X-15 FLIGHT REQUEST

Flight No.: 2-37-64 Scheduled Date : April 15, 1965

Pilot: John B. McKay

Purpose : To obtain data for the following programs:

1. Landing Gear Loads - (Dick Rosecrans)

(checkout of main gear hook modification)

2. Landing Dynamics - (Jim McKay)

3. Stability & Control Evaluation - (Glenn Robinson)

4. Star Tracker Functional Checkout - (Lovic Thomas)

Instrumentation Engineer - Paul Harney

Launch: Hidden Hills #1 on magnetic heading 235°, SAS Hi-Lo-Hi (8-4-8), ASAS Armed, heading vernier "Standby," both BCS "OFF," RAS "OFF."

Launch point coordinates: 35° 55' N; 115° 38' W.

No. Time Alt V a q Event

1. 0 45 790 0 145 Launch, light engine, increase to 100%T. Rotate at 10° a (» 1.8g) until q = 20°.

2. 22 46 1700 10 630 q = 20°. Maintain q = 20°.

3. 35 51 2200 5 820 Extend speed brakes to 35°.

4. 55 64 3000 4 850 Pushover to zero "g."

5. 83 82 4700 0 850 Shutdown, retract speed brakes, hold zero g until H-dot » -200 fps.

6. 100 84 4400 2 680 Roll to = 60° left bank, increase a to 10°, maintain 10° a (g » 2.0) and H-dot = -200 fps.

7. 129 79 3800 10 650 Roll level on a heading of 220° and maintain H-dot = -200 fps.

8. 141 78 3600 4 610 Disengage ASAS, pitch dampers "OFF," perform pitch pulse - pitch damper "Hi."

9. 156 74 3400 5 680 Yaw and roll dampers "OFF," perform rudder pulse, roll to "Lo," yaw to "Hi."

10. 169 72 3200 5 660 Pitch damper "OFF," perform pitch pulse - pitch damper "Hi."

11. 179 71 3000 5 610 Yaw and roll dampers "OFF," perform rudder pulse, roll to "Lo," yaw to "Hi," arm ASAS.

12. 192 68 2800 5 615 Cuddeback, extend speed brakes, acquire Star Tracker attitudes using Star Tracker attitude indicator.

13. 207 65 2500 5 570 Star Tracker "ON" (20 sec. cycle).

14. 227 58.5 1900 6 415 Star Tracker off (actuate door override switch), 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, turn Star Tracker to cage, then standby, data off.

Notes:

1. q vernier will be set at 20°, a crosspointer will null at 0°.

2. Star Tracker null positions are: Heading = 220°, q = -3°

Roll (f) = 0°.

3. Emergency Lakes: Silver and Cuddeback.

4. Flight duration: Approximately 8 min.

5. Flight plan based on 59,000# thrust - engine #111

Total burn time at 100% = 84.5 sec.

Launch weight = 34,600#, burnout weight = 16,450#

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.

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 60,000 ft. 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 1/2° a in place of 20° q at 22 sec.

6. Ball Nose Rotate at 1.8g 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 - 35 sec Hidden Hills

35 - 55 sec Silver (2200 fps)

55 - 65 sec Cuddeback (3000 fps)

65 - Up sec Edwards (3500 fps)


1.	0	45	790	0	145	Launch, light engine, increase to 100%T. Rotate at 10° a (» 1.8g) until q = 20°.

2.	22	46	1700	10	630	q = 20°. Maintain q = 20°.

3.	35	51	2200	5	820	Extend speed brakes to 35°.

4.	55	64	3000	4	850	Pushover to zero "g."

5.	83	82	4700	0	850	Shutdown, retract speed brakes, hold zero g until H-dot » -200 fps.

6.	100	84	4400	2	680	Roll to = 60° left bank, increase a to 10°, maintain 10° a (g » 2.0) and H-dot = -200 fps.

7.	129	79	3800	10	650	Roll level on a heading of 220° and maintain H-dot = -200 fps.

8.	141	78	3600	4	610	Disengage ASAS, pitch dampers "OFF," perform pitch pulse - pitch damper "Hi."

9.	156	74	3400	5	680	Yaw and roll dampers "OFF," perform rudder pulse, roll to "Lo," yaw to "Hi."

10.	169	72	3200	5	660	Pitch damper "OFF," perform pitch pulse - pitch damper "Hi."

11.	179	71	3000	5	610	Yaw and roll dampers "OFF," perform rudder pulse, roll to "Lo," yaw to "Hi," arm ASAS.

12.	192	68	2800	5	615	Cuddeback, extend speed brakes, acquire Star Tracker attitudes using Star Tracker attitude indicator.

13.	207	65	2500	5	570	Star Tracker "ON" (20 sec. cycle).

14.	227	58.5	1900	6	415	Star Tracker off (actuate door override switch), 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, turn Star Tracker to cage, then standby, data off.


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 60,000 ft. 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 1/2° a in place of 20° q at 22 sec.

6.	Ball Nose	Rotate at 1.8g 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).