Author
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Topic: Photo of the week 920 (June 11, 2022)
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heng44 Member Posts: 3595 From: Netherlands Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 06-11-2022 02:34 AM
The X-24B lifting body, flown by pilot Dick Scobee, makes a steep descent over Rogers Dry Lake on its approach to the runway at Edwards Air Force Base during Flight B-32-45 on October 21, 1975. It is accompanied by two chase planes. |
oly Member Posts: 1390 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
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posted 06-11-2022 05:05 AM
Great image Ed, showing that the lifting body glides like a well weighted brick. |
OV-105 Member Posts: 879 From: Ridgecrest, CA Registered: Sep 2000
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posted 06-11-2022 07:22 AM
They were still flying the F-104 Starfighter into the early 1990’s at Dryden, now Armstrong. They looked fast even sitting on the ground. |
Jurg Bolli Member Posts: 1147 From: Albuquerque, NM Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 06-11-2022 09:24 AM
Great picture. |
Jonnyed Member Posts: 545 From: Dumfries, VA, USA Registered: Aug 2014
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posted 06-11-2022 09:44 AM
What fun! |
David C Member Posts: 1343 From: Lausanne Registered: Apr 2012
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posted 06-11-2022 01:26 PM
quote: Originally posted by oly: Great image Ed, showing that the lifting body glides like a well weighted brick.
Fantastic shot, but you should never be fooled by anything shooting a “Drinkwater approach”. It ain’t gliding at best L/D, its diving - flying much faster. Not to say they’re good gliders in the first place, but they look much worse than they are. |
NavyPilot Member Posts: 72 From: Registered: Nov 2015
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posted 06-11-2022 02:47 PM
NASA: A Flight Evaluation of the Factors which Influence the Selection of Landing Approach Speeds (also available here). |
bobslittlebro Member Posts: 224 From: Douglasville, Ga U.S.A. Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 06-11-2022 02:57 PM
Good picture Ed. I've never seen this one! |
micropooz Member Posts: 1632 From: Washington, DC, USA Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 06-11-2022 03:36 PM
I remember a mantra associated with (if I remember right) the M2-F2 lifting body, that if the B-52 dropped both the M2-F2 and a brick at the same time, the M2-F2 would beat the brick to the ground. This photo certainly exemplifies that! |
Jonnyed Member Posts: 545 From: Dumfries, VA, USA Registered: Aug 2014
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posted 06-11-2022 08:04 PM
Question for Galileo and Dave Scott:In the moon's atmosphere, if you dropped a lifting body and a brick at the same time, which would hit the moon first? |
machbusterman Member Posts: 1794 From: Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland Registered: May 2004
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posted 06-12-2022 04:41 AM
Great photo Ed, not one I've ever seen before so really appreciate you sharing! |
Ian Limbrey Member Posts: 170 From: England Registered: Nov 2012
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posted 06-12-2022 04:55 AM
Amazing photo Ed! |
David C Member Posts: 1343 From: Lausanne Registered: Apr 2012
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posted 06-12-2022 09:44 AM
quote: Originally posted by NavyPilot: NASA: A Flight Evaluation of the Factors which Influence the Selection of Landing Approach Speeds
That report relates to powered approaches of jet airplanes. Drinkwater participated in lots of approach research. The first one of interest for spacecraft is probably NASA TN D-323 "A Flight Study of a Power-off Landing Technique Applicable to Re-entry Vehicles", 1960; Bray, Drinkwater and White. Those tests were conducted in a JF-104A. Can't find a copy or link unfortunately.A flavour of the technique can be found in his later research for the shuttle. |
onesmallstep Member Posts: 1348 From: Staten Island, New York USA Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 06-13-2022 11:48 AM
Scobee, then an Air Force captain, would later take the controls of a different carrier aircraft, the NASA 747 SCA, and would pilot it many times before his own first space flight. One memorable trip was Enterprise's journey to Europe for the Paris Air Show in 1983. It's also worth noting that Scobee came from the heavy, multi-engine AF pilot community, and was chosen for the X-24B lifting body program to see if qualified pilots with his background could fly high-speed types like rocket planes, and later the Space Shuttle. |