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astronautix.com M2-F2
M2F2 lifting body
M2F2 lifting body
M2F2 lifting body / F-104N chase plane

Credit: NASA. 21,785 bytes. 505 x 336 pixels.

Class: Manned. Type: Spaceplane. Nation: USA. Manufacturer: Northrop.

The least stable of the lifting body designs. The 'flying bathtub' had a rounded belly / flat top layout as opposed to the flat belly / rounded top of the other designs. The original M2-F1 was a plywood glider towed from pickup trucks and C-47 transports as part of an 'in house' NASA Edwards project in 1963. The M2-F2 was built by Northrop at the same time as the HL-10 to permit a 'flyoff' of the two competing designs. The M2-F2 crashed on 10 May 1967, seriously injuring the test pilot (the footage became familiar to millions when it was used in the opening credits of the television series 'The Six Million Dollar Man').

Specification

M2-F2 Chronology

01 September 1962 M2-F1 lifting body first flight.

The lifting body concept was first tested at Dryden with a plywood prototype designated the M2-F1 built in late 1962. It featured a plywood shell built by Gus Briegleb, a sailplane builder from Mirage Dry Lake, Calif., placed over a tubular frame built at Dryden. The M2-F1 was towed aloft, first behind an auto and then a C-47 more than 100 times, to validate basic lifting body stability and control characteristics. This led to establishment of the formal program which resulted in the HL-10, M2-F2, M2-F3, X-24A, and X-24B lifting bodies.

MS-F2 after crashMS-F2 after crash - MS-F2 after near-fatal crash on landing

Credit: NASA. 40,891 bytes. 485 x 319 pixels.

02 July 1966 M2 Flight 1 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Thompson.

First flight M2-F2. Maximum Speed - 727 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13720 m. Flight Time - 217 sec.

09 July 1966 M2 Flight 2 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Thompson.

Maximum Speed - 634 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13720 m. Flight Time - 245sec.

12 August 1966 M2 Flight 3 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Thompson.

Maximum Speed - 656 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13720 m. Flight Time - 278 sec.

24 August 1966 M2 Flight 4 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Thompson.

Maximum Speed - 718 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13720 m. Flight Time - 241 sec.

02 September 1966 M2 Flight 5 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Thompson.

M2F1 / M2F2M2F1 / M2F2 - M2F1 / M2F2 lifting bodies

Credit: NASA. 27,603 bytes. 505 x 227 pixels.

Maximum Speed - 750 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13720 m. Flight Time - 226sec.
16 September 1966 M2 Flight 6 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Peterson Bruce.

360 degree approach. Maximum Speed - 750 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13720 m. Flight Time - 210 sec.

20 September 1966 M2 Flight 7 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Sorlie.

Maximum Speed - 677 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13720 m. Flight Time - 211 sec.

22 September 1966 M2 Flight 8 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Peterson Bruce.

Maximum Speed - 702 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13720 m. Flight Time - 233 sec.

28 September 1966 M2 Flight 9 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Sorlie.

Maximum Speed - 713 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13720 m. Flight Time - 233 sec.

05 October 1966 M2 Flight 10 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Sorlie.

Maximum Speed - 713 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13720 m. Flight Time - 225 sec.

12 October 1966 M2 Flight 11 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Gentry.

Maximum Speed - 692 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13720 m. Flight Time - 234 sec.

26 October 1966 M2 Flight 12 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Gentry.

Maximum Speed - 702 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13720 m. Flight Time - 227 sec.

14 November 1966 M2 Flight 13 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Gentry.

Maximum Speed - 642 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13720 m. Flight Time - 261 sec.

21 November 1966 M2 Flight 14 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Gentry.

Maximum Speed - 716 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13720 m. Flight Time - 230 sec.

02 May 1967 M2 Flight 15 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Gentry.

Maximum Speed - 661 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13720 m. Flight Time - 231 sec.

10 May 1967 M2 Flight 16 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Peterson Bruce.

Landing accident. Maximum Speed - 648 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13720 m. Flight Time - 223 sec.

Bibliography:

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Last update 12 March 2001.
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© Mark Wade, 2001 .