X-15 FLIGHT REQUEST




Flight No.: 1-43-69 Scheduled Date : Jan 8, 1964

Pilot: Captain Joe Engle

Purpose of Flight: Pilot evaluation of damper off stability.

Launch: Mud Lake on magnetic heading 172°, SAS Hi-Lo-Hi (8-4-8), ASAS "ARMED", BCS "ON", RAS "OFF". Heading vernier to "Standby." Ventral OFF.

Launch Point Coordinates: 38° 07' N, 117° 19' W
 
 
 No. Time Alt Vel a q  Event
             
1. 0 45 790 2 145 Launch, light engine, increase to 100% T, rotate at 11° a until q = 30°.
             
2. 23 48 1700 11 580 q = 30°, maintain q = 30°.
             
3. 44 65 2800 4 700 Pushover to 0 g.
             
4. 65 90 4300 0 480 Increase a to 3° (» .3 g).
             
5. 74 102 5200 3 400 Shutdown. ASAS "OFF," yaw damper "OFF." Perform dv pulse.
             
6. 86 113 5050 3 220 Roll damper "OFF." Perform moderate dv pulse.
             
7. 95 120 5000 3 160 Pullup to a = 15°, perform dv pulse.
             
8. 129 130 4700 15 90 Peak altitude, extend speed brakes to 20°, perform dv pulses, at pilot's discretion.
             
9. 201 97 4050 15 300 Hdot = -400 fps, pushover to » 10° a, maintain Hdot = -400 fps. Engage ASAS, perform dv pulses.
             
10. 245 80 3500 8 525 Roll damper to "Low" gain, Yaw damper to "High" gain - disengage ASAS - Pitch damper "OFF," perform moderate dh pulse.
             
11 271 70 3000 8 650 Pitch damper to "High" gain, Arm ASAS, Vector to High Key, Speed brakes as required.
             
12.           High key - Check flap and "Squat" circuit breakers in.
             
13.           Before APU shutdown, cycle flaps, set stabilizer trim to zero, data "OFF."

 

NOTES:

1. q vernier will be set at 30°, a crosspointer will null at 15°.

2. Emergency Lakes: Grapevine and Cuddeback.

3. Flight Duration: Approximately 10 minutes.

4. Flight plan based on 60,000# thrust engine.

Total burn time at 100% = 78.5 sec.

Launch wt. = 32,800#, Burnout wt. = 15,000#.

 GROUND RULES FOR NO LAUNCH: 1. Radio, Radar or TM malfunction.

2. Malfunction of any SAS channel.

3. Malfunction of inertial attitudes or velocity.

4. Total Ball Nose failure.

5. APU gearbox pressurization malfunction.

 ALTERNATE SITUATIONS AFTER LAUNCH:
 
 
Failure
  
Action
       
1. Radio or Radar   Proceed as planned.
       
2. Total Pitch Damper

Total Yaw Damper

   Maintain a > 0°, proceed as planned.
       
3. Total Roll Damper   Same as 2 except turn Yaw Damper off.
       
4. Attitude Failure   Use 4 1/2° a in place of 30° q. 
       
5. Ball Nose   Proceed, rotate at 2g to 30° q, do not disengage dampers or pullup after shutdown. Heading vernier to "·y."
       
6. Delayed engine light   Pushover to zero g at 2800 fps (H = 60,500 ft).
       
7. Inadvertent engine shutdown:

00 - 39 sec. Mud Lake

39 - 62 sec. Grapevine (2500 fps)

62 - 67 sec. Cuddeback (4100 fps)

67 - Up Edwards (4500 fps)