NASA M2-F1

NASA M2 -F1 was a U.S. experimental aircraft based on the support hull concept ( " Lifting Body" ). It was commissioned by the Director of the Dryden research laboratories Paul Bikle in order. NASA M2 -F1 was the first in a series of wing- less experimental aircraft that were tested 1963-1975. Other machines were:

  • The Northrop HL -10 ( 1966)
  • The Northrop M2 -F2 (1968 )
  • The Northrop M2 -F3 (1970 )

The letters M and F stood by for manned ( manned) and flight (airplane version). The test flights took place at the NASA Flight Research Center (now Dryden Flight Research Center). With these experiments, it was shown that wing and unpowered aircraft can be safely controlled and landed targeted at a defined location. The M2 -F1 was a very simple, cheap (only $ 30,000 ), and non-motorized halbkegelige construction, which consists of a welded steel frame and a smooth outer skin made of mahogany wood segments that have been glued together and planed to shape existed. She had a glazed bow and equipped for emergencies with small auxiliary rockets at the rear.

The first flight took place as a car towed, pulled by a Pontiac Catalina convertible, on April 5, 1963 at about 140 km / h. It occurred violent rolling motions that could be eliminated by changes to the control, however. Thereafter, the speed was increased to 180 km / h with 20 meters altitude and after the release of the rope up to 20 seconds independent flight were achieved. Before switching to towing starts with a Douglas C -47 tow plane as the plane was for a few weeks brought into a wind tunnel at the Ames Research Center to test their flight behavior better. The first flight of the M2 -F1 with the pilot Milt Thompson at the wheel aerotow then followed on 16 August 1963. The machine was towed swapped in and out at 4000 meters altitude. She landed after a steep descent with a descent rate of 1,000 m / min easily at 250 km / h on the runway. After about 400 tow flights by car and 77 by airplane ( which also famous pilots like Chuck Yeager sat at the wheel ), where valuable information for succession designs could be won, the machine was decommissioned and the Northrop M2 - F2 in order given.

Specifications

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 6.1 m
  • Wingspan: 4.32 m
  • Height: 2.89 m
  • Wing area: 12.9 m²
  • Empty mass: 454 kg
  • Take off weight: 536-567 kg
  • Maximum speed: 250 km / h
  • Range: 16 km

Swell

  • FLiEGERREVUE 3/2008, p.58 -61, 'Lifting Bodies and Lunar Trainer "
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