Northrop M2-F3
The Northrop M2-F3 was a heavyweight lifting body rebuilt from the Northrop M2-F2 after it crashed at the Dryden Flight Research Center in 1967. The "M" refers to "manned" and "F" refers to "flight" version.
Early flight testing of the M2-F1 and M2-F2 lifting body re-entry configurations had validated the concept of piloted lifting body re-entry from space. When the M2-F2 crashed on 10 May 1967, valuable information had already been obtained and was contributing to new designs.
NASA pilots said the M2-F2 had lateral control problems, so when it was rebuilt at Northrop and redesignated the M2-F3, it was modified with an additional third vertical fin - centred between the tip fins - to improve control characteristics.
After a three-year-long redesign and rebuilding effort, the 2.3-tonne (empty) M2-F3 was ready to fly. The May 1967 crash had torn off the left fin and landing gear. It had also damaged the external skin and internal structure. Flight Research Center engineers worked with Ames Research Center and the Air Force in redesigning the vehicle with a centre fin to provide greater stability. At first, it seemed that the vehicle had been irreparably damaged, but the original manufacturer, Northrop, did the repair work and returned the redesigned M2-F3 with a centre fin for stability to the FRC.
While the M2-F3 was still demanding to fly, the centre fin eliminated the high risk of pilot induced oscillation (PIO) that had been characteristic of the M2-F2.
First flight of the M2-F3, with NASA pilot Bill Dana at the controls, was 2 June 1970. The modified vehicle exhibited much better lateral stability and control characteristics than before, and only three glide flights were necessary before the first powered flight on 25 November 1970. The 100th flight of the heavyweight lifting bodies was completed on 5 October 1972, with pilot Bill Dana soaring to an altitude of 20,200m and a Mach number of 1.370 in the M2-F3. Over its 27 missions, the M2-F3 reached a top speed of 1,064 mph (Mach 1.6). Highest altitude reached by the vehicle was 20,790m on 20 December 1972, the date of its last flight, with NASA pilot John Manke at the controls.
A reaction control thruster (RCT) system, similar to that on orbiting spacecraft, was also installed to obtain research data about their effectiveness for vehicle control. As the M2-F3's portion of the lifting body programme neared an end, it evaluated a rate command augmentation control system, and a side-arm control stick similar to side-arm controllers now used on many modern aircraft.
NASA donated the M2-F3 vehicle to the Smithsonian Institution in December 1973. It is seen above hanging in the foyer of the National Air and Space Museum on the Mall in Washington DC. - details from Wikipedia.
Northrop M2-F3
The Northrop M2-F3 was a heavyweight lifting body rebuilt from the Northrop M2-F2 after it crashed at the Dryden Flight Research Center in 1967. The "M" refers to "manned" and "F" refers to "flight" version.
Early flight testing of the M2-F1 and M2-F2 lifting body re-entry configurations had validated the concept of piloted lifting body re-entry from space. When the M2-F2 crashed on 10 May 1967, valuable information had already been obtained and was contributing to new designs.
NASA pilots said the M2-F2 had lateral control problems, so when it was rebuilt at Northrop and redesignated the M2-F3, it was modified with an additional third vertical fin - centred between the tip fins - to improve control characteristics.
After a three-year-long redesign and rebuilding effort, the 2.3-tonne (empty) M2-F3 was ready to fly. The May 1967 crash had torn off the left fin and landing gear. It had also damaged the external skin and internal structure. Flight Research Center engineers worked with Ames Research Center and the Air Force in redesigning the vehicle with a centre fin to provide greater stability. At first, it seemed that the vehicle had been irreparably damaged, but the original manufacturer, Northrop, did the repair work and returned the redesigned M2-F3 with a centre fin for stability to the FRC.
While the M2-F3 was still demanding to fly, the centre fin eliminated the high risk of pilot induced oscillation (PIO) that had been characteristic of the M2-F2.
First flight of the M2-F3, with NASA pilot Bill Dana at the controls, was 2 June 1970. The modified vehicle exhibited much better lateral stability and control characteristics than before, and only three glide flights were necessary before the first powered flight on 25 November 1970. The 100th flight of the heavyweight lifting bodies was completed on 5 October 1972, with pilot Bill Dana soaring to an altitude of 20,200m and a Mach number of 1.370 in the M2-F3. Over its 27 missions, the M2-F3 reached a top speed of 1,064 mph (Mach 1.6). Highest altitude reached by the vehicle was 20,790m on 20 December 1972, the date of its last flight, with NASA pilot John Manke at the controls.
A reaction control thruster (RCT) system, similar to that on orbiting spacecraft, was also installed to obtain research data about their effectiveness for vehicle control. As the M2-F3's portion of the lifting body programme neared an end, it evaluated a rate command augmentation control system, and a side-arm control stick similar to side-arm controllers now used on many modern aircraft.
NASA donated the M2-F3 vehicle to the Smithsonian Institution in December 1973. It is seen above hanging in the foyer of the National Air and Space Museum on the Mall in Washington DC. - details from Wikipedia.