Northrop M2-F3
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2008-07-05T04:16:09Z
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{{infobox Aircraft
|name = M2-F3
|type = Lifting body
|manufacturer = [[Northrop Corporation|Northrop]]
|image = Image:Northrop_M2-F3.jpg
|caption =
|designer =
|first flight = [[2 June]] [[1970 in aviation|1970]]
|introduced =
|retired = [[20 December]] [[1972 in aviation|1972]]
|produced =
|number built =
|status = [[Smithsonian Institution|Smithsonian]]
|unit cost =
|primary user = [[NASA]]
|more users =
|developed from = [[NASA M2-F1]]<br>[[Northrop M2-F2]]
|variants with their own articles =
}}
The '''[[Northrop]] M2-F3''' was rebuilt from the M2-F2 at Northrop and redesignated the M2-F3 after the M2-F2 crashed at the [[Dryden Flight Research Center]] in [[1967]]. It was modified with an additional third vertical fin - centered between the tip fins - to improve control characteristics. The "M" refers to "manned" and "F" refers to "flight" version.
==Development==
Early flight testing of the [[NASA M2-F1|M2-F1]] and [[Northrop M2-F2|M2-F2]] [[lifting body]] reentry configurations had validated the concept of piloted lifting body reentry from space. When the M2-F2 crashed on [[May 10]], [[1967]], valuable information had already been obtained and was contributing to new designs.
[[NASA]] pilots said the M2-F2 had lateral control problems, so when the M2-F2 was rebuilt at Northrop and redesignated the M2-F3, it was modified with an additional third vertical fin - centered between the tip fins - to improve control characteristics.
After a three-year-long redesign and rebuilding effort, the M2-F3 was ready to fly. The May [[1967]] crash of the M2-F2 had torn off the left fin and landing gear. It had also damaged the external skin and internal structure. [[Dryden Flight Research Center|Flight Research Center]] engineers worked with [[Ames Research Center]] and the Air Force in redesigning the vehicle with a center fin to provide greater stability. At first, it seemed that the vehicle had been irreparably damaged, but the original manufacturer, Northrop, did the repair work and returned the redesigned M2-F3 with a center fin for stability to the FRC.
While the M2-F3 was still demanding to fly, the center fin eliminated the high risk of pilot induced oscillation (PIO) that was characteristic of the M2-F2.
==Operational history==
First flight of the M2-F3, with NASA pilot [[William H. Dana|Bill Dana]] at the controls, was [[June 2]], [[1970]]. The modified vehicle exhibited much better lateral stability and control characteristics than before, and only three glide flights were necessary before the first powered flight on [[November 25]], [[1970]]. The 100th flight of the heavy-weight lifting bodies was completed on [[October 5]], [[1972]], with pilot Bill Dana soaring to an altitude of 66,300 feet (20,200 m) and a Mach number of 1.370 (about 904 miles per hour) in the M2-F3. Over its 27 missions, the M2-F3 reached a top speed of l,064 mph (Mach 1.6). Highest altitude reached by the vehicle was 71,500 feet (20,790 m) on [[December 20]], [[1972]], the date of its last flight, with NASA pilot John Manke at the controls.
[[Image:M2-F2.jpg|thumb|The M2-F3 at the National Air and Space Museum]]
A [[reaction control thruster]] (RCT) system, similar to that on orbiting spacecraft, was also installed to obtain research data about their effectiveness for vehicle control. As the M2-F3's portion of the lifting body program neared an end, it evaluated a rate command augmentation control system, and a side-arm control stick similar to side-arm controllers now used on many modern aircraft.
NASA donated the M2-F3 vehicle to the [[Smithsonian Institution]] in December [[1973]]. It is currently hanging in the [[National Air and Space Museum]] along with the [[X-15]] aircraft number 1, which was its hangar partner at Dryden from [[1965]] to [[1969]].
*M2-F3 pilots
**[[William H. Dana]] - 19 flights
**John A. Manke - 4 flights
**Cecil W. Powell - 3 flights
**Jerauld R. Gentry - 1 flight
*[http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/M2-F3/HTML/index.html Most of text taken from NASA Dryden webpage.]
