X-15 FLIGHT REQUEST

Flight No. 1-18-31 Date of Flight Request: 11/25/60

Scheduled Date of Flight: 11/30/60

Pilot: Neil A. Armstrong

Subject of Test: 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 - 0 Launch, light 8 chambers, initiate 8° a climb.

2. 44 1.2 - 65 Pushover to 1/2 g for roundout at 50K.

3. 50 1.6 10° 135 Accelerate at 50K to "turn line", initiate 10· a turn (Obtain calibrate during acceleration).

4. 50 1.6 10° 155 Perform pulses about each axis. Roll out on magnetic heading 250°.

5. 50 2.0 2° 215 Accelerate to M = 2.0, reduce to 5/8T, perform full deflection sideslip and sudden release.

6. - - - 255 Initiate 2 1/2g left turn to magnetic heading 090°.

7. - - - Reduce airspeed to 220 knots, evaluate handling characteristics.

8. 25 .60 2.8 - On downwind leg perform pushover - pullup for alternate airspeed source evaluation.

9. Check ventral armed, pressurize tanks.

10. 300 knot landing approach, jettison ventral 3 miles from touchdown, flaps and gear down. Intended touchdown is two-mile marker.

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

12. 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

Lift and Drag (Including Base Pressure Measurements)

Inertial Attitude and Component Velocity (Stable Platform)

Physiological Package Measurements


1.	45	0.82	-	0	Launch, light 8 chambers, initiate 8° a climb.

2.	44	1.2	-	65	Pushover to 1/2 g for roundout at 50K.

3.	50	1.6	10°	135	Accelerate at 50K to "turn line", initiate 10· a turn (Obtain calibrate during acceleration).

4.	50	1.6	10°	155	Perform pulses about each axis. Roll out on magnetic heading 250°.

5.	50	2.0	2°	215	Accelerate to M = 2.0, reduce to 5/8T, perform full deflection sideslip and sudden release.

6.	-	-	-	255	Initiate 2 1/2g left turn to magnetic heading 090°.

7.	-	-	-		Reduce airspeed to 220 knots, evaluate handling characteristics.

8.	25	.60	2.8	-	On downwind leg perform pushover - pullup for alternate airspeed source evaluation.