X-15 FLIGHT REQUEST

Flight No.: 2-C-53 Scheduled Date : June 9, 1964

Pilot: Major R. Rushworth

Subject of Test : Aircraft systems checkout in captive flight.

Ground Track: As indicated on attached map.

  Procedure:

1. B-52 will make a normal takeoff and climbout to arrive at southern tip of Rosamond Lake at approximately 30,000 ft. This will be 31 minutes to the simulated launch point.

2. Flight will proceed according to X-15-2 Flight Check List, dated May 20, 1964, up through Igniter Idle.

3. After Igniter Idle, proceed with Alternate Plan (No Launch). B-52 will continue flying the race track pattern until completion of Alternate Plan, then vector to the downwind leg for landing.

4. At an altitude of 10,000 feet and approximately 280 Knots I.A.S., X-15 pilot will extend the X-15 landing gear.

 
 


 
 

X-15 FLIGHT REQUEST

Flight No.: 2-32-54 Scheduled Date : June 10, 1964

Pilot: Major R. Rushworth

Subject of Test : Aircraft checkout and stability at low angles of attack.

Launch: Hidden Hills #2 on magnetic heading 227°, SAS Hi-Lo-Hi (8-4-8), ASAS ARMED, heading vernier (Standby), both BCS "OFF," RAS "OFF," ventral off.

Launch point coordinates: 35° 58' N; 115° 39' W.
 
 
 No.   Time  Alt  V a  q   Event
             
1. 0 45 790 2 145 Launch, light engine, increase to 100%T. Rotate at 10° a (» 1.8g) until q = 20°.
             
2. 21 46 1700 10 630 q = 20°. Maintain q = 20°.
             
3. 29 49 2000 5 760 Extend speed brakes to 35°.
             
4. 51 64 2850 4 760 Pushover to zero g. (H-dot » 800 fps).
             
5. 78 80 4500 0 880 Shut down, retract speed brakes, increase a to » 4° to maintain 80,000 ft.
             
6. 91 80 4200 4 760 Disengage ASAS, Yaw and Roll dampers "OFF," perform rudder pulse. Roll "Lo," Yaw "Hi."
             
7. 108 80 4000 5 700 Pitch damper to low gain (4), perform pitch pulse.
             
8. 118 80 3800 5 620 Pitch damper "OFF," perform pitch pulse. Pitch damper "Hi."
             
9. 130 80 3600 5 570 Set up rate of descent of » 250 fps.
             
10. 150 75 3400 5 650 Yaw and Roll dampers "OFF," perform rudder pulse. Roll "Lo," Yaw "Hi."
             
11. 167 71 3200 5 680 Pitch damper "OFF," perform pitch pulse. Pitch damper "Hi."
             
12. 182 68 3000 5 700 Cuddeback, extend speed brakes to 35°, increase rate of descent to » 400 fps.
             
13. 195 62 2600 3 700 Yaw and Roll dampers "OFF," perform rudder pulse. Roll "Lo," Yaw "Hi."
             
14. 209 57 2200 3 630 Pitch damper "OFF," perform pitch pulse. Pitch damper "Hi," ARM ASAS, vector to High Key, speed brakes as required.
             
15.           High Key - check flap and "squat" circuit breakers in.
             
16.           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 Lakes: Silver and Cuddeback.

3. Flight duration: Approximately 8 min.

4. Flight plan based on 60,000# thrust - engine #106

Total burn time at 100% = 84 sec.

Launch weight = 34,000#, burnout weight = 16050#

(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. 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   Proceed as planned. Manipulate Roll and Yaw dampers at pilot's discretion.
       
3. Total Yaw Damper   Proceed as planned except pushover to 2° a at 51 sec. instead of zero g.
       
4. Total Roll Damper   Same as 3 except turn Yaw damper "OFF." Manipulate Pitch damper at pilot's discretion.
       
5. Attitude Failure   Use 4° a in place of 20° q at 21 sec.
       
6. Ball Nose   Rotate at 1.8 g instead of 10° a. Do not disengage dampers.
       
7. Delayed engine lite   Pushover to zero g at H = 63,000 ft. (H-dot » 850 fps).

8. Inadvertent engine shutdown

0 - 29 sec Hidden Hills

29 - 54 sec Silver (2000 fps)

54 - 61 sec Cuddeback (3000 fps)

61 - Up sec Edwards (3400 fps)