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Author
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Topic: Photo of the week 437 (March 9, 2013)
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heng44
Member Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 03-09-2013 12:59 AM
   
 At NASA's Flight Research Center in California, LLRV-pilot Emil "Jack" Kluever (center) prepares to check out MSC-pilots Bud Ream (left) and Joe Algranti in the lunar landing trainer shown behind them. Ream and Algranti would later instruct the Apollo astronauts how to fly the vehicle at Ellington AFB near the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston. Ed Hengeveld |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 03-09-2013 07:03 AM
I really enjoy these behind the scenes photos. Here are 3 men I've never heard of involved in one of the most dangerous machines of the time. And it seems they'll go on to train the famous men whose names we do know to land on the moon. I guess these are part of the "400,000 unknown people" behind the scenes that have been mentioned so often by the astronauts. Thanks Ed. |
heng44
Member Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 03-09-2013 11:42 AM
We aim to please...  |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
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posted 03-09-2013 09:37 PM
And then there were those who tested the LLRV before these guys could teach the astronauts. Don Mallick comes to mind. If you'd like a good book to read, find a copy of The Smell of Kerosene by Don. Testing the LLRV was one of his 3 big test projects.Great picture Ed! |
dabolton
Member Posts: 419
From: Seneca, IL, US
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 03-11-2013 02:34 PM
One of the reasons I love collectSPACE so much is I am always finding interesting books to read. I just purchased the Mallick book from amazon for .99. Thanks for the exposure. |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
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posted 03-11-2013 07:48 PM
Don wrote the book for the Air Force and did not receive any royalty. So don't feel bad about purchasing a copy for 99 cents. |
onesmallstep
Member Posts: 1310
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 03-12-2013 11:37 AM
I haven't read Mallick's book or any other accounts, but did he or any of three pilots pictured recommend any modifications to the LLRV or its flight profile, given its short and accident-prone history? |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
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posted 03-12-2013 02:22 PM
Mallick writes: One of our primary goals with the LLRV was to evaluate control power settings. We needed to know just how little control moment we could get away with and still safely operate the vehicle. I think most of his contributions during test flight were to understand how it flew so the astronauts could fly it safely (maybe safer is a better word).Test flight is not always glamorous. For instance one change had to do with a peroxide trip switch, which Don inadvertently hit just before one of his landings in the LLRV. Don says "This one really watered my eyes." The fix was for him to keep his thumb away from the switch, plus the engineers increased the spring force in the switch. Minor perhaps, but could have saved an astronaut later on. |
Jurg Bolli
Member Posts: 977
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 03-12-2013 05:56 PM
Mallick's book is great, lots of information.
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heng44
Member Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 03-13-2013 02:57 PM
Let's not forget Joe Walker, the first man to fly the LLRV in October 1964. He and Don Mallick shared the pilot duties until Jack Kluever was added to the team. |
dabolton
Member Posts: 419
From: Seneca, IL, US
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 03-27-2013 07:19 PM
I thoroughly enjoyed the Don Mallick Book. |
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