft in roll. As a consequence, when Bruce attempted to perform roll maneuvers the response of the vehicle was substantially less than expected, thus lending to a "soft" feel for this control which often leads to PIO in the roll axis. (Source: interview with Bruce Peterson, 1980) The vehicle rolled from side to side in flight as he tried to bring it under control. Peterson recovered, but then observed a rescue helicopter that seemed to pose a collision threat. Distracted, Peterson drifted in a cross-wind to an unmarked area of the lake bed where it was very difficult to judge the height over the ground because of a lack of guidance (the markers provided on the lake bed runway).
Peterson fired the landing rockets to provide additional lift, but he hit the lake bed before the landing gear was fully down and locked. The M2-F2 rolled over six times, coming to rest upside down. Pulled from the vehicle by Jay King and Joseph Huxman, Peterson was rushed to the base hospital, transferred to March Air Force Base and then the UCLA Hospital. He recovered but lost vision in his right eye due to a staphylococcal infection.
Portions of M2-F2 footage including Peterson's spectacular crash landing were used for the 1973 TV movie The Six Million Dollar Man though some shots during the opening credits of the series showed the later HL-10 model, during release from its carrier plane, a modified B-52.
Four pilots flew the M2-F2 on its 16 glide flights. They were Milton O. Thompson (5 flights), Bruce Peterson (3 flights), Don Sorlie (3 flights) and Jerry Gentry (5 flights).
NASA pilots and researchers realized the M2-F2 had lateral control problems, even though it had a stability augmentation control system. When the M2-F2 was rebuilt at Dryden and redesignated the M2-F3, it was modified with an additional third vertical fin -- centered between the tip fins to improve control characteristics.
The M2-F2/F3 was the first of the heavy-weight, entry-configuration lifting bodies. Its successful development as a research test vehicle answered many of the generic questions about these vehicles.
M2-F2 flights
NASA M2-F2 - NASA 803, 16 unpowered flights
Vehicle
Flight #
Date
Pilot
Mach
Velocity (km/h)
Altitude (meters)
Duration
Comments
M2-F2 #1
July 12, 1966
Thompson
0.646
727
13,716
00:03:37
First M2-F2 Flight. Unpowered glide. 320 km/h landing.
M2-F2 #2
July 19, 1966
Thompson
0.598
634
13,716
00:04:05
Unpowered glide. Determination of lateral stability control, longitudinal trim, vehicle performance and landing characteristics.
M2-F2 #3
August 12, 1966
Thompson
0.619
692
13,716
00:04:38
Unpowered glide. Determine effect of increasing Mach number, minimum damper requirements, testing of longitudinal and lateral stability and control.
M2-F2 #4
August 24, 1966
Thompson
0.676
718
13,716
00:04:01
Unpowered glide. Determine control damper requirements, lift-drag ratio, elevon response, flap effectiveness and longitudinal stability and control.
M2-F2 #5
September 2, 1966
Thompson
0.707
750
13,716
00:03:46
Unpowered glide. Evaluate 360 degree overhead approach, determine control damper-off handling qualities.
M2-F2 #6
September 15, 1966
Peterson
0.705
750
13,716
00:03:30
Unpowered glide. Pilot checkout.
M2-F2 #7
September 20, 1966
Sorlie
0.635
678
13,716
00:03:31
Unpowered glide. Pilot checkout.
M2-F2 #8
September 22, 1966
Peterson
0.661
702
13,716
00:03:53
Unpowered glide. Longitudinal and lateral stability and control with dampers.
M2-F2 #9
September 28, 1966
Sorlie
0.672
713
13,716
00:03:53
Unpowered glide. Complete pilot checkout and extend flight envelope.
M2-F2 #10
October 5, 1966
Sorlie
0.615
692
13,716
00:03:45
Unpowered glide. Explore lateral and longitudinal stability and control characteristics with dampers on and off.
M2-F2 #11
October 12, 1966
Gentry
0.662
702
13,716
00:03:54
Unpowered glide. Pilot checkout.
M2-F2 #12
October 26, 1966
Gentry
0.605
642
13,716
00:03:47
Unpowered glide. Obtain stability and control data at 7 and 11 degree attack angles and upper flap effectiveness.
M2-F2 #13
November 14, 1966
Gentry
0.681
716
13,716
00:04:21
Unpowered glide. Test stability and control, determine vehicle performance characteristics.
M2-F2 #14
November 21, 1966
Gentry
0.695
735
13,716
00:03:50
Unpowered glide. Test stability and control, determine vehicle performance characteristics.
M2-F2 #15
May 2, 1967
Gentry
0.623
661
13,716
00:03:51
Unpowered glide.
M2-F2 #16
May 10, 1967
Peterson
0.612
649
13,716
00:03:43
Unpowered glide
Crash landing
Specifications (M2-F2)
General characteristics
Crew: one, pilot
Length: 22 ft 2 in (6.76 m)
Wingspan: 9 ft 8 in (2.94 m)
Height: 9 ft 6 in (2.89 m)
Wing area: 160 ft² (14.9 m²)
Empty weight: 4,620 lb (2,095 kg)
Loaded weight: 6,000 lb (2,722 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 7,485 lb (3,395 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Reaction Motors Upgraded XLR-11 four-chamber rocket engine, 8,000 lbf (36 kN)
Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 0.707 (466 mph, 750 km/h)
Range: 8.6 nm (10 mi, 16 km)
Service ceiling: 45,000 ft (13,700 m)
Wing loading: 43.2 lb/ft² (196 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 1.3
M2-F2 Gallery, from NASA Dryden:
*******************************************************************
The Northrop M2-F3
From astronautix.com:
M2-F3
M2F2 Lifting Body
M2F2 Lifting Body with F-104 Chase Plane
Credit: NASA
American manned spaceplane. 43 launches, 1966.07.12 to 1971.12.21 . The crashed M2-F2 was rebuilt as the M2-F3 with enlarged vertical stabilizers. Maximum speed achieved was Mach 1.6, top altitude 21,800 m.
The final X-30 National Aerospace Plane configuration seemed to owe much to the M2.
Spacecraft delta v: 1,000 m/s (3,200 ft/sec).
Gross mass: 3,600 kg (7,900 lb).
Unfuelled mass: 2,300 kg (5,000 lb).
Height: 6.77 m (22.21 ft).
Span: 2.93 m (9.61 ft).
Thrust: 26.40 kN (5,935 lbf).
First date: 7/12/1966 .
Last date: 12/21/1971 .
Number: 43 .
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Associated Countries •USA
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Associated Engines •XLR11 Reaction Motors, Thiokol Lox/Alcohol rocket engine. Out of Production. Launch thrust 26.67 kN. Rocket engine developed for X-1 in 1940s to break the sound barrier and used twenty years later to power experimental lifting bodies. Four combustion chambers. More...