===Aircraft serial number===
*'''NASA M2-F3''' - NASA 803, 27 flights
==M2-F3 flights==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="75" | Vehicle<br>Flight #
! width="125" | Date
! width="75" | Pilot
! width="50" | Mach
! width="50" | Velocity<br>(km/h)
! width="50" | Altitude<br>(ft)
! width="50" | Duration
! Comments
|-
| '''M2-F3 #1'''
| [[June 2]], [[1970]]
| Dana
| 0.688
| 755
| 45,000
| 00:03:38
| First M2-F3 Flight<br>Unpowered glide
|-
| '''M2-F3 #2'''
| [[July 21]], [[1970]]
| Dana
| 0.660
| 708
| 45,000
| 00:03:48
| Unpowered glide
|-
| '''M2-F3 #3'''
| [[November 2]], [[1970]]
| Dana
| 0.630
| 690
| 45,000
| 00:03:56
| Unpowered glide
|-
| '''M2-F3 #4'''
| [[November 25]], [[1970]]
| Dana
| 0.809
| 859
| 51,900
| 00:06:17
| 1st powered flight
|-
| '''M2-F3 #5'''
| [[February 9]], [[1971]]
| Gentry
| 0.707
| 755
| 45,000
| 00:04:01
| -
|-
| '''M2-F3 #6'''
| [[February 26]], [[1971]]
| Dana
| 0.773
| 821
| 45,000
| 00:05:48
| Only 2 chambers lit
|-
| '''M2-F3 #7'''
| [[July 23]], [[1971]]
| Dana
| 0.930
| 988
| 60,500
| 00:05:53
| -
|-
| '''M2-F3 #8'''
| [[August 9]], [[1971]]
| Dana
| 0.974
| 1,035
| 62,000
| 00:06:55
| -
|-
| '''M2-F3 #9'''
| [[August 25]], [[1971]]
| Dana
| 1.095
| 1,164
| 67,300
| 00:06:30
| 1st supersonic flight
|-
| '''M2-F3 #10'''
| [[September 24]], [[1971]]
| Dana
| 0.728
| 772
| 42,000
| 00:03:30
| Engine fire
|-
| '''M2-F3 #11'''
| [[November 15]], [[1971]]
| Dana
| 0.739
| 784
| 45,000
| 00:03:35
| -
|-
| '''M2-F3 #12'''
| [[December 1]], [[1971]]
| Dana
| 1.274
| 1,357
| 70,800
| 00:06:31
| -
|-
| '''M2-F3 #13'''
| [[December 16]], [[1971]]
| Dana
| 0.811
| 861
| 46,800
| 00:07:31
| Only 2 chambers lit
|-
| '''M2-F3 #14'''
| [[July 25]], [[1972]]
| Dana
| 0.989
| 1,049
| 60,900
| 00:07:00
| -
|-
| '''M2-F3 #15'''
| [[August 11]], [[1972]]
| Gentry
| 1.101
| 1,168
| 67,200
| 00:06:15
| -
|-
| '''M2-F3 #16'''
| [[August 24]], [[1972]]
| Dana
| 1.266
| 1,344
| 66,700
| 00:06:16
| -
|-
| '''M2-F3 #17'''
| [[September 12]], [[1972]]
| Dana
| 0.880
| 935
| 46,000
| 00:06:27
| Small engine fire
|-
| '''M2-F3 #18'''
| [[September 27]], [[1972]]
| Dana
| 1.340
| 1,424
| 66,700
| 00:06:07
| -
|-
| '''M2-F3 #19'''
| [[October 5]], [[1972]]
| Dana
| 1.370
| 1,455
| 66,300
| 00:06:16
| 100th lifting<br>body flight
|-
| '''M2-F3 #20'''
| [[October 19]], [[1972]]
| Manke
| 0.905
| 961
| 47,100
| 00:05:59
| -
|-
| '''M2-F3 #21'''
| [[November 1]], [[1972]]
| Manke
| 1.213
| 1,292
| 71,300
| 00:06:18
| -
|-
| '''M2-F3 #22'''
| [[November 9]], [[1972]]
| Powell
| 0.906
| 961
| 46,800
| 00:06:04
| -
|-
| '''M2-F3 #23'''
| [[November 21]], [[1972]]
| Manke
| 1.435
| 1,524
| 66,700
| 00:06:17
| Planned Rosamond<br>Lakebed landing
|-
| '''M2-F3 #24'''
| [[November 29]], [[1972]]
| Powell
| 1.348
| 1,432
| 67,500
| 00:05:57
| -
|-
| '''M2-F3 #25'''
| [[December 6]], [[1972]]
| Powell
| 1.191
| 1,265
| 68,300
| 00:05:32
| Planned Rosamond<br>Lakebed landing
|-
| '''M2-F3 #26'''
| [[December 13]], [[1972]]
| Dana
| 1.613
| 1,712
