X-15 OPERATIONS FLIGHT REPORT

FLIGHT NO: 3-45-69 DATE OF REPORT: 7-28-65

PILOT: Maj. Rushworth DATE OF FLIGHT: 7-20-65

CARRIER AIRCRAFT: B-52 #008 LAUNCH LAKE: Delamar

ENGINE NO: S/N 107 APU #1 14 APU #2 21

PURPOSE OF FLIGHT: 1. Boundary Layer Noise

I. Discussion of Previous Operations

A. Functional testing of the cabin pressure regulators removed after flight 3-44-68 and 3-A-69 showed that both would hang up on initial climb to altitude if the altitude was raised slowly similar to B-52 rate-of-climb. They would not always hang up if they were taken to altitude fast. Bench check procedures are being revised to specify rate-of-climb. II. Aircraft Configuration Changes A. The Vicon APU tank bladder installed for the last flight was changed to a Teflon tank bladder (the other bladder was already Teflon). This allows the same procedures to be used on both systems.

B. The lightweight tail cone was installed.

C. The enlarged cabin pressure regulator sense line was accomplished per sketch #1536.

D. A complete periodic x-ray of the wings, wing attach points, and horizontals was accomplished.

E. The cabin regulator, dump valve, and dump valve micro switch were changed due to the cabin pressure problem experienced-on flight 3-44-68.

 III. Instrumentation Configuration Changes A. Some unused instrumentation equipment was removed from the elevator.

B. The tail cone experiments were removed.

C. The following boundary layer microphones were installed for this flight:

l. Rudder (on skin friction panel).

2. LH blowout panel.

3. Aft LH lower side fairing panel.

4. RH lower side fairing panel.

5. RH upper side fairing panel.

 IV Preflight Events A. Engine, APU, and BCS runs were made on July 9, 1965.

B. The aircraft was mated on July 12, 1965.

C. Abort 3-A-68 was flown on July 13, 1965. Flight was aborted due to failure of cabin pressurization.

D. The cabin regulator and canopy seal regulator were changed on July 14, 1965. Stabilizer A-11 was installed.

E. Flight was canceled for weather on July 15 and the mated aircraft taken to the M&M hangar. A cabin pressure regulator, checked at NAA on July 15, 1965, was installed.

F. Flight was canceled for weather on July 16 prior to leaving the M&M hangar. The aircraft remained inside for the weekend.

G. During the inertial platform check on July 16, the B-52 compass failed and was replaced.

 V. Flight Events A. The #l APU helium fill Schrader valve stripped during topoff at pilot entry. The Schrader valve was replaced and #l APU helium reserviced.

B. Flight 3-46-69 was accomplished on July 20, 1965 with no problems.
 

 Approved By: Prepared by:

Perry V. Row Vincent N. Capasso

X-15 Senior Project Engineer X-15 Project Engineer