Posts: 3387 From: Netherlands Registered: Nov 2001
posted 05-10-2014 12:30 AM
Pilots Bill Dana, John Manke and Cecil Powell pose in front of the M2-F3 lifting body after Manke made flight M-43-58 on December 20, 1972. It was the last flight for the M2-F3. Dana died May 6 at age 83.
posted 05-10-2014 02:07 AM
A fitting tribute to a great guy.
Nice going, Ed.
onesmallstep Member
Posts: 1310 From: Staten Island, New York USA Registered: Nov 2007
posted 05-13-2014 03:41 PM
Nice that the lifting-body 'wingless' test pilots are getting their due as important precursors of shuttle.
Interesting that these aircraft were the 'go-to' subjects of novels and a TV series in the 1970s: Martin Caidin's novel 'Cyborg' (where a lifting body was referred to as the 'M3-F5'), and which later was the basis of the series Six Million Dollar Man (the crash of an M2-F2 in 1967 was used in the opening credits).
In a later episode of the series, the lifting body that crashed with the title character aboard was referred to as the 'HL-10'.
bobslittlebro Member
Posts: 179 From: Douglasville, Ga U.S.A. Registered: Nov 2009
posted 05-27-2014 06:41 PM
Nice Photo Ed. I have never seen this one.