| 66,700
| 00:06:23
| Fastest flight
|-
| '''M2-F3 #27'''
| [[December 20]], [[1972]]
| Manke
| 1.294
| 1,378
| 71,500
| 00:06:30
| Highest flight<br>Last M2-F3 flight
|}
==Specifications (M2-F3)==
[[Image:NASA M2-F3 diagram.png|thumb|right|300px|NASA M2-F3 Lifting Body Diagram]]
{{aircraft specifications
<!-- if you do not understand how to use this template, please ask at [[Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Aircraft]] -->
|plane or copter?=<!-- options: plane/copter --> plane
|jet or prop?=<!-- options: jet/prop/both/neither --> jet
<!-- Now, fill out the specs. Please include units where appropriate (main comes first, alt in parentheses). If an item doesn't apply leave it blank. For instructions on using |more general=, |more performance=, |power original=, and |thrust original=see [[Template talk:Aircraft specifications]]. -->
|ref=
|crew=one, pilot
|capacity=
|length main=22 ft 2 in
|length alt=6.75 m
|span main=9 ft 8 in
|span alt=2.94 m
|height main=9 ft 6 in
|height alt=2.89 m
|area main=160 ft²
|area alt=14.9 m²
|airfoil=
|empty weight main=5,071 lb
|empty weight alt=2,300 kg
|loaded weight main=6,000 lb
|loaded weight alt=2,721 kg
|useful load main=<!--lb-->
|useful load alt=<!--kg-->
|max takeoff weight main=7,937 lb
|max takeoff weight alt=3,600 kg
|more general=
|engine (jet)=[[Reaction Motors XLR-11]]
|type of jet=four-chamber [[rocket engine]]
|number of jets=1
|thrust main=8,000 lbf
|thrust alt=36 kN
|thrust original=
|afterburning thrust main=<!--lbf-->
|afterburning thrust alt=<!--kN-->
|max speed main=925 knots
|max speed alt=1,065 mph, 1,712 km/h
|cruise speed main=<!--knots-->
|cruise speed alt=<!--mph,km/h-->
|never exceed speed main=<!--knots-->
|never exceed speed alt=<!--mph,km/h-->
|stall speed main=<!--knots-->
|stall speed alt=<!--mph,km/h-->
|range main=39 nm
|range alt=45 mi, 72 km
|ceiling main=71,500 ft
|ceiling alt=21,793 m
|climb rate main=<!--ft/min-->
|climb rate alt=<!--m/s-->
|loading main=49 lb/ft²
|loading alt=242 kg/m²
|thrust/weight=1.3
|power/mass main=<!--hp/lb-->
|power/mass alt=<!--W/kg-->
|more performance=
|armament=
|avionics=
}}
==External links==
* [http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/gallery/photo/M2-F3/ NASA Dryden M2-F3 Photo Collection]
*[http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19980169231_1998082126.pdf Wingless Flight: The Lifting Body Story. NASA History Series SP-4220 1997 PDF]
==Related content==
'''Related development:'''
'''Comparable aircraft:'''
[[Martin-Marietta X-24|X-24]] -
[[NASA M2-F1|M2-F1]] -
[[Northrop M2-F2|M2-F2]] -
[[Northrop HL-10|HL-10]]
'''Designation sequence:'''
[[NASA M2-F1|M2-F1]] -
[[Northrop M2-F2|M2-F2]] -
'''M2-F3'''
{{Northrop aircraft}}
{{X-planes}}
{{Aviation lists}}
[[Category:Lifting body aircraft]]
[[Category:Parasite aircraft]]
[[Category:United States experimental aircraft 1970-1979|M2-F3]]
[[Category:Gliding in the United States|M2-F3, Northrop]]
[[Category:Rocket-powered aircraft|M2-F3, Northrop]]
[[ja:M2-F3]]