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See also •Manned
•Spaceplane
•Suborbital
•US Rocketplanes
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Associated Manufacturers and Agencies •Northrop American manufacturer of rockets and spacecraft. Northrop, USA. More...
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Associated Propellants •Lox/Alcohol
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Bibliography •Gatland, Kenneth, Manned Spacecraft, Macmillan, New York, 1968.
•Miller, Jay,, The X-Planes, Aerofax, Arlington, Texas, 1988.
•Miller, Ron, The Dream Machines, Krieger, Malabar, Florida, 1993.
•Zhelyez x-plane book,
•Houchin II, Roy and Smith, Terry, "X-20 (7 articles)", Quest, 1994, Volume 3, Issue 4, page 4.
•Peebles, Curtis, "The Origins of the US Space Shuttle - 1", Spaceflight, 1979, Volume 21, page 435.
•NASA Report, Flight-determined stability and control characteristics of the M2-F3 lifting body vehicle, Web Address when accessed: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19740004421_1974004421.pdf.
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M2-F3 Chronology
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1970 June 2 - . •M2 Flight 17 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 1. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: First M2-F3 flight. Maximum Speed - 755 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13716 m. Flight Time - 218 sec..
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1970 July 21 - . •M2 Flight 18 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 2. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 708 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13716 m. Flight Time - 228 sec..
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1970 November 2 - . •M2 Flight 19 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 3. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 690 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13716 m. Flight Time - 236 sec..
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1970 November 25 - . •M2 Flight 20 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 4. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: First powered flight. Maximum Speed - 859 kph. Maximum Altitude - 15819 m. Flight Time - 377 sec..
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1971 February 9 - . •M2 Flight 21 - . Crew: Gentry. Payload: M2-F3 flight 5. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Gentry. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 755 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13716 m. Flight Time - 241 sec..
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1971 February 26 - . •M2 Flight 22 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 6. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 821 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13716 m. Flight Time - 348 sec..
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1971 July 23 - . •M2 Flight 23 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 7. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 788 kph. Maximum Altitude - 18440 m. Flight Time - 353 sec..
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1971 August 9 - . •M2 Flight 24 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 8. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 1035 kph. Maximum Altitude - 18898 m. Flight Time - 415 sec..
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1971 August 25 - . •M2 Flight 25 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 9. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: First M2-F3 supersonic flight. Maximum Speed - 1163 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20513 m. Flight Time - 390 sec..
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1971 September 24 - . •M2 Flight 26 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 10. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 772 kph. Maximum Altitude - 12802 m. Flight Time - 210 sec..
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1971 November 15 - . •M2 Flight 27 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 11. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Glide flight. Maximum Speed - 784 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13716 m. Flight Time - 215 sec..
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1971 December 1 - . •M2 Flight 28 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 12. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 1356 kph. Maximum Altitude - 21580 m. Flight Time - 391 sec..
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1971 December 16 - . •M2 Flight 29 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 13. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 861 kph. Maximum Altitude - 14265 m. Flight Time - 451 sec..
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1972 July 25 - . •M2 Flight 30 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 14. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 1049 kph. Maximum Altitude - 18562 m. Flight Time - 420 sec..
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1972 August 11 - . •M2 Flight 31 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 15. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 1168 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20480 m. Flight Time - 375 sec..
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1972 August 24 - . •M2 Flight 32 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 16. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 1344 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20330 m. Flight Time - 376 sec..
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1972 September 12 - . •M2 Flight 33 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 17. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 935 kph. Maximum Altitude - 14020 m. Flight Time - 387 sec..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1972 September 27 - . •M2 Flight 34 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 18. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 1424 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20330 m. Flight Time - 366.5 sec..
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1972 October 5 - . •M2 Flight 35 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 19. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 1455 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20210 m. Flight Time - 376 sec..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1972 October 19 - . •M2 Flight 36 - . Crew: Manke. Payload: M2-F3 flight 20. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Manke. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 961 kph. Maximum Altitude - 14360 m. Flight Time - 359 sec..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1972 November 1 - . •M2 Flight 37 - . Crew: Manke. Payload: M2-F3 flight 21. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Manke. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 1292 kph. Maximum Altitude - 21730 m. Flight Time - 378 sec..
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1972 November 9 - . •M2 Flight 38 - . Crew: Powell. Payload: M2-F3 flight 22. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Powell. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 961 kph. Maximum Altitude - 14260 m. Flight Time - 364 sec..
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1972 November 21 - . •M2 Flight 39 - . Crew: Manke. Payload: M2-F3 flight 23. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Manke. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 1524 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20330 m. Flight Time - 377 sec..
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1972 November 29 - . •M2 Flight 40 - . Crew: Powell. Payload: M2-F3 flight 24. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Powell. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 1432 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20570 m. Flight Time - 357 sec..
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1972 December 6 - . •M2 Flight 41 - . Crew: Powell. Payload: M2-F3 flight 25. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Powell. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 1265 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20820 m. Flight Time - 332 sec..
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1972 December 13 - . •M2 Flight 42 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 26. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Fastest M2-F3 flight. Maximum Speed - 1712 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20330 m. Flight Time - 383 sec..
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1972 December 21 - . •M2 Flight 43 - . Crew: Manke. Payload: M2-F3 flight 27. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Manke. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Last M2-F3 flight, also highest. Maximum Speed - 1377 kph. Maximum Altitude - 21790 m. Flight Time - 390 sec..
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M2-F3 Images
M2-F3
Credit: © Mark Wade
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M2F3 Lifting Body
M2F3 Lifting Body Launch from B-52
Credit: NASA
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Lifting Bodies
Manned Lifting Bodies
Credit: NASA
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M2F1 Lifting Body
The M2-F1 was the first lifting body configuration tested. This glider was made from plywood. It was later succeeded by the M2-F2 metal version.
Credit: NASA
And this, from Wikipedia:
Northrop M2-F3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
M2-F3
Role: Lifting body Technology Demonstrator
Manufacturer: Northrop
First flight: 2 June 1970
Retired: 20 December 1972
Status: Smithsonian
Primary user: NASA
Developed from: NASA M2-F1
Northrop M2-F2
The Northrop M2-F3 was a heavyweight lifting body rebuilt from the Northrop M2-F2 after it crashed at the Dryden Flight Research Center in 1967. It was modified with an additional third vertical fin - centered between the tip fins - to improve control characteristics. The "M" refers to "manned" and "F" refers to "flight" version.
Development
Early flight testing of the M2-F1 and M2-F2 lifting body reentry configurations had validated the concept of piloted lifting body reentry from space. When the M2-F2 crashed on May 10, 1967, valuable information had already been obtained and was contributing to new designs.
NASA pilots said the M2-F2 had lateral control problems, so when the M2-F2 was rebuilt at Northrop and redesignated the M2-F3, it was modified with an additional third vertical fin - centered between the tip fins - to improve control characteristics.
