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Author
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Topic: X-15 rocketplane landings and overland transport
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LM-12
Member Posts: 3208
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 04-09-2014 11:12 PM
  
Most of the X-15 flights landed on the dry lakebeds at Edwards Air Force Base.Some X-15 flights had to make emergency landings at more remote lakebeds in California and Nevada. How did they get those aircraft back to Edwards? Did they use flatbed trailers? Was there a special trailer built for that purpose? |
Jurg Bolli
Member Posts: 977
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 04-11-2014 11:53 AM
Yes, they used trucks, and the book "Hypersonic" by Dennis Jenkins and Tony Landis has photos of these transports.By the way, this book is fabulous and a great reference for all things X-15. |
albatron
Member Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 04-16-2014 02:09 PM
Jurg, that is an excellent tome on the X-15, and he and Tony Landis did an awesome job on it.Dennis Jenkins has another one that is more technical but truly the bible for X-15 info. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3208
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 07-07-2015 03:25 PM
Great footage here showing some of the X-15 post-landing recovery activities at Edwards Air Force Base. I think it is Flight 56. |
Skythings
Member Posts: 243
From:
Registered: Jun 2014
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posted 07-08-2015 12:46 AM
Standing on the balcony at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington looking across at 66670 it looks so futuristic, high tech and space age. Watching this video made me realize just how simple and low tech these flights actually were in 1962. Six guys and a crane with 15 military brass supervising. The 1950's service vehicles and equipment really helped me understand just what an incredible feat the X-15 was for it's time. Thank you for that video. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3208
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 07-08-2015 01:59 AM
The remote X-15 landing locations required more equipment: Ferrying men and supplies to the contingency landing sites and High Range stations kept the NASA Douglas R4D (C-47/DC-3) Skytrain busy. In addition, the Air Force used Lockheed C-130 Hercules to move fire trucks and other heavy equipment. The C-130s also carried rescue teams during flight operations to ensure help would arrive swiftly in the event of a major accident. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3208
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 07-08-2015 10:21 AM
Why was the top part of the X-15 vertical stab removed before transport? Was it to access something? |
Skythings
Member Posts: 243
From:
Registered: Jun 2014
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posted 07-08-2015 01:42 PM
Tail too high to go under wires and bridges.
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LM-12
Member Posts: 3208
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 07-08-2015 09:33 PM
The Douglas R4D mentioned above had the NASA meatball logo. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3208
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 07-09-2015 12:42 PM
The NACA aircraft seen in this earlier 1958 photo about the "imperial ball" might be the same plane. Interesting how they tested the lakebed. Determining if a lakebed could support the weight of an X-15 and its support airplanes was a relatively non-technical endeavor. A large steel ball, nicknamed the "imperial ball" was dropped from a height of six feet and the resulting impression was measured. For most of the program, a diameter of 3.25 inches or less was considered acceptable to support operations. Neil Armstrong is kneeling beside the ball in this June 1958 photo at Hidden Hills. Armstrong joined NACA in 1955. |
sev8n
Member Posts: 234
From: Dallas TX USA
Registered: Jul 2012
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posted 07-10-2015 08:04 PM
Wonder what that works out to on the Brinell scale? |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3208
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 07-11-2015 10:40 AM
Here is an excellent diagram of the X-15 lakebed locations and radar tracking stations. |
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