Flight No. 1-23-38 Scheduled Date of Flight: 9-6-61
Pilot: Capt. Robert A. Rushworth
Subject of Test: Handling qualities and stability data for ventral-off configuration..
Airplane Configuration: Basic X-15: XLR99 engine; nonlinear aileron gearing, jettisonable ventral fin removed. Leading edge slot heat shields.
Launch: Silver Lake
on magnetic heading of 243°. SAS 8-4-4.
No. | Time | Alt | V | a | Event |
1. | *0 | 45 | 790 | - | Launch using center stick, SAS 8-4-4, light engine at 50%T, rotate to 10°a. |
2. | 36 | 48 | 1500 | 10° | Maintain 10° a until q = 30°. |
3. | 83 | 65 | 1900 | 7° | Maintain 30° q, pushover to zero g at 63 sec. **Extend speed brakes. |
4. | 100 | 80 | 3100 | 7° | After coming level, establish one g trim and perform wings level sideslip with sudden release. |
5. | 120 | 80 | 3700 | 5° | Shutdown engine at 120 sec. **Set SAS 8-0-4, perform rudder pulse. |
6. | 140 | 80 | 3200 | 12° | Rotate to maximum trim stabilizer (dh = 25°), perform rudder pulse. |
7. | 155 | 80 | 2700 | 10° | Initiate space-positioning turn with » 90° bank angle to check antenna selector switch. |
8. | 175 | 75 | 2200 | **Retract speed brakes, perform rudder pulse. Switch to side-arm control, continue rudder pulses. |
10. At 0.8 M perform pushover-pullup.
11. Set SAS 8-0-0, perform rudder pulses.
12. Reset SAS 6-4-8 for landing.
13. Pressurize tanks; obtain calibrate.
14. Transfer to center stick, 300 knot landing approach, flaps and gear down - intended touchdown is two-mile marker, perform minimum distance slide.
15. Before APU shutdown, cycle controls, set stabilizer trim to zero and push-to-test ball nose -- DATA OFF.
* Time starts with onset of engine chamber pressure.
** Ground control call-out items if not reported by pilot.
NOTES: 1. Duration of flight approximately 10 min.
2. Emergency lakes -- Three Sisters and Cuddeback.
Ground Rules Not Covered in Operating Manual for "No Launch":
1. Malfunction of roll channel.
2. Malfunction of inertial platform attitude, q, f, y.
3. Malfunction of hot nose.
Alternate Situations After Launch:
2. If radar or radio become inoperative, proceed as planned.
3. If ball nose fails fly 2.0g until q = 30°; proceed as planned. Fly 1.0g after shutdown with SAS 8-4-4.
4. If an engine relight is necessary, add 2 seconds to pushover time, and 2 sec. to shutdown.
5. For inadvertent
engine shutdown: Prior to 65 seconds return to Silver; 65-75 sec. proceed
to Three Sisters; 75-85 sec. proceed to Cuddeback; above 85 sec. continue
to Rogers.
Launch C.G. 20.1% Landing C.G. 15%