X-15 FLIGHT REQUEST

Flight No. 1-17-30 Date of Flight Request: 11/15/60

Scheduled Date of Flight: 11/17/60

Pilot: Captain Robert Rushworth

Subject of Test: Aerodynamic data and additional pilot familiarization

Airplane Configuration: Basic X-15 with two XLR-11 engines.

Launch: Mach = 0.82, Hp = 45,000 feet, SAS 4-4-8, over Palmdale OMNI on magnetic heading of 030°.

No. Alt M a Event

1. 45 0.82 - Launch, light 8 chambers, initiate 8° a climb.

2. 46 1.1 - Pushover to 1/2 g level at 55K.

3. 55 - - Accelerate to M = 1.7 or "must turn"

4. 55 1.7 13° Initiate full stabilizer trim left turn.

5. 55 1.7 13° Perform full deflection right rudder sideslip and sudden release.

6. 55 1.7 5° Roll out of turn on magnetic heading of 250°.

7. 55 1.8 4° Extend max. speed brake, SAS 4-0-0, perform rudder pulse. Close speed brake.

8. 55 2.2 - SAS 4-4-8, accelerate to M = 2.2, hold for 3 seconds, start 2 1/2g left turn.

9. 55 1.7 10° Perform full deflection right sideslip.

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10. - 1.4 0°-10° Perform pushover-pullup.

11. 48 1.0 6° Roll out on magn. heading of 100°, jettison propellants.

12. - - 6° Hold 260 knots, wings level, until final space-positioning turn..

13. 20 0.6 2°-8° On downwind leg perform pushover-pullup for alternate airspeed static source evaluation.

14. Check ventral armed, pressurize tanks.

15. 300 knot landing approach, jettison ventral 3 miles from touchdown, flaps and gear down. Intended touchdown is two-mile marker.

16. After touchdown, apply roll control to evaluate ground directional control.

17. Before APU shutdown, cycle controls, retract flaps and set stabilizer trim to zero. DATA OFF.

NOTES: 1. Duration of flight approximately 9 min.

2. Emergency lake -- Rogers.

ALTERNATE SITUATIONS:

1. Pitch SAS malfunction before launch will constitute an abort.

2. With 3 or less chambers operating, shutdown, jettison and land.

3. With 4, 5 or 6 chambers operating, a constant turn should be maintained within 10 to 12 nautical miles of the base at or above 35K.

4. With 7 chambers operating, continue with original flight plan.

Launch Wt. 33,800lb Landing Wt. 14,400lb

Launch C.G. 21.1% Landing C.G. 18.7%

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 and Lower Vertical Tail, Wing and Fuselage Pressure Distribution

Environmental Temperatures

Structural Temperatures

Free-Skin Temperatures

Wing Loads (Strain Gages)

Vertical Tail Hinge Moments

Life and Drag (Including Base Pressure Measurements)

Inertial Attitude and Component Velocity (Stable Platform)

Physiological Package Measurements


1.	45	0.82	-	Launch, light 8 chambers, initiate 8° a climb.

2.	46	1.1	-	Pushover to 1/2 g level at 55K.

3.	55	-	-	Accelerate to M = 1.7 or "must turn"

4.	55	1.7	13°	Initiate full stabilizer trim left turn.

5.	55	1.7	13°	Perform full deflection right rudder sideslip and sudden release.

6.	55	1.7	5°	Roll out of turn on magnetic heading of 250°.

7.	55	1.8	4°	Extend max. speed brake, SAS 4-0-0, perform rudder pulse. Close speed brake.

8.	55	2.2	-	SAS 4-4-8, accelerate to M = 2.2, hold for 3 seconds, start 2 1/2g left turn.

9.	55	1.7	10°	Perform full deflection right sideslip.
.
10.	-	1.4	0°-10°	Perform pushover-pullup.

11.	48	1.0	6°	Roll out on magn. heading of 100°, jettison propellants.

12.	-	-	6°	Hold 260 knots, wings level, until final space-positioning turn..

13.	20	0.6	2°-8°	On downwind leg perform pushover-pullup for alternate airspeed static source evaluation.