X-15 FLIGHT REQUEST

Flight No.: 3-34-55 Scheduled Date: September 3, 1964

Pilot: Milton O. Thompson

Purpose: To obtain data for the following programs:

 
1. Surface distortion heat transfer test - (Joe Watts)

2. Boundary layer noise - (Carole Tanner)

3. Shear layer rakes - (Murray Palitz)

4. Center stick controller evaluation - (Glenn Robinson)


Launch: Hidden Hills on a magnetic heading of 230°, MH-96 Adaptive, R.C. "OFF," BCS "OFF," heading vernier to "Standby," ventral off.

Launch point coordinates: 35° 55' 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 until q = 20°.
             
2. 18 47 1500 10 450 q = 20° - Maintain q = 20°.
             
3. 42 59 2700 4 870 Pushover to 0 "g."
             
4. 72 75 4700 0 1200 Reduce to minimum thrust.
             
5. 74 75 4800 0 1250 Modulate speed brakes (»35°) to maintain slow longitudinal acceleration. Increase a to maintain H = 75,000 ft.
             
6. 92 75 5050 3 1400 Burnout. Retract speed brakes, maintain H = 75,000 ft.
             
7. 93 75 4800 3 1250 Roll to » 70° left bank, increase a to 9°, maintain H-dot » 0. (g » 3.0)
             
8. 117 75 4100 9 940 Pushover to a» 0°, roll level, set up rate of descent of » 200 fps. Change to center stick control.
             
9. 130 74 3850 0 870 Roll to » 60° right bank, increase a to 9°, maintain H-dot » -200 fps, vector to High Key (magnetic heading » 230°).
             
10. 152 67 3300 9 900 Roll level, speed brakes out, descend at » 300 fps. Return to side stick control.
             
11. 176 60 2400 4 650 Abeam 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 cross-pointer null at 3°.

2. Emergency lakes: Cuddeback.

3. Flight duration: Approximately 9 minutes.

4. Flight plan based on 59,900lb thrust engine.

(Minimum thrust = 31,800lb)

Total burn time at 100% = 83 sec.

Launch Wt. = 33,750lb Burnout Wt. = 15,500lb
 

 Ground Rules For No Launch:
  1. Radio, Radar, or TM malfunction.

2. FCS malfunctions as indicated on Analyzer check list.

3. Malfunction of Ball Nose.

4. Malfunction of inertial platform.

5. APU gear box malfunction.
 

 Alternate Situations After Launch:
  Failure   Action
       
1. Radio or Radar   Proceed as planned.
       
2. Total Pitch/Roll Damper   Turn Yaw OFF, maintain a > 0. Shutdown at 4500 fps, vector to High Key.
       
3. Total Yaw Damper

Fixed Gain in any axis

   Proceed as planned.
       
4. Attitude   Proceed as planned except use 4.5° a in place of 20° q at 20 seconds. Perform roll maneuvers at pilot's discretion.
       
5. Ball Nose   Heading vernier to ·y, proceed, use 1.6 g for rotation. Perform roll maneuvers at pilot's discretion.
       
6. Delayed engine light   Pushover to 0 g at H = 57,000 ft.

7. Inadvertent engine shutdown:

0 - 48 sec Hidden Hills

48 - 54 sec Cuddeback (3000 fps)

54 - Up sec Edwards (3400 fps)