After a three-year-long redesign and rebuilding effort, the M2-F3 was ready to fly. The May 1967 crash of the M2-F2 had torn off the left fin and landing gear. It had also damaged the external skin and internal structure. Flight Research Center engineers worked with Ames Research Center and the Air Force in redesigning the vehicle with a center fin to provide greater stability. At first, it seemed that the vehicle had been irreparably damaged, but the original manufacturer, Northrop, did the repair work and returned the redesigned M2-F3 with a center fin for stability to the FRC.
While the M2-F3 was still demanding to fly, the center fin eliminated the high risk of pilot induced oscillation (PIO) that was characteristic of the M2-F2.
Operational history
First flight of the M2-F3, with NASA pilot Bill Dana at the controls, was June 2, 1970. The modified vehicle exhibited much better lateral stability and control characteristics than before, and only three glide flights were necessary before the first powered flight on November 25, 1970. The 100th flight of the heavy-weight lifting bodies was completed on October 5, 1972, with pilot Bill Dana soaring to an altitude of 66,300 feet (20,200 m) and a Mach number of 1.370 (about 904 miles per hour) in the M2-F3. Over its 27 missions, the M2-F3 reached a top speed of 1,064 mph (Mach 1.6). Highest altitude reached by the vehicle was 71,500 feet (20,790 m) on December 20, 1972, the date of its last flight, with NASA pilot John Manke at the controls.
The M2-F3 at the National Air and Space Museum
A reaction control thruster (RCT) system, similar to that on orbiting spacecraft, was also installed to obtain research data about their effectiveness for vehicle control. As the M2-F3's portion of the lifting body program neared an end, it evaluated a rate command augmentation control system, and a side-arm control stick similar to side-arm controllers now used on many modern aircraft.
NASA donated the M2-F3 vehicle to the Smithsonian Institution in December 1973. It is currently hanging in the National Air and Space Museum along with the X-15 aircraft number 1, which was its hangar partner at Dryden from 1965 to 1969.
M2-F3 pilots William H. Dana - 19 flights
John A. Manke - 4 flights
Cecil W. Powell - 3 flights
Jerauld R. Gentry - 1 flight
Most of text taken from NASA Dryden webpage.
Aircraft serial number
NASA M2-F3 - NASA 803, 27 flights
M2-F3 flights
Vehicle
Flight #
Date
Pilot
Mach
Velocity (km/h)
Altitude (ft)
Duration
Comments
M2-F3 #1
June 2, 1970
Dana
0.688
755
45,000
00:03:38
First M2-F3 Flight
Unpowered glide
M2-F3 #2
July 21, 1970
Dana
0.660
708
45,000
00:03:48
Unpowered glide
M2-F3 #3
November 2, 1970
Dana
0.630
690
45,000
00:03:56
Unpowered glide
M2-F3 #4
November 25, 1970
Dana
0.809
859
51,900
00:06:17
1st powered flight
M2-F3 #5
February 9, 1971
Gentry
0.707
755
45,000
00:04:01
M2-F3 #6
February 26, 1971
Dana
0.773
821
45,000
00:05:48
Only 2 chambers lit
M2-F3 #7
July 23, 1971
Dana
0.930
988
60,500
00:05:53
M2-F3 #8
August 9, 1971
Dana
0.974
1,035
62,000
00:06:55
M2-F3 #9
August 25, 1971
Dana
1.095
1,164
67,300
00:06:30
1st supersonic flight
M2-F3 #10
September 24, 1971
Dana
0.728
772
42,000
00:03:30
Engine fire
M2-F3 #11
November 15, 1971
Dana
0.739
784
45,000
00:03:35
M2-F3 #12
December 1, 1971
Dana
1.274
1,357
70,800
00:06:31
M2-F3 #13
December 16, 1971
Dana
0.811
861
46,800
00:07:31
Only 2 chambers lit
M2-F3 #14
July 25, 1972
Dana
0.989
1,049
60,900
00:07:00
M2-F3 #15
August 11, 1972
Gentry
1.101
1,168
67,200
00:06:15
M2-F3 #16
August 24, 1972
Dana
1.266
1,344
66,700
00:06:16
M2-F3 #17
September 12, 1972
Dana
0.880
935
46,000
00:06:27
Small engine fire
M2-F3 #18
September 27, 1972
Dana
1.340
1,424
66,700
00:06:07
M2-F3 #19
October 5, 1972
Dana
1.370
1,455
66,300
00:06:16
100th lifting
body flight
M2-F3 #20
October 19, 1972
Manke
0.905
961
47,100
00:05:59
M2-F3 #21
November 1, 1972
Manke
1.213
1,292
71,300
00:06:18
M2-F3 #22
November 9, 1972
Powell
0.906
961
46,800
00:06:04
M2-F3 #23
November 21, 1972
Manke
1.435
1,524
66,700
00:06:17
Planned Rosamond
Lakebed landing
M2-F3 #24
November 29, 1972
Powell
1.348
1,432
67,500
00:05:57
M2-F3 #25
December 6, 1972
Powell
1.191
1,265
68,300
00:05:32
Planned Rosamond
Lakebed landing
M2-F3 #26
December 13, 1972
Dana
1.613
1,712
66,700
00:06:23
Fastest flight
M2-F3 #27
December 20, 1972
Manke
1.294
1,378
71,500
00:06:30
Highest flight
Last M2-F3 flight
Specifications (M2-F3)
NASA M2-F3 Lifting Body Diagram
General characteristics
Crew: one, pilot
Length: 22 ft 2 in (6.75 m)
Wingspan: 9 ft 8 in (2.94 m)
Height: 9 ft 6 in (2.89 m)
Wing area: 160 ft² (14.9 m²)
Empty weight: 5,071 lb (2,300 kg)
Loaded weight: 6,000 lb (2,721 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 7,937 lb (3,600 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Reaction Motors XLR-11 four-chamber rocket engine, 8,000 lbf (36 kN)
Performance
Maximum speed: 925 knots (1,065 mph, 1,712 km/h)
Range: 39 nm (45 mi, 72 km)
Service ceiling: 71,500 ft (21,793 m)
Wing loading: 49 lb/ft² (242 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 1.3
M2-F3 Gallery, from NASA Dryden:
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19980169231_1998082126.pdf)
From Wikipedia:
NASA M2-F1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
M2-F1
Role: Lifting body Technology Demonstrator
Manufacturer: Dryden Flight Research Center
Designed by: Ames Research Center
First flight: 16 August 1963
Retired: 16 August 1966
Status: On display
Primary user: NASA
Number built: 1
Unit cost: US$30,000
Variants: Northrop M2-F2 & Northrop M2-F3
The NASA M2-F1 was a lightweight, unpowered prototype aircraft, developed to flight test the wingless lifting body concept. It looked like a "flying bathtub," and was designated the M2-F1, the "M" referring to "manned" and "F" referring to "flight" version. In 1962, NASA Dryden management approved a program to build a lightweight, unpowered lifting body prototype. It featured a plywood shell placed over a tubular steel frame crafted at Dryden. Construction was completed in 1963.
