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Author
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Topic: 50 years X-15 hypersonic research (1968-2018)
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Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 10-24-2018 07:29 AM
   
50 years ago, October 24 1968, NASA test pilot William "Bill" Dana made the final (199th) flight in the hypersonic X-15 flight research program. A 200th flight was cancelled due to bad weather and the program was permanently cancelled on 20 December 1968.Only 12 pilots flew the rocket-powered X-15 aircraft, among who Neil Armstrong (7 flights) and William "Pete" Knight (16 flights) who, in October 1967, set the official world record for highest speed ever recorded by a piloted aircraft of Mach 6.7 (7274 km/h), unchallenged today! |
Jurg Bolli
Member Posts: 977
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 10-24-2018 06:13 PM
Thanks for reminding us of a great program. |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 11-03-2018 12:59 PM
Never found out what the "finesse" number was for the X-15. - Space Shuttle finesse = 4.5
- U2 spyplane finesse = 21
- Modern day gliders finesse up to 70
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oly
Member Posts: 905
From: Perth, Western Australia
Registered: Apr 2015
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posted 11-03-2018 08:31 PM
Not the "Finesse number" but the X-15 fuselage Findness ratio is 10.91. These details can be found in this document and more details here. |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 11-04-2018 03:55 AM
Thanks... got this answer from Mach25. The glide ration was about 4.1. After Crossfield's first flight, he was given a special award by the local glider association, which was a nice plaque with a brick mounted to it! |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1463
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 11-04-2018 07:29 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Philip:
Never found out what the "finesse" number was for the X-15.
You mean glide ratio aka lift-to-drag ratio.It was a little over 4 for subsonic flight in a trimmed (not landing) configuration. Just over 2 for super and hypersonic flight. |
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