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Author
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Topic: Fred Haise and the lifting body program
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alanh_7
Member Posts: 1252
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 08-06-2009 02:37 PM
   
I read somewhere that Fred Haise was briefly assigned to the lifting body program at Edwards and he flew the M2F1. Can anyone shed some light? |
albatron
Member Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 08-06-2009 07:36 PM
He did, and flew the R4D tow plane for the M2 F1 flights. |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 08-07-2009 06:38 AM
...and having sat next to him at the last ASF dinner, he is enthusiastic to discuss this program. "Wingless Flight" by R Dale Reed NASA SP 4220 covers some of his involvement. |
albatron
Member Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 08-07-2009 08:23 AM
He did this in prep for the ALT program of course. It is interesting how he considers his involvement in this and the ALT program as the pinnacle of his success, isn't it Paul?Kind of like Neil Armstrong more proud of his X-15 time. |
alanh_7
Member Posts: 1252
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 08-07-2009 08:47 AM
I had a chance to talk to Fred Haise last year at the ASF show but I had not realised he was involved in the lifting body program. I hope I get a chance to talk with him this year about it. I have always thought the lifting body series of aircraft were some of the more interesting research aircraft NASA and the Air Force developed. Thanks for the tip on "Wingless Flight". |
Bob M
Member Posts: 1746
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-07-2009 04:35 PM
A while back, several of us discussed exactly who flew the 1st Lifting Body, the M2-F1. Old records I had indicated that only seven pilots flew the M2-F1, however, accurate records indicate that there were actually ten M2-F1 pilots and one of them was Fred Haise. However, only 7 pilots flew actual unpowered glide flights, while the other three flew so-called ground tow flights. These ground towed flights involved having the M2-F1 remain tethered behind a souped-up Pontiac convertable at speeds up to 120 mph.Haise, Joe Engle and James W. Wood flew tethered, car-towed ground flights, while the other 7 flew glide flights after being towed to release altitude by a Navy R4D/C-47/civil DC-3 aircraft. Years ago, I had an M2-F3 cover autographed by the seven M2-F1 pilots who flew actual glide flights and here is that cover autographed by Yeager, Thompson, Dana, Peterson, Gentry, Mallick and Sorlie.  |
alanh_7
Member Posts: 1252
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 08-07-2009 07:57 PM
Wow that is a great piece!!! |
micropooz
Member Posts: 1512
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 08-07-2009 08:02 PM
Haise also flew chase for several X-15 missions in 1965. |
328KF
Member Posts: 1234
From:
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 08-07-2009 08:37 PM
Another book I highly recommend on this subject is "Flying Without Wings" by Milt Thompson and Curtis Peebles. It was published after Milt's passing in 1993 and is an excellent follow-on to his X-15 book "At the Edge of Space". |
alanh_7
Member Posts: 1252
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 08-07-2009 09:01 PM
quote:
Originally posted by micropooz:
Haise also flew chase for several X-15 missions in 1965.
Was Haise actually assigned to the X-15 Program? It was my understanding that if a test program needed a chase pilot they would often ask someone who was available for the flight but not actually assigned to the program.
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micropooz
Member Posts: 1512
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 08-08-2009 05:46 AM
I think the latter - I have never seen anything that said he was specifically assigned to the X-15 program. |
albatron
Member Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 08-08-2009 07:26 PM
No Freddo was never assigned to the X-15 program. In many cases chase pilots were "grabbed" from somewhere else, depends on if they were short, who was available etc.Al Crews flew many chases, and was grabbed to fly right seat on a B-52 for a drop! That was his only drop flight, and he was a fighter guy. "Twig" Branch and Yeager were two others who flew onboard right seat for 1 drop only but that was a courtesy. Also there were 4 designated chase pilots per flight, but a lot of others participated in chases as well and are not listed anywhere. |
alanh_7
Member Posts: 1252
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 08-08-2009 10:26 PM
It was my understanding for X-15 missions, depending on the test parameters, there were usually four primary chase pilots and then a host of other chase aircraft might be required depending on the test. Maybe someone can shed some light, but because the X-15 was a multi-branch aircraft, the chase duties were often shared using NASA and Air Force aircraft and pilots, depending who was available for that particular flight.Am I wrong in saying for most lifting body flights, as NASA was the prime test conductor, most chase flights were conducted by NASA aircraft and pilots? I know the Air Force was also doing some heavy testing of the X-24, but any photos I have seen show NASA aircraft flying chase. |
alanh_7
Member Posts: 1252
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 08-12-2009 08:56 PM
I just finished reading R. Dale Reeds book "Wingless Flight The Lifting Body Story". What a great book. I learned a great deal about the lifting body program. Good read. |
albatron
Member Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 08-12-2009 09:05 PM
MOST of the X-15 missions had 4 chase aircraft/pilots. On occasion they had 3. Those were the primary assigned chase aircraft. However, they would have others out there on occasion. Tony Landis can tell you far better than I. For the listings of the primary chase pilots, you can find them in the back of Dennis Jenkins outstanding book (literally "the Bible" for the X-15) X-15 Extending the Frontiers of Flight. |
Aztecdoug
Member Posts: 1405
From: Huntington Beach
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 08-12-2009 09:48 PM
I would like add Hypersonic by Jenkins and Landis to that list of essential X-15 books. The appendix is really, really good. Hypersonic was sort of a prelude to Extending the Frontiers of Flight, and it has a lot more pictures.  Some of the chase pilots, X-15 pilot combos are interesting. For example I believe Collins flew chase for Armstrong if my addled memory holds true. Dale Reeds book The Lifting Body Story is a NASA publication. SP-4220. This is available somewhere in the bowels of NASA for purchase. This too has a great appendix. I read somewhere once, I believe on the Dryden website, that the unofficial motto of the lifting Body Program was... Don't be Rescued from Outer Space -- Fly Back in Style. All that test pilot stuff is just so cool and exotic. Once you memorize all the M-G-A info then you can dive into test pilots and programs and you will never be satiated. There is just so much depth to that story. |
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