Development
The lifting-body concept originated in the mid-1950s at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics' Ames Aeronautical Laboratory, Mountain View, California. By February 1962, a series of possible shapes had been developed, and R. Dale Reed was working to gain support for a research vehicle.
The construction of the M2-F1 was a joint effort by Dryden and a local glider manufacturer, the Briegleb Glider Company. The budget was US$30,000. NASA craftsmen and engineers built the tubular steel interior frame. Its mahogany plywood shell was hand-made by Gus Briegleb and company. Ernie Lowder, a NASA craftsman who had worked on Howard Hughes' H-4 Hercules (or Spruce Goose), was assigned to help Briegleb.
Final assembly of the remaining components (including aluminum tail surfaces, push rod controls, and landing gear from a Cessna 150, which was later replaced by Cessna 180 landing gear[2]) was done at the NASA facility.
The wingless, lifting body aircraft design was initially conceived as a means of landing a spacecraft horizontally after atmospheric reentry. The absence of wings would make the extreme heat of re-entry less damaging to the vehicle. Rather than using a ballistic reentry trajectory like a Command Module, very limited in manoeuvering range, a lifting body vehicle had a landing footprint the size of California.[3]
Tow testing
The M2-F1 and its 1963 Pontiac convertible tow vehicle
The first flight tests of the M2-F1 were at Rogers Dry Lake, at the end of a tow rope attached to a Pontiac Catalina convertible. On April 5, 1963 test pilot Milt Thompson lifted the M2-F1's nose off the ground for the first time on-tow.[2] Speed was 86 miles per hour (138 km/h) . The little craft seemed to bounce uncontrollably back and forth on the main landing gear, and stopped when he lowered the nose to the ground. He tried again, but each time with the same results. He felt it was a landing gear problem that could have caused the aircraft to roll on its back if he had lifted the main gear off the ground.[citation needed]
After looking at movies of the tests, it was decided that the bouncing was probably caused by unwanted rudder movements. Flight control system number two was replaced in favor of number one, and it never bounced again.[citation needed]
It was found that the car used to tow the aircraft was not powerful enough to entirely lift the M2-F1 off the ground, so the FRC arranged to have the tow car hot-rodded by Bill Straub, a conversion that tuned the engine for increased power, added a rollbar, and turned the front passenger seat to face aft so the passenger could observe the aircraft. This proved successful and tow tests continued.[2]
Speeds on tow inched up to 110 miles per hour (180 km/h) , which allowed Thompson to climb to about 20 feet (6.1 m) , then glide for about 20 seconds after releasing the line. That was the most that could be expected during an auto tow.
M2-F1 in tow behind a C-47
These initial tests produced enough flight data about the M2-F1 to proceed with flights behind a U.S. Navy C-47[2] tow plane at greater altitudes.
Flight testing
A NASA C-47 was used for all of the aero tows. The first was on August 16, 1963. The M2-F1 had recently been equipped with an ejection seat and small rockets - referred to by the test team as "instant L/D"[2] - in the tail to extend the landing flare for about 5 seconds if needed, and Thompson prepared for the flight with a few more tows behind the Pontiac.
Forward visibility in the M2-F1 was very limited on tow, requiring Thompson to fly about 20 feet (6.1 m) higher than the C-47 so he could see the plane through the nose window. Towing speed was about 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) .
The C-47 took the craft to an altitude of 12,000 feet (3,700 m) where free flights back to Rogers Dry Lake began. Pilot for the first series of flights of the M2-F1 was NASA research pilot Milt Thompson. Typical glide flights with the M2-F1 lasted about two minutes and reached speeds of 110 to 120 miles per hour (180 to 190 km/h)
Tow release was at 12,000 feet (3,700 m) The lifting body descended at an average rate of about 3,600 feet-per-minute (1,100 m/min). At 1,000 feet (300 m) above the ground, the nose was lowered to increase speed to about 150 miles per hour (240 km/h) , flare was at 200 feet (61 m) from a 20 degree dive. The landing was smooth, and the lifting body program was on its way.
The M2-F1 was flown until August 16, 1966. It proved the lifting body concept and led the way for subsequent, metal "heavyweight" designs. Chuck Yeager, Bruce Peterson and Don Mallick also flew the M2-F1.
More than 400 ground tows and 77 aircraft tow flights were carried out with the M2-F1. The success of Dryden's M2-F1 program led to NASA's development and construction of two heavyweight lifting bodies based on studies at NASA's Ames and Langley research centers—the Northrop M2-F2 and the Northrop HL-10, both built by the Northrop Corporation, and the U.S. Air Force's X-24 program. The lifting body program also heavily influenced the Space Shuttle program.
The M2-F1 program demonstrated the feasibility of the lifting-body concept for horizontal landings of atmospheric entry vehicles. It also demonstrated a procurement and management concept for prototype flight research vehicles that produced rapid results at very low cost (approximately $US 50,000, excluding salaries of government employees assigned to the project).
M2F1 Pilots
Milt Thompson - 45 flights
Bruce Peterson - 17 flights
Chuck Yeager - 5 flights
Donald M. Sorlie - 5 flights
Donald L. Mallick - 2 flights
Jerauld R. Gentry - 2 flights
Bill Dana - 1 flight
James W. Wood - 1 ground tow
Fred Haise - 1 ground tow
Joe Engle - 1 ground tow
Aircraft serial number
NASA M2-F1 - N86652, 77 flights, 400 ground tows
Specifications (M2-F1)
NASA M2-F1 Lifting Body Diagram
General characteristics
Crew: one
Length: 20 ft (6.1 m)
Wingspan: 14 ft 2 in (4.32 m)
Height: 9 ft 6 in (2.89 m)
Wing area: 139 ft² (12.9 m²)
Empty weight: 1,000 lb (454 kg)
Loaded weight: 1,182 lb (536 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 1,250 lb (567 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Solid fuel rocket, 24 lbf (kN)
Performance
Maximum speed: 150 mph (240 km/h)
Range: 10 mi (16 km)
Wing loading: 9 lb/ft² (44 kg/m²)
M2-F1 flights
Vehicle
Flight #
Date
Pilot
Duration
Velocity (km/h)
Altitude (m)
Comments
M2-F1 #0
March 1, 1963
Thompson
135
0
First Ground Tow.
400 total ground tows.
M2-F1 #1
August 16, 1963
Thompson
0:02:00
240
3,650
First M2-F1 Flight. 77 total flights.
