X-15 FLIGHT REQUEST

Flight No.: 3-40-63 Scheduled Date: January 28, 1965

Pilot: Capt. Joe Engle

Purpose: To obtain data for the following programs:
 

1. Ablation (Martin 25S on ventral fin and nose panel) - (Joe Watts)

2. Skin Friction - (Darwin Garringer)

3. MH-96 Fixed Gain Evaluation - (Jim Welsh)

4. Nose Gear Modification Checkout - (Dick Rosecrans)

5. Boundary layer noise - (Tom Lewis)


Instrumentation Engineer: Febo Bartoli

Launch: Delamar Lake #1 on a magnetic heading of 214°, MH-96 Adaptive, R.C. "OFF," BCS "OFF," heading vernier to "Standby," ventral off.

Launch point coordinates: 37° 18' N, 114° 36' W.
 
 
 No. Time  Alt  V   a q            Event
             
1. 0 45 790 2 145 Launch, light engine, increase to 100%T. Rotate at 11° a until q = 30°.
             
2. 23 47 1500 11 500 q = 30° - Maintain q = 30°.
             
3. 38 60 2300 4 600 Pushover to zero "g."
             
4. 65 84 4100 0 600 Extend speed brakes to 35°.
             
5. 82.5 93 5640 0 700 Burnout. Maintain a = 0.
             
6. 90 94 5400 0 620 Peak altitude.
             
7. 95 93.5 5300 0 620 Retract speed brakes. Adjust rate of descent to hold q » 620 psf. (H dot » 150 fps, a » 4°).
             
8. 200 80 3900 4 650 Maintain H = 80,000 ft.
             
9. 210 80 3700 5 600 Perform moderate pitch pulse. Switch to fixed gain in pitch and repeat pitch pulse, then switch to pitch adaptive.
             
10. 230 80 3400 5 500 Roll to 45° right bank, then roll level. Switch to fixed gain in roll and repeat roll maneuver, then switch to roll adaptive.
             
11. 250 80 3200 6 450 50 miles out. Switch to fixed gain in pitch, descend at » 200 fps.
             
12. 300 69 2600 4 500 Cuddeback, vector to high key, speed brakes as required. Engine Master "OFF." Make calibrate pulse.
             
13.           High Key - check flap and "Squat" circuit breakers in. Exp. Switch "OFF." Fly approach and landing with pitch in fixed gain at pilot's discretion.
             
14.           Before APU shutdown, cycle flaps, set stabilizer trim to zero, data "Off."

 

Notes:

1. q vernier will be set at 30°, a cross-pointer null at 5°.

2. Emergency lakes: Hidden Hills and Cuddeback.

3. Flight duration: Approximately 11 minutes.

4. Flight plan based on 59,500lb thrust - Engine #103.

Total burn time at 100% = 82.5 sec.

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

Ground jettison check.


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.
 

 Alternate Situations After Launch:
  Failure   Action
       
1. Radio or Radar   Proceed as planned.
       
2. Total Pitch/Roll Damper   Turn Yaw OFF, maintain a > 0, proceed as planned.
       
3. Total Yaw Damper

Fixed Gain in any axis

   Proceed as planned.
       
4. Attitude   Proceed as planned except use 5° a in place of 30° q.
       
5. Ball Nose   Heading vernier to ·y, proceed, use 2 g for rotation.
       
6. Delayed engine light   Pushover to 0 "g" at H = 55,000 ft.

 

7. Inadvertent engine shutdown:

0 - 45 sec Delamar

45 - 66 sec Hidden Hills (2700 fps)

66 - 71 sec Cuddeback (4200 fps)

71 - Up sec Edwards (4600 fps)