Martin-Marietta X-24
| Martin-Marietta X-24 | |
|---|---|
 Martin-Marietta X-24B |
|
| Type: | Experimental airplane |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
17th April 1969 |
| Commissioning: |
Flight tests ended in 1975 |
| Production time: |
Was never mass-produced |
| Number of pieces: |
2 |
The X-24 was an American experimental aircraft . It was part of a joint research program by USAF and NASA called PILOT . With the X-24 the concept of the lifting body was to be tested, in which the necessary buoyancy is only achieved through the shape of the trunk. In addition, experiments for non - propelled re - entry and controlled non-powered landing were carried out, the results of which were later used in the space shuttle .
The X-24A was the fourth in a series of wingless experimental aircraft that were tested between 1963 and 1975. Other machines were:
- NASA M2-F1 (1963)
- Northrop HL-10 (1966)
- Northrop M2-F2 (1968)
- Northrop M2-F3 (1970)
The test flights took place at NASA Flight Research Center (now Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center ) and at Edwards Air Force Base in California . With these tests it could be shown that wingless and propulsionless aircraft can be safely controlled and landed in a targeted manner.
The aircraft was registered 66-13551.
X-24A
The X-24A was built by Martin Marietta and flew from Edwards AFB in California. It had a squat teardrop shape with a rounded tip, a flat bottom and a short, triple vertical tail . It was propelled by a single XLR-11 rocket engine with four combustion chambers and a maximum thrust of 37.7 kN . The engine was only used to increase altitude and speed after the aircