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X-15 # 670
Flight No. 4 Date of Request 4-4-60
Date of Flight 4-12-60
Subject of test: Familiarization flight for AFTTC pilot - Major R. M. White.
Airplane Configuration: Basic X-15 with stiffened side-fairing panels.
Engine identification: XLR-ll (2-engines)
Launch: Waldrip on magnetic heading of 65°, M = 0.82, H = 45K
*SAS 4, 4, 8 (Release by B-52 pilot)
2. After round-out at » 37K, hold 8°a to 43K.
3. At 43K push-over to 1/2g, level off at 50K at » M = 1.2.
4. Pitch gain evaluation while accelerating to M = l.6.
SAS: 2, 4, 8 - 4, 4, 8.- 8, 4, 8. Pitch pulse at each setting.
5. SAS: 4, 4, 8 at M=1.6**Start turn, pausing at the following g levels: 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 2.5, 2.0. Roll out on magnetic heading of 295~ (heading toward Cantil).
6. During acceleration to M = 2.0 at 50K perform rudder pulses with SAS at 4, 4, 8 and 4, 0, 0. Pitch pulse at 0, 4, 8.
7. SAS: 4, 4, 8. Reduce to 5/8 T at M = 2~0.
8. SAS: 4, 0, 0. Perform rudder pulse. Return SAS to 4, 4, 8.
9. **Start 2.0g turn to high key. Burnout should occur during turn - jettison propellants.
10. On approach to high key, lower flaps at 290 knots, slow to 180 knots - evaluate handling characteristics.
11. Vector to high key. Approach speed 300 knots, jettison ventral, turn on landing gear instrumentation, gear and flaps down for landing.
12. Before APU shutdown, cycle controls and retract flaps.
* Pilot report all SAS settings, SAS malfunctions; chamber ignition and cut-off; burnout.
**Ground controller report ~5 seconds to turn" as X-15 approaches must turn" boundary.
Launch c.g.-. 21.5%
Landing c.g. l9.0%
ALTERNATE FLIGHT
REQUEST
X-15 #670 Flight
#3
I. After recovery from launch level flight cannot be maintained with 3 or less chambers. In this event, shut down, jettison, turn to Edwards for landing.
II. Level flight can be maintained with 4 chambers operating, and as weight is reduced with fuel consumption, a slight climb can be achieved. Consequently, if 4, 5, or 6 chambers are lit a constant turn should be maintained in order to keep the airplane within a 10 or 12 nautical mile radius of high key at the roundout altitude of 35K or above. With 4 chambers burning, the Mach number will range from .8 to l.0. (With 5 or 6 chambers burning, supersonic speeds can be achieved.) Maneuvers may be performed as follows:
* 2, 4, 8
4, 4, 8
6, 4, 8
8, 4, 8
2. Roll SAS evaluation: Maximum rate roll pulses with SAS gains as follows:
4, 4, 8
4, 6, 8
4, 8, 8
3. SAS 4, 4, 8, perform steady sideslip, sudden release
4. SAS off, pilot evaluation maneuvers
5. SAS on 4, 4, 8, maneuvering at pilot's option until positioned for proper heading to high key.
6. Shut down, initiate propellant jettisoning, turn to high key.
7. Lower flaps at 280 knots - maneuver airplane, retract flaps.
8. Approach speed of 300 + knots, jettison ventral, turn on landing gear instrumentation, gear and flaps down for landing.
* Pilot requested
to report all SAS settings, SAS malfunctions if encountered; time of lighting
engines, cutting chambers, and burnout.
INSTRUMENTATION PARAMETER LIST
Basic (Altitude, airspeed, a, b, An)
Handling qualities
Landing gear
Horizontal tail loads (strain gages)
Fuselage side-fairing vibration and flutter
Upper vertical tail pressure distribution
Environmental temperatures
Structural temperatures
Free-skin temperatures
Wing strain gage responses (calibration not available)
Vertical tail hinge moments (from preliminary calibration)
Lift and drag (including base pressure measurements)
Inertial attitude
and velocity (stable platform)