X-15 FLIGHT REQUEST




Flight No.: 1-50-78 (Revised) Scheduled Date : October 2, 1964

Pilot: John B. McKay

Purpose of Flight: To obtain data for the following programs:
 

1. Honeywell inertial system check - (Mel Burke)

2. Tip-Pod dynamic stability - (Hal Walker)

3. Functional demonstration of Air Density and Sky Brightness experiments - (Jack Ehrenberger and Lovic Thomas)

4. Effects of Tip-Pod shock impingement on wing - (Dick Banner)


Instrumentation Engineer - (Don Yount)

Launch: Hidden Hills on magnetic heading 230°, SAS Hi-Lo-Hi (8-4-8), ASAS "ARMED", both BCS "OFF", RAS "OFF," heading vernier to "Standby," ventral OFF.

Launch Point Coordinates: 35° 55 N, 115° 39' W
 
 
 No. Time Alt Vel a q  Event
             
1. 0 45 790 2 145 Launch, light engine, increase to 100% T. Rotate at 10° a until q = 20°.
             
2. 18 46 1600 10 560 q = 20°. Maintain q = 20°.
             
3. 28 50 2000 5 730 Extend speed brakes to 35°.
             
4. 47 62 2750 4 780 Pushover to zero g. (Hdot » 800 fps)
             
5. 73 77 4300 0 930 Shutdown, retract speed brakes, increase a to » 4°, level at 80,000 ft.
             
6. 90 80 4000 4 700 Roll to » 60° left bank, increase a to 10°, maintain Hdot = 0 (g » 2.0). Turn to a magnetic heading of » 210°.
             
7. 120 80 3400 3 500 Roll to » 45° right bank, increase a to 10°, maintain Hdot = 0, vector to High Key (magnetic heading » 230°).
             
8. 142 80 3050 10 400 Roll level, descend at » 200 fps.
             
             

* Revision due to possible high temperatures from Tip-Pod shock impingement on wing.
 
             
9. 160 77 2850 5 410 At pilot's discretion, ASAS "OFF," Yaw and Roll dampers "OFF," perform moderate rudder pulse.
             
10. 180 71 2750 5 520 Roll damper "Lo," Yaw damper "Hi," Arm ASAS.
             
11 195 68 2600 5 530 Cuddeback, vector to High Key, speed brakes as required. Engine Master Off.
             
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 20°, a crosspointer will null at 0°.

2. Emergency Lake: Cuddeback.

3. Flight Duration: Approximately 8 minutes.

4. Flight plan based on 57,600# thrust engine - Engine #107.

Total burn time at 100% = 83.5 sec.

Launch wt. = 33,150#, Burnout wt. = 15,250#.

(300# allowed for in-flight jettison check)

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

2. Malfunction of any SAS channel.

3. Malfunction of inertial platform.

4. Malfunction of Ball Nose.

 ALTERNATE SITUATIONS AFTER LAUNCH:
 
 
Failure
  
Action
       
1. Radio or Radar   Proceed as planned.
       
2. Attitude Failure   Use 4.5° a in place of 20° q at 18 sec. Do not perform bank maneuvers.
       
3. Inertial Velocity   Pilot will shutdown at 72 sec. (V » 4225 fps). Do not perform roll maneuvers.
       
4. Total Pitch Damper   Proceed as planned. Manipulate Roll and Yaw dampers at pilot's discretion.
       
5. Total Yaw Damper   Proceed as planned, maintain a > 0°. Perform bank maneuvers at pilot's discretion.
       
6. Total Roll Damper   Same as 3 except turn Yaw damper "OFF."
       
7. Ball Nose   Rotate at 1.8 g instead of 10° a. Do not disengage dampers.
       
8. Delayed engine light   Proceed as planned.
       
9. Inadvertent engine shutdown:

00 - 47 sec. Hidden Hills

47 - 55 sec. Cuddeback (2800 fps)

55 - Up Edwards (3200 fps)