M2-F1 #2
August 28, 1963
Thompson
0:02:09
240
3,650
M2-F1 #3
August 29, 1963
Thompson
0:02:25
240
3,650
M2-F1 #4
August 30, 1963
Thompson
0:04:42
240
3,650
1st flight of day
M2-F1 #5
August 30, 1963
Thompson
240
3,650
2nd flight of day
M2-F1 #6
September 3, 1963
Thompson
0:04:50
240
3,650
1st flight of day
M2-F1 #7
September 3, 1963
Thompson
240
3,650
2nd flight of day
M2-F1 #8
October 7, 1963
Thompson
0:01:26
240
3,650
M2-F1 #9
October 9, 1963
Thompson
0:01:51
240
3,650
M2-F1 #10
October 15, 1963
Thompson
0:02:20
240
3,650
M2-F1 #11
October 23, 1963
Thompson
0:03:00
240
3,650
M2-F1 #12
October 25, 1963
Thompson
0:03:52
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #13
October 25, 1963
Thompson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #14
November 8, 1963
Thompson
0:07:45
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #15
November 8, 1963
Thompson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #16
November 8, 1963
Thompson
240
3,650
3rd flight of the day
M2-F1 #17
December 3, 1963
Thompson
0:01:00
240
3,650
M2-F1 #18
December 3, 1963
Yeager
0:01:35
240
3,650
M2-F1 #19
December 3, 1963
Peterson
0:03:15
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #20
December 3, 1963
Peterson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
Broke landing gear
M2-F1 #21
January 29, 1964
Thompson
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #22
January 29, 1964
Thompson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #23
January 29, 1964
Peterson
0:04:44
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #24
January 29, 1964
Peterson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #25
January 29, 1964
Yeager
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #26
January 29, 1964
Yeager
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #27
January 30, 1964
Yeager
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #28
January 30, 1964
Yeager
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #29
January 30, 1964
Mullick
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #30
January 30, 1964
Mullick
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #31
February 28, 1964
Thompson
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #32
February 28, 1964
Thompson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #33
March 30, 1964
Peterson
0:02:25
240
3,650
M2-F1 #34
April 9, 1964
Thompson
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #35
April 9, 1964
Thompson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #36
April 9, 1964
Peterson
0:08:00
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #37
April 9, 1964
Peterson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #38
April 9, 1964
Peterson
240
3,650
3rd flight of the day
M2-F1 #39
May 19, 1964
Peterson
0:04:08
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #40
May 19, 1964
Peterson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #41
June 3, 1964
Thompson
240
3,650
M2-F1 #42
July 24, 1964
Peterson
0:06:50
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #43
July 24, 1964
Peterson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #44
July 24, 1964
Peterson
240
3,650
3rd flight of the day
M2-F1 #45
August 18, 1964
Thompson
240
3,650
M2-F1 #46
August 21, 1964
Thompson
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #47
August 21, 1964
Thompson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #48
August 21, 1964
Thompson
240
3,650
3rd flight of the day
M2-F1 #49
August 21, 1964
Thompson
240
3,650
4th flight of the day
M2-F1 #50
February 16, 1965
Thompson
240
3,650
M2-F1 #51
May 27, 1965
Thompson
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #52
May 27, 1965
Thompson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #53
May 27, 1965
Thompson
240
3,650
3rd flight of the day
M2-F1 #54
May 27, 1965
Thompson
240
3,650
4th flight of the day
M2-F1 #55
May 27, 1965
Sorlie
0:06:00
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #56
May 27, 1965
Sorlie
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #57
May 27, 1965
Sorlie
240
3,650
3rd flight of the day
M2-F1 #58
May 28, 1965
Thompson
240
3,650
M2-F1 #59
May 28, 1965
Sorlie
0:04:30
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #60
May 28, 1965
Sorlie
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #61
July 16, 1965
Thompson
240
3,650
M2-F1 #62
July 16, 1965
Dana
240
3,650
M2-F1 #63
July 16, 1965
Gentry
0:00:09
200
10
Rolled M2-F1 on liftoff.
Recovered. Safe landing.
M2-F1 #64
August 30, 1965
Thompson
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #65
August 30, 1965
Thompson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #66
August 30, 1965
Thompson
240
3,650
3rd flight of the day
M2-F1 #67
August 31, 1965
Thompson
240
3,650
M2-F1 #68
October 6, 1965
Thompson
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #69
October 6, 1965
Thompson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #70
October 8, 1965
Thompson
240
3,650
M2-F1 #71
March 28, 1966
Thompson
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #72
March 28, 1966
Thompson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #73
August 4, 1966
Peterson
0:02:00
240
3,650
M2-F1 #74
August 5, 1966
Peterson
0:04:00
240
3,650
1st flight of the day
M2-F1 #75
August 5, 1966
Peterson
240
3,650
2nd flight of the day
M2-F1 #76
August 5, 1966
Peterson
240
3,650
3rd flight of the day
M2-F1 #77
August 16, 1966
Gentry
200
10
Rolled M2-F1 on liftoff. Recovered.
Fired landing rockets.
Safe landing. Last flight.
References
1.^ Reed, R. Dale; Darlene Lister (2002). Wingless Flight: The Lifting Body Story. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0813190266. also available as a PDF file.
2.^ a b c d e Jenkins, Dennis R. (2001). Space Shuttle: The History of the National Space Transportation System (3rd edition ed.). Voyageur Press. ISBN 0-9633974-5-1.
3.^ Dryden's 60 Years of Flight Research: The Lifting Body Era
NASA Dryden M2-F1 Photo Collection
An M2-F1 gallery, from NASA Dryden:
********************************************************
The Northrop M2-F2
From youtube:
From Wikipedia:
Northrop M2-F2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
M2-F2
Role: Lifting body Technology Demonstrator
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Northrop
First flight: 12 July 1966
Retired: 10 May 1967
Status: Rebuilt as M2-F3
Primary user: NASA
Number built: 1
Developed from: NASA M2-F1
Variants
Northrop M2-F3
The Northrop M2-F2 was a heavyweight lifting body based on studies at NASA's Ames and Langley research centers. Built by the Northrop Corporation in 1966. The "M" refers to "manned" and "F" refers to "flight" version.
Development
The success of Dryden's M2-F1 program led to NASA's development and construction of two heavyweight lifting bodies based on studies at NASA's Ames and Langley research centers—the M2-F2 and the HL-10, both built by the Northrop Corporation. The "M" refers to "manned" and "F" refers to "flight" version. "HL" comes from "horizontal landing" and 10 is for the tenth lifting body model to be investigated by Langley. (See also NASA Ames Research Center).
The M2-F2 made its first captive flight (attached to the B-52 carrier aircraft throughout the flight) on March 23, 1966.
The first flight of the M2-F2 - which looked much like the "M2-F1" - was on July 12, 1966. Milton O. Thompson was the pilot.
By then, the same B-52 used to air launch the famed X-15 rocket research aircraft was modified to also carry the lifting bodies. Thompson was dropped from the B-52's wing pylon mount at an altitude of 45,000 feet (13,700 m) on that maiden glide flight. He reached a gliding speed of about 450 miles per hour (720 km/h).
Operational history
The crash site of the M2-F2
Before powered flights were undertaken, a series of glide flights were conducted. On May 10, 1967, the sixteenth and last glide flight ended in disaster as the vehicle slammed into the lake bed on landing. With test pilot Bruce Peterson at the controls, the M2-F2 suffered a pilot induced oscillation (PIO) as it neared the lake bed. At the core of this problem was the fact that the wings of the M2-F2 (essentially the body of the aircraft) produced considerably less roll authority than most aircraft. This resulted in less force availible to the pilot to control the aircraft in roll. As a consequence, when Bruce attempted to perform roll maneuvers the response of the vehicle was substantially less than expected, thus lending to a "soft" feel for this control which often leads to PIO in the roll axis. (Source: interview with Bruce Peterson, 1980) The vehicle rolled from side to side in flight as he tried to bring it under control. Peterson recovered, but then observed a rescue helicopter that seemed to pose a collision threat. Distracted, Peterson drifted in a cross-wind to an unmarked area of the lake bed where it was very difficult to judge the height over the ground because of a lack of guidance (the markers provided on the lake bed runway).
Peterson fired the landing rockets to provide additional lift, but he hit the lake bed before the landing gear was fully down and locked. The M2-F2 rolled over six times, coming to rest upside down. Pulled from the vehicle by Jay King and Joseph Huxman, Peterson was rushed to the base hospital, transferred to March Air Force Base and then the UCLA Hospital. He recovered but lost vision in his right eye due to a staphylococcal infection.
Portions of M2-F2 footage including Peterson's spectacular crash landing were used for the 1973 TV movie The Six Million Dollar Man though some shots during the opening credits of the series showed the later HL-10 model, during release from its carrier plane, a modified B-52.
Four pilots flew the M2-F2 on its 16 glide flights. They were Milton O. Thompson (5 flights), Bruce Peterson (3 flights), Don Sorlie (3 flights) and Jerry Gentry (5 flights).
NASA pilots and researchers realized the M2-F2 had lateral control problems, even though it had a stability augmentation control system. When the M2-F2 was rebuilt at Dryden and redesignated the M2-F3, it was modified with an additional third vertical fin -- centered between the tip fins to improve control characteristics.
The M2-F2/F3 was the first of the heavy-weight, entry-configuration lifting bodies. Its successful development as a research test vehicle answered many of the generic questions about these vehicles.
M2-F2 flights
NASA M2-F2 - NASA 803, 16 unpowered flights
Vehicle
Flight #
Date
Pilot
Mach
Velocity (km/h)
Altitude (meters)
Duration
Comments
M2-F2 #1
July 12, 1966
Thompson
0.646
727
13,716
00:03:37
First M2-F2 Flight. Unpowered glide. 320 km/h landing.
M2-F2 #2
July 19, 1966
Thompson
0.598
634
13,716
00:04:05
Unpowered glide. Determination of lateral stability control, longitudinal trim, vehicle performance and landing characteristics.
M2-F2 #3
August 12, 1966
Thompson
0.619
692
13,716
00:04:38
Unpowered glide. Determine effect of increasing Mach number, minimum damper requirements, testing of longitudinal and lateral stability and control.
M2-F2 #4
August 24, 1966
Thompson
0.676
718
13,716
00:04:01
Unpowered glide. Determine control damper requirements, lift-drag ratio, elevon response, flap effectiveness and longitudinal stability and control.
M2-F2 #5
September 2, 1966
Thompson
0.707
750
13,716
00:03:46
Unpowered glide. Evaluate 360 degree overhead approach, determine control damper-off handling qualities.
M2-F2 #6
September 15, 1966
Peterson
0.705
750
13,716
00:03:30
Unpowered glide. Pilot checkout.
M2-F2 #7
September 20, 1966
Sorlie
0.635
678
13,716
00:03:31
Unpowered glide. Pilot checkout.
M2-F2 #8
September 22, 1966
Peterson
0.661
702
13,716
00:03:53
Unpowered glide. Longitudinal and lateral stability and control with dampers.
M2-F2 #9
September 28, 1966
Sorlie
0.672
713
13,716
00:03:53
Unpowered glide. Complete pilot checkout and extend flight envelope.
M2-F2 #10
October 5, 1966
Sorlie
0.615
692
13,716
00:03:45
Unpowered glide. Explore lateral and longitudinal stability and control characteristics with dampers on and off.
M2-F2 #11
October 12, 1966
Gentry
0.662
702
13,716
00:03:54
Unpowered glide. Pilot checkout.
M2-F2 #12
October 26, 1966
Gentry
0.605
642
13,716
00:03:47
Unpowered glide. Obtain stability and control data at 7 and 11 degree attack angles and upper flap effectiveness.
M2-F2 #13
November 14, 1966
Gentry
0.681
716
13,716
00:04:21
Unpowered glide. Test stability and control, determine vehicle performance characteristics.
M2-F2 #14
November 21, 1966
Gentry
0.695
735
13,716
00:03:50
Unpowered glide. Test stability and control, determine vehicle performance characteristics.
M2-F2 #15
May 2, 1967
Gentry
0.623
661
13,716
00:03:51
Unpowered glide.
M2-F2 #16
May 10, 1967
Peterson
0.612
649
13,716
00:03:43
Unpowered glide
Crash landing
Specifications (M2-F2)
General characteristics
Crew: one, pilot
Length: 22 ft 2 in (6.76 m)
Wingspan: 9 ft 8 in (2.94 m)
Height: 9 ft 6 in (2.89 m)
Wing area: 160 ft² (14.9 m²)
Empty weight: 4,620 lb (2,095 kg)
Loaded weight: 6,000 lb (2,722 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 7,485 lb (3,395 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Reaction Motors Upgraded XLR-11 four-chamber rocket engine, 8,000 lbf (36 kN)
Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 0.707 (466 mph, 750 km/h)
Range: 8.6 nm (10 mi, 16 km)
Service ceiling: 45,000 ft (13,700 m)
Wing loading: 43.2 lb/ft² (196 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 1.3
M2-F2 Gallery, from NASA Dryden:
*******************************************************************
The Northrop M2-F3
From astronautix.com:
M2-F3
M2F2 Lifting Body
M2F2 Lifting Body with F-104 Chase Plane
Credit: NASA
American manned spaceplane. 43 launches, 1966.07.12 to 1971.12.21 . The crashed M2-F2 was rebuilt as the M2-F3 with enlarged vertical stabilizers. Maximum speed achieved was Mach 1.6, top altitude 21,800 m.
The final X-30 National Aerospace Plane configuration seemed to owe much to the M2.
Spacecraft delta v: 1,000 m/s (3,200 ft/sec).
Gross mass: 3,600 kg (7,900 lb).
Unfuelled mass: 2,300 kg (5,000 lb).
