Bob M
Member Posts: 2119
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 07-20-2026 09:38 AM
   
Available is a set of seven flight covers autographed by the pilots of each of the six NASA Lifting Body test aircraft: M2-F1, M2-F2, M2-F3, HL-10, X-24A and X-24B. The set also includes an M2 cover autographed by all nine of the M2-F1, -F2 and -F3 pilots.The M2-F1 Lifting Body aircraft is at left, alongside the M2-F2.  The Lifting Body aircraft were part of a long line of historic experimental aircraft flown at the Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, CA, that included the X-1, the first aircraft to exceed the speed of sound, and the X-15 that set speed and altitude records. The Lifting Body aircraft tested the concept of wingless spacecraft reentering from space and landing like an airplane, but the concept proved impractical and the Lifting Body program ended with the X-24B's final flight in 1975. However, some concepts learned from the Lifting Body program were incorporated in the space shuttle program.  This first cover in the set is autographed by the nine pilots who piloted at least one of the three M2 aircraft in free flight. Included are Chuck Yeager, the first pilot to exceed the speed of sound, and X-15 pilots Milt Thompson and Bill Dana. Also included are five autographs by John Manke, who piloted four of the six Lifting Body aircraft, and an autograph by X-24B pilot Dick Scobee, who perished on Challenger.  At top, M2 cover autographed by the seven M2-F1 pilots who flew at least one untethered free flight. Below, M2 cover autographed by the four M2-F2 pilots  At top, M2-F3 flight cover autographed by the four M2-F3 pilots. Below, HL-10 flight cover autographed by the five HL-10 pilots  At top, X-24A flight cover autographed by the three X-24A pilots. Below, X-24B flight cover autographed by the six X-24B pilots This set of seven covers contain autographs of all 14 pilots who flew at least one of the six Lifting Body aircraft. The autographs in the set resulted from many mailings to various locations, with most from the Air Force Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB. The difficulty of this long-time, multi-autograph, multi-mailing project, makes this set very rare and possibly one-of-a-kind. This seven pilot-autographed Lifting Body cover set is available and serious offers will be considered. Please contact me by email. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 4075
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 07-22-2026 12:57 PM
One of the best sets of pilot signed Lifting Body flight research covers of the M-2. HL-10, X-24, and X-24B. As Tim points out, those were the "good ole days" during the 1970's while most of the project pilots were very good signature providers thru the mail. There were a couple of them that I recall, Like Hoag and Powell, that were difficult in hearing back from, but as you see, Bob has always done well. All of the cachet covers above, except one or two, had official NASA rubber stamp cachets applied, which in my opinion, make the set very appropriate and extremely difficult to acquire. |
Bob M
Member Posts: 2119
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 07-23-2026 01:25 PM
Thanks, guys. It was a difficult set to assemble, but I did receive some needed help along the way. Milt Thompson at Edwards AFB provided some information and addresses and suggested that I contact the Society of Experimental Test Pilots in Lancaster, CA to forward some of my autograph requests. The kind help from the SOETP helped in obtaining autographs from Hoag and Powell especially. Also I was *most* fortunate that all my covers returned safely through the mail.The covers were mailed to many locations - mostly to Edwards AFB - but also Mojave, CA, Shaw AFB, SC, Nellis AFB, NV, Eglin AFB, FL and Seattle, WA. The test pilots of that era were generally very cooperative about autographing and were probably proud to be recognized when the astronauts were much more popular and in the news. |
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