X-15 FLIGHT REQUEST

Flight No.: 3-6-10 Scheduled Date: June 21, 1962

Pilot: Major Robert White

Subject of test: Contractual Demonstration of MH-96 FCS.

Launch: Delamar on a heading of 205° with MH-96 FCS on Adaptive Damper, FCS Reaction Controls "off" and both BCS "on."
 
 
 No. Time  Alt  V   a q            Event
             
1. 0 45 790 1.5 145 Launch using side stick, light engine and increase to 100%. Rotate using side stick trim (approx -5) to q = 37°, a = 15°, g ».2.5. Do not exceed 3 "g."
             
2. 25 50 1700 10 440 Engage f Hold with heading 205° and f » 0° and at q = 37° trim zero pitch rate and engage q Hold, trim q = 37°.
             
3.* 60 100 3700 6 200 *FCS reaction controls "Auto."
             
4.* 80 148 5400 7 60 *Shutdown engine and engage a Hold. Trim a < 10°.
             
5.* 115 220 5000 8 4 *Disengage Hold modes and fly manually (right stick) to maintain heading, f » 0° and q » 0°. Ball nose will be unreliable.
             
6. 165 250 4700     At peak altitude, set q » 0°, engage q Hold and maintain q = 0° until a » 20° and is reliable. (dh » 25°)
             
7. 210 220 4900 20 5 When a is reliable, engage a Hold and trim a = 20° for entry. (dh » 25°)
             
8. 250 130 5400 20 120 At 1 "g" turn FCS reaction controls "off" and maintain a = 20° until 5.5 "g." If "g" limiting has not occurred, decrease a to maintain 5.5 "g" maximum.
             
9. 280 80 4000 17 650 When level, disengage a Hold and push over to zero "g" and engage f Hold at f » 0°.
             
10. 300 80 3500 3 480 Start a space positioning turn f < 60° and hold turn for 10°, then release the control. (Heading Hold check) Jettison as desired (H2O2 OFF)
             
11.           Disengage Hold modes and use CSS for turn to high key.
             
12.           High Key. Check ventral armed and pressurize tanks.
             
13.           Low key approach speed 300 KIAS, land at 2-mile marker.
             
14.           After touchdown, disengage MH-96 FCS.
             
15.           Before APU shutdown, cycle controls, flaps up, trim stabilizer zero, push to test ball nose and data off.

Notes:

1. q vernier will be set at 37°, a cross-pointer null at 20°.

2. Duration of flight approximately 11 minutes.

3. Emergency lakes: Delamar, Hidden Hills and Cuddeback.

 Ground Rules for No Launch: 1. FCS malfunction as indicated in attached sheets. (FCS must be full adaptive for launch)

2. Stable platform malfunction in attitudes.

3. Ball nose malfunction.

4. Radio, radar, microwave failure.

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

2. For delayed engine light, proceed as planned but maintain less than 3g during rotation, add 2 sec to the shutdown time.

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

4. For FCS failure to fixed gain damper in yaw, proceed as planned, attempt to reengage damper and turn FCS reaction controls to "ON."

5. For total yaw damper failure, proceed but do not increase a above 15°. Attempt to reengage damper. Make entry with speed brakes open. Use b-dot if necessary.

6. For FCS failure to fixed gain in pitch or roll, push over to zero "g" at 60 sec. Use speed brakes open for entry at a between 13° and 20°.

7. For total FCS failure in pitch or roll, push over to zero g at 60, speed brakes open, enter at a > 8°..

8. For ball nose or attitude failure, do not use Hold modes, push over at 60 sec., open speed brakes and continue to Edwards, enter with dh » 20°.

9. For inadvertent engine shutdown prior to:

 0 - 40 sec Return to Delamar.

40 - 48 sec

48 - 65 sec Hidden Hills.

65 - 70 sec Cuddeback.

70 - Up sec Edwards.

Only one engine start may be attempted - for any emergency situation requiring a turn, jettison will be started as soon as positive "g" is attained.