Height: 6.77 m (22.21 ft).
Span: 2.93 m (9.61 ft).
Thrust: 26.40 kN (5,935 lbf).
First date: 7/12/1966 .
Last date: 12/21/1971 .
Number: 43 .
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Associated Countries •USA
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Associated Engines •XLR11 Reaction Motors, Thiokol Lox/Alcohol rocket engine. Out of Production. Launch thrust 26.67 kN. Rocket engine developed for X-1 in 1940s to break the sound barrier and used twenty years later to power experimental lifting bodies. Four combustion chambers. More...
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See also •Manned
•Spaceplane
•Suborbital
•US Rocketplanes
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Associated Manufacturers and Agencies •Northrop American manufacturer of rockets and spacecraft. Northrop, USA. More...
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Associated Propellants •Lox/Alcohol
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Bibliography •Gatland, Kenneth, Manned Spacecraft, Macmillan, New York, 1968.
•Miller, Jay,, The X-Planes, Aerofax, Arlington, Texas, 1988.
•Miller, Ron, The Dream Machines, Krieger, Malabar, Florida, 1993.
•Zhelyez x-plane book,
•Houchin II, Roy and Smith, Terry, "X-20 (7 articles)", Quest, 1994, Volume 3, Issue 4, page 4.
•Peebles, Curtis, "The Origins of the US Space Shuttle - 1", Spaceflight, 1979, Volume 21, page 435.
•NASA Report, Flight-determined stability and control characteristics of the M2-F3 lifting body vehicle, Web Address when accessed: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19740004421_1974004421.pdf.
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M2-F3 Chronology
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1970 June 2 - . •M2 Flight 17 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 1. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: First M2-F3 flight. Maximum Speed - 755 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13716 m. Flight Time - 218 sec..
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1970 July 21 - . •M2 Flight 18 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 2. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 708 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13716 m. Flight Time - 228 sec..
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1970 November 2 - . •M2 Flight 19 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 3. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 690 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13716 m. Flight Time - 236 sec..
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1970 November 25 - . •M2 Flight 20 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 4. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: First powered flight. Maximum Speed - 859 kph. Maximum Altitude - 15819 m. Flight Time - 377 sec..
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1971 February 9 - . •M2 Flight 21 - . Crew: Gentry. Payload: M2-F3 flight 5. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Gentry. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 755 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13716 m. Flight Time - 241 sec..
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1971 February 26 - . •M2 Flight 22 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 6. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 821 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13716 m. Flight Time - 348 sec..
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1971 July 23 - . •M2 Flight 23 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 7. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 788 kph. Maximum Altitude - 18440 m. Flight Time - 353 sec..
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1971 August 9 - . •M2 Flight 24 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 8. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 1035 kph. Maximum Altitude - 18898 m. Flight Time - 415 sec..
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1971 August 25 - . •M2 Flight 25 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 9. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: First M2-F3 supersonic flight. Maximum Speed - 1163 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20513 m. Flight Time - 390 sec..
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1971 September 24 - . •M2 Flight 26 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 10. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 772 kph. Maximum Altitude - 12802 m. Flight Time - 210 sec..
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1971 November 15 - . •M2 Flight 27 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 11. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Glide flight. Maximum Speed - 784 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13716 m. Flight Time - 215 sec..
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1971 December 1 - . •M2 Flight 28 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 12. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 1356 kph. Maximum Altitude - 21580 m. Flight Time - 391 sec..
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1971 December 16 - . •M2 Flight 29 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 13. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 861 kph. Maximum Altitude - 14265 m. Flight Time - 451 sec..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1972 July 25 - . •M2 Flight 30 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 14. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 1049 kph. Maximum Altitude - 18562 m. Flight Time - 420 sec..
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1972 August 11 - . •M2 Flight 31 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 15. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 1168 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20480 m. Flight Time - 375 sec..
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1972 August 24 - . •M2 Flight 32 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 16. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 1344 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20330 m. Flight Time - 376 sec..
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1972 September 12 - . •M2 Flight 33 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 17. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 935 kph. Maximum Altitude - 14020 m. Flight Time - 387 sec..
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1972 September 27 - . •M2 Flight 34 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 18. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 1424 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20330 m. Flight Time - 366.5 sec..
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1972 October 5 - . •M2 Flight 35 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 19. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 1455 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20210 m. Flight Time - 376 sec..
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1972 October 19 - . •M2 Flight 36 - . Crew: Manke. Payload: M2-F3 flight 20. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Manke. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 961 kph. Maximum Altitude - 14360 m. Flight Time - 359 sec..
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1972 November 1 - . •M2 Flight 37 - . Crew: Manke. Payload: M2-F3 flight 21. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Manke. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 1292 kph. Maximum Altitude - 21730 m. Flight Time - 378 sec..
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1972 November 9 - . •M2 Flight 38 - . Crew: Powell. Payload: M2-F3 flight 22. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Powell. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 961 kph. Maximum Altitude - 14260 m. Flight Time - 364 sec..
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1972 November 21 - . •M2 Flight 39 - . Crew: Manke. Payload: M2-F3 flight 23. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Manke. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 1524 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20330 m. Flight Time - 377 sec..
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1972 November 29 - . •M2 Flight 40 - . Crew: Powell. Payload: M2-F3 flight 24. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Powell. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 1432 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20570 m. Flight Time - 357 sec..
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1972 December 6 - . •M2 Flight 41 - . Crew: Powell. Payload: M2-F3 flight 25. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Powell. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Maximum Speed - 1265 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20820 m. Flight Time - 332 sec..
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1972 December 13 - . •M2 Flight 42 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: M2-F3 flight 26. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Fastest M2-F3 flight. Maximum Speed - 1712 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20330 m. Flight Time - 383 sec..
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1972 December 21 - . •M2 Flight 43 - . Crew: Manke. Payload: M2-F3 flight 27. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Manke. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: M2-F3. Summary: Last M2-F3 flight, also highest. Maximum Speed - 1377 kph. Maximum Altitude - 21790 m. Flight Time - 390 sec..
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M2-F3 Images
M2-F3
Credit: © Mark Wade
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M2F3 Lifting Body
M2F3 Lifting Body Launch from B-52
Credit: NASA
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Lifting Bodies
Manned Lifting Bodies
Credit: NASA
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M2F1 Lifting Body
The M2-F1 was the first lifting body configuration tested. This glider was made from plywood. It was later succeeded by the M2-F2 metal version.
Credit: NASA
And this, from Wikipedia:
Northrop M2-F3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
M2-F3
Role: Lifting body Technology Demonstrator
Manufacturer: Northrop
First flight: 2 June 1970
Retired: 20 December 1972
Status: Smithsonian
Primary user: NASA
Developed from: NASA M2-F1
Northrop M2-F2
The Northrop M2-F3 was a heavyweight lifting body rebuilt from the Northrop M2-F2 after it crashed at the Dryden Flight Research Center in 1967. It was modified with an additional third vertical fin - centered between the tip fins - to improve control characteristics. The "M" refers to "manned" and "F" refers to "flight" version.
Development
Early flight testing of the M2-F1 and M2-F2 lifting body reentry configurations had validated the concept of piloted lifting body reentry from space. When the M2-F2 crashed on May 10, 1967, valuable information had already been obtained and was contributing to new designs.
NASA pilots said the M2-F2 had lateral control problems, so when the M2-F2 was rebuilt at Northrop and redesignated the M2-F3, it was modified with an additional third vertical fin - centered between the tip fins - to improve control characteristics.
After a three-year-long redesign and rebuilding effort, the M2-F3 was ready to fly. The May 1967 crash of the M2-F2 had torn off the left fin and landing gear. It had also damaged the external skin and internal structure. Flight Research Center engineers worked with Ames Research Center and the Air Force in redesigning the vehicle with a center fin to provide greater stability. At first, it seemed that the vehicle had been irreparably damaged, but the original manufacturer, Northrop, did the repair work and returned the redesigned M2-F3 with a center fin for stability to the FRC.
While the M2-F3 was still demanding to fly, the center fin eliminated the high risk of pilot induced oscillation (PIO) that was characteristic of the M2-F2.
Operational history
First flight of the M2-F3, with NASA pilot Bill Dana at the controls, was June 2, 1970. The modified vehicle exhibited much better lateral stability and control characteristics than before, and only three glide flights were necessary before the first powered flight on November 25, 1970. The 100th flight of the heavy-weight lifting bodies was completed on October 5, 1972, with pilot Bill Dana soaring to an altitude of 66,300 feet (20,200 m) and a Mach number of 1.370 (about 904 miles per hour) in the M2-F3. Over its 27 missions, the M2-F3 reached a top speed of 1,064 mph (Mach 1.6). Highest altitude reached by the vehicle was 71,500 feet (20,790 m) on December 20, 1972, the date of its last flight, with NASA pilot John Manke at the controls.
The M2-F3 at the National Air and Space Museum
A reaction control thruster (RCT) system, similar to that on orbiting spacecraft, was also installed to obtain research data about their effectiveness for vehicle control. As the M2-F3's portion of the lifting body program neared an end, it evaluated a rate command augmentation control system, and a side-arm control stick similar to side-arm controllers now used on many modern aircraft.
NASA donated the M2-F3 vehicle to the Smithsonian Institution in December 1973. It is currently hanging in the National Air and Space Museum along with the X-15 aircraft number 1, which was its hangar partner at Dryden from 1965 to 1969.
M2-F3 pilots William H. Dana - 19 flights
John A. Manke - 4 flights
Cecil W. Powell - 3 flights
Jerauld R. Gentry - 1 flight
Most of text taken from NASA Dryden webpage.
Aircraft serial number
NASA M2-F3 - NASA 803, 27 flights
M2-F3 flights
Vehicle
Flight #
Date
Pilot
Mach
Velocity (km/h)
Altitude (ft)
Duration
Comments
M2-F3 #1
June 2, 1970
Dana
0.688
755
45,000
00:03:38
First M2-F3 Flight
Unpowered glide
M2-F3 #2
July 21, 1970
Dana
0.660
708
45,000
00:03:48
Unpowered glide
M2-F3 #3
November 2, 1970
Dana
0.630
690
45,000
00:03:56
Unpowered glide
M2-F3 #4
November 25, 1970
Dana
0.809
859
51,900
00:06:17
1st powered flight
M2-F3 #5
February 9, 1971
Gentry
0.707
755
45,000
00:04:01
M2-F3 #6
February 26, 1971
Dana
0.773
821
45,000
00:05:48
Only 2 chambers lit
M2-F3 #7
July 23, 1971
Dana
0.930
988
60,500
00:05:53
M2-F3 #8
August 9, 1971
Dana
0.974
1,035
62,000
00:06:55
M2-F3 #9
August 25, 1971
Dana
1.095
1,164
67,300
00:06:30
1st supersonic flight
M2-F3 #10
September 24, 1971
Dana
0.728
772
42,000
00:03:30
Engine fire
M2-F3 #11
November 15, 1971
Dana
0.739
784
45,000
00:03:35
M2-F3 #12
December 1, 1971
Dana
1.274
1,357
70,800
00:06:31
M2-F3 #13
December 16, 1971
Dana
0.811
861
46,800
00:07:31
Only 2 chambers lit
M2-F3 #14
July 25, 1972
Dana
0.989
1,049
60,900
00:07:00
M2-F3 #15
August 11, 1972
Gentry
1.101
1,168
67,200
00:06:15
M2-F3 #16
August 24, 1972
Dana
1.266
1,344
66,700
00:06:16
M2-F3 #17
September 12, 1972
Dana
0.880
935
46,000
00:06:27
Small engine fire
M2-F3 #18
September 27, 1972
Dana
1.340
1,424
66,700
00:06:07
M2-F3 #19
October 5, 1972
Dana
1.370
1,455
66,300
00:06:16
100th lifting
body flight
M2-F3 #20
October 19, 1972
Manke
0.905
961
47,100
00:05:59
M2-F3 #21
November 1, 1972
Manke
1.213
1,292
71,300
00:06:18
M2-F3 #22
November 9, 1972
Powell
0.906
961
46,800
00:06:04
M2-F3 #23
November 21, 1972
Manke
1.435
1,524
66,700
00:06:17
Planned Rosamond
Lakebed landing
M2-F3 #24
November 29, 1972
Powell
1.348
1,432
67,500
00:05:57
M2-F3 #25
December 6, 1972
Powell
1.191
1,265
68,300
00:05:32
Planned Rosamond
Lakebed landing
M2-F3 #26
December 13, 1972
Dana
1.613
1,712
66,700
00:06:23
Fastest flight
M2-F3 #27
December 20, 1972
Manke
1.294
1,378
71,500
00:06:30
Highest flight
Last M2-F3 flight
Specifications (M2-F3)
NASA M2-F3 Lifting Body Diagram
General characteristics
Crew: one, pilot
Length: 22 ft 2 in (6.75 m)
Wingspan: 9 ft 8 in (2.94 m)
Height: 9 ft 6 in (2.89 m)
Wing area: 160 ft² (14.9 m²)
Empty weight: 5,071 lb (2,300 kg)
Loaded weight: 6,000 lb (2,721 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 7,937 lb (3,600 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Reaction Motors XLR-11 four-chamber rocket engine, 8,000 lbf (36 kN)
Performance
Maximum speed: 925 knots (1,065 mph, 1,712 km/h)
Range: 39 nm (45 mi, 72 km)
Service ceiling: 71,500 ft (21,793 m)
Wing loading: 49 lb/ft² (242 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 1.3
M2-F3 Gallery, from NASA Dryden:
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