X-15 FLIGHT REQUEST

Flight No.: 3-2-3

Pilot: Neil Armstrong

Subject of test: Evaluation of MH-96 FCS.

Airplane configuration: Basic X-15-3 with XLR-99 and MH-96 FCS

Launch: Mud Lake on a magnetic heading of 175°, MH-96 FCS on Adaptive Damper with reaction controls "off," BCS "on."

No. Time Alt V a Event

1. 0 45 790 - Launch using side stick, adaptive damper, light engine at 75%. Rotate at a » 10° to q = 30° using side stick trim command.

2. 30 50 1600 10 Maintain q = 30°, adjust roll trim if necessary and engage f Hold at f = 0°.

3. 50 70 2200 5 At t = 50 sec, pushover to a = 0° using side stick trim command. Check f Hold for 30° rolls. Use CSS button to change f reference to f > 10°, then back to f » 0°.

4. 80 95 3600 0 Engage q Hold and trim to q = 5°-10° and a » 5°.

5. 100 100 5000 5 At t = 100 sec, shut down engine and perform a rudder pulse. Check q Hold. Use CSS button to change reference to q » 15°, then trim to q » 10°.

6. 160 100 4500 10 Engage fixed gain dampers and perform pulses and step inputs.

7. 200 100 3800 15 Increase a to 15° and perform L and R rolls. Engage reaction controls and perform step inputs.

8. 230 98 3500 15 Extend speed brakes.

9. 260 95 3000 15 Engage adaptive dampers, disengage reaction controls and engage a Hold. Check a Hold during turn to high key.

10. 300 80 2000 10 Check low speed handling at 200-220 KIAS during maneuvers to high key - jettison.

11. High key, check ventral armed, tanks pressurized.

12. Low key - landing approach 300 KIAS.

13. Using side stick land at 2-mile marker.

14. After landing, disengage MH-96 FCS using console switch.

15. Before APU shutdown, cycle controls, retract flaps, set stabilizer to zero, push to test ball nose and turn all data off.

Notes:

1. Duration of flight approximately 11 minutes.

2. Emergency lakes: Mud Lake, Grapevine and Ballarat.

Ground Rules for No Launch: 1. MH-96 FCS airborne analyzer indications of malfunction in:

(a) Fixed gain damper

(b) Fail safe

(d) Test set

(e) Adaptive damper

(f) Redundant adaptive

2. Stable platform malfunction in attitudes.

3. Q-ball malfunction.

4. Radio or radar.

Alternate Situations Before Launch: 1. MH-96 FCS malfunctions in auto-pilot or reaction controls - proceed as planned, but do not operate affected FCS modes. Alternate Situations After Launch: 1. If engine does not light within 30 sec after launch, jettison and land at Mud Lake.

2. For delayed engine light, proceed as planned but maintain less than 3g during rotation.

3. For radio or radar failure, proceed as planned.

4. For inadvertent engine shutdown prior to:

(a) 50 sec - Return to Mud Lake.

(b) 50 - 80 sec - Proceed to Grapevine.

(d) More than 87 sec - Proceed to Rogers.

5. For adaptive damper failure to fixed gain damper in any axis, proceed as planned but do not use Hold modes in the affected axis. Attempt to reengage adaptive damper.

6. For total yaw damper failure, proceed as planned. Attempt to reengage damper.

7. For total pitch or roll damper failure:

(a) Prior to 30 sec, shutdown and return to Mud Lake.

(b) After 30 sec, proceed to Rogers, keeping a < 7°. Attempt to reengage damper. Reduce to 50% thrust.

8. For low pump inlet pressure, reduce to 50% thrust. Proceed to fuel exhaustion and do not use speed brakes.

9. For ball nose or attitude failure after launch, reduce to 50%, and proceed to fuel exhaustion. Do not use speed brakes or Hold modes.

Launch wt. 32,600lb Landing wt. 14,500lb

c.g. 20.3% c.g. 15%


1.	0	45	790	-	Launch using side stick, adaptive damper, light engine at 75%. Rotate at a » 10° to q = 30° using side stick trim command.

2.	30	50	1600	10	Maintain q = 30°, adjust roll trim if necessary and engage f Hold at f = 0°.

3.	50	70	2200	5	At t = 50 sec, pushover to a = 0° using side stick trim command. Check f Hold for 30° rolls. Use CSS button to change f reference to f > 10°, then back to f » 0°.

4.	80	95	3600	0	Engage q Hold and trim to q = 5°-10° and a » 5°.

5.	100	100	5000	5	At t = 100 sec, shut down engine and perform a rudder pulse. Check q Hold. Use CSS button to change reference to q » 15°, then trim to q » 10°.

6.	160	100	4500	10	Engage fixed gain dampers and perform pulses and step inputs.

7.	200	100	3800	15	Increase a to 15° and perform L and R rolls. Engage reaction controls and perform step inputs.

8.	230	98	3500	15	Extend speed brakes.

9.	260	95	3000	15	Engage adaptive dampers, disengage reaction controls and engage a Hold. Check a Hold during turn to high key.

10.	300	80	2000	10	Check low speed handling at 200-220 KIAS during maneuvers to high key - jettison.

11.					High key, check ventral armed, tanks pressurized.

12.					Low key - landing approach 300 KIAS.

13.					Using side stick land at 2-mile marker.

14.					After landing, disengage MH-96 FCS using console switch.

15.					Before APU shutdown, cycle controls, retract flaps, set stabilizer to zero, push to test ball nose and turn all data off.