Accession Number:

AD0856451

Title:

Flight Planning and Conduct of the X-15A-2 Envelope Expansion Program

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. 25 Jun 1964-3 Oct 1967

Corporate Author:

AIR FORCE FLIGHT TEST CENTER EDWARDS AFB CA

Personal Author(s):

• Armstrong, Johnny G.

Report Date:

1969-07-01

Pagination or Media Count:

98.0

Abstract:

After having been extensively damaged during an emergency landing on its thirty-first flight November 9, 1962, the X-15-2 aircraft was rebuilt and modifications were incorporated to increase the vehicle performance capability to allow flight testing of a hypersonic ramjet engine. The increased performance was derived from additional propellants contained in two external drop tanks. The modified propellant system with the external tanks was satisfactorily developed on a ground test stand and performed adequately during flight. The ablative material developed to protect the aircraft against temperatures exceeding the original aircraft design appeared to perform satisfactorily on the two fully coated flights flown. On the last flight of this aircraft, the vehicle achieved a maximum Mach number of 6.7.

Descriptors:

• *RAMJET ENGINES
• FLIGHT TESTING
• ABLATION
• DAMAGE
• AMMONIA
• OXYGEN
• ALUMINUM
• EXTERNAL STORES
• LIQUID PROPELLANT ROCKET ENGINES
• HELIUM
• MACH NUMBER
• AERODYNAMIC HEATING
• HYPERSONIC AIRCRAFT
• WIND TUNNEL MODELS
• LANDING GEAR
• HEAT RESISTANT MATERIALS
• JETTISONABLE EQUIPMENT
• SOLID ROCKET PROPELLANTS
• PROPELLANT TANKS
• HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
• SUSTAINER ENGINES
• LIQUEFIED GASES

Subject Categories:

• Research and Experimental Aircraft
• Jet and Gas Turbine Engines

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE