Northrop M2-F2

The Northrop M2 -F2 was a U.S. experimental aircraft based on the support hull concept. She was the third in a series of wing- less experimental aircraft that were tested 1963-1975. Other machines were:

  • NASA M2 -F1 (1963 )
  • The Northrop HL -10 ( 1966)

The letters M and F stood by for manned ( manned) and flight (airplane version). With these machines could be shown that wing and unpowered aircraft can be safely controlled and landed targeted at a defined location.

After the successful test of the M2 -F1 NASA Northrop awarded the construction of two additional lifting body ( the HL -10 and just the M2 -F2 ) that should be but now made ​​of metal construction and so weighed a multiple of its predecessor. The M2 -F2 was completed in early 1966, lifted on 23 March for the first time from ( attached to a B -52) and completed on 12 July 1966, Milt Thompson at the wheel of their first flight, and they in turn by a Boeing B -52 on a was brought and notched height of 12,500 meters.

It proved to be difficult to control and tended to swaying; so it came on August 16, 1966 at the 16th flight with the pilot Bruce Peterson at the wheel to a serious accident. He succeeded only shortly before the ground, to intercept the engine, the chassis no longer export correctly, the machine repeatedly overturned and Peterson was seriously injured. The film pictures taken of the accident were The Six Million Dollar Man used as a prologue for the film. The machine was repaired after the accident. She was provided with a third, centrally mounted rudder (which controllability was much improved), provided with a new skin and now designated as Northrop M2 -F3. The Wiedererstflug on 2 June 1970, Bill Dana takes the wheel. The machine flew 26 more times to explore the high-speed behavior of the structure, said she flew with Bill Dana on board Mach 1.6 on 21 December 1972 by John Manke reached an altitude of about 21,500 meters at December 13, 1972 again. The machine is now an exhibit in the lobby of the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC to visit.

Specifications

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 6.76 m
  • Wingspan: 2.94 m
  • Height: 2.89 m
  • Wing area: 14.9 m²
  • Empty weight: 2095 kg (M2 -F2 ), 2300 kg (M2 -F3 )
  • Take off weight: 2722 kg - 3600 kg
  • Drive: 1 x rocket engine XLR -11 with four nozzles and 36 kN thrust
  • Maximum speed: 750 km / h (M2 -F2 ) - 1700 km / h (M2 -F3 )
  • Range: 72 km (M2 -F3 )
  • Maximum altitude reached: 21.793 m (M2 -F3 )

Swell

  • FLiEGERREVUE 3/2008, p.58 -61, 'Lifting Bodies and Lunar Trainer "
  • M2 -F2 at NASA
NASA M2-F1 Northrop HL-10 Northrop Corporation Reaction Motors XLR-11
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