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Author
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Topic: X-15: B-52 "mothership" launch aircraft
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bisiauxt
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posted 02-17-2012 04:04 AM
   
Is there a place where I can find the crew (at least the pilot) of the B-52 "mothership" launch aircraft for the X-15 and lifting body flights? |
hoorenz
Member Posts: 1031
From: The Netherlands
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 02-17-2012 05:03 AM
The book "At the Edge of Space" (1992) by Milton Thompson has a complete list of X-15 crews and chase pilots. |
micropooz
Member Posts: 1512
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 02-17-2012 05:34 AM
In addition to Milt's book, you can also find that log in "X-15 Extending the Frontiers of Flight", by Dennis R. Jenkins, NASA SP-2007-562.I've not seen a log of the lifting body motherplane pilots. |
albatron
Member Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 02-17-2012 08:33 AM
The book Dennis recommends is the best reference for the X-15 mothership crews. Not many are left. I too have been looking for a list of the Lifting Body drop pilots. So far I've found 3; George Luck, Dale Ranz and one other (I can't recall at the moment), but no list. |
bisiauxt
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posted 02-17-2012 10:23 AM
Big thank you all! I have just downloaded the book of Dennis Jenkins. It is a bible. All I dream to find is inside... and much more.Al, if you remember the third one you had in mind, don't hesitate to email. |
micropooz
Member Posts: 1512
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 02-17-2012 08:25 PM
I have Bruce J. Hinds as the motherplane pilot for the Dec 17, 1974 X-24B flight (I think this may be Albatron's third pilot - he and I corresponded about this several years ago).I also have a Tom Higgins as the motherplane pilot for the last X-24B flight, Nov. 28, 1975. These are the only two lifting body flights on which I have any motherplane info. |
bobslittlebro
Member Posts: 179
From: Douglasville, Ga U.S.A.
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 02-18-2012 04:16 AM
If you look on Bob Mcleod's website he has some of the autographs of X-24B mothership pilots. Dick Scobee was one of the mothership pilots on X-24B flights as well.And if my memory serves me well Charlie Bock, Fitz Fulton, and Al White also were X-15 mothership pilots. |
Bob M
Member Posts: 1746
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 02-18-2012 07:42 AM
Concerning the X-24B Lifting Body Mothership pilots, several of us had a discussion about this back in June 2010 and did assemble a list that we believe is accurate, but surely not complete. A nice lady at the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, Paula Smith, even contributed, as she contacted at least two of the pilots, Mike King and Bruce Hinds, for additional names. Hinds supplied the name of Jerry Bowline, and Mike King contacted me directly to confirm that he was one of the mothership pilots. So here's a list that we have put together so far and do believe it to be accurate: - Tom Higgins
- George Luck
- Mike King
- Dale Ranz
- Bruce Hinds
- Paul Skabo
- Ted Sturmthal
- Dick Scobee
- Jerry Bowline (going by Hinds' info)
As far as autographs of these pilots, I know of autographs of all except Jerry Bowline and most of these pilots were very gracious about signing for years. |
albatron
Member Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 02-18-2012 10:05 PM
quote:
Originally posted by bisiauxt:
Al, if you remember the third one you had in mind, don't hesitate to email.
Dennis of course, is much younger than me and has a much better memory.  That would have been #4. Paul Skabo was the third I was thinking of.I forgot all about Bob McLeod's wonderful website sorry! By the way, Paul Skabo agreed to sign some of my items about two years ago, and even with a follow up letter has not returned them. Does anyone have any idea his health or had a success with him? |
micropooz
Member Posts: 1512
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 02-19-2012 05:54 AM
Thanks for the kind words about my age and memory, Art...er, um, Al! |
bisiauxt
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posted 02-22-2012 08:57 AM
I have just found this bulletin from Dryden from December 31 2004.It is dedicated to NB-52B retirement. On page 4, 5 and 7 one can find a list of pilot, co-pilot and launch panel operators of the NB-52B. Maybe do you know this document, I find it interesting. |
albatron
Member Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 02-22-2012 02:21 PM
Those are names of both X-15 drop pilots and lifting bodies drop pilots and panel operators for both programs. It's good stuff, but I wish they had designated who the panel operators were. Thanks for this! |
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