FLIGHT REQUEST

X-15 #670:

Flight No. 6 Date of Request: 4/28/60

Scheduled Date of Flight: 5/3/60

Subject of Test: Performance, Stability and Control Build Up, and Additional Familiarization

Airplane Configuration: Basic X-15 with stiffened side-fairing panels.

Engine Identification: XLR-11 (2 engines)

Launch: M = 0.82, H = 45K, SAS 4, 4, 8 at Waldrip on Magnetic Heading of 65°.

1. After launch, light 8 chambers and rotate to 8°a.

2. Maintain 8°climb to 60K (Minimum Vi = 260 knots).

3. Accelerate at 60K to "must turn" line. (Ten second warning.)

4. Perform 15° left turn (» 2.2g). With SAS 4, 0, 0 perform aileron pulse during turn.

5. SAS 4, 4, 8, roll out of turn on magnetic heading of 295° (Saltdale Lake).

6. Accelerate at 60K. With 15% fuel remaining perform 2.0g pull-up for 5 seconds, push-over to 1/2g until burnout.

7. After burnout (M 2.4 to 2.6) initiate 10°a (» 2.0g) left turn and perform SAS 4, 0~ 0, 0 aileron pulse.

8. SAS 4, 4, 8. Roll out on heading to high key.

9. During subsonic glide evaluate SAS off handling characteristics.

10. SAS 4, 4, 8 evaluate console stick.

11. Landing: SAS 4, 4, 8; approach speed 300 knots, jettison ventral, flaps and gear down.

12. Before APUshutdown, cycle controls, retract flaps and set stabilizer trim to zero.

Launch wt.: 33,400 lb Landing wt.: 14,500lb Pilot: Major R. White

Launch c.g.: 21.5% Landing c.g.: 19.0%

ALTERNATE FLIGHT REQUEST

X-15 #670 Flight #6

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 0.8 to 1.0. (With 5 or 6 chambers burning, supersonic speed can be achieved.) Maneuvers may be performed as follows: (Time and Position permitting)

1. Pitch SAS evaluation: Pitch pulses with SAS gains 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. Approach speed of 300 + knots, jettison ventral, turn on landing gear instrumentation, gear and flaps down for landing.

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 and fuselage 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 component velocity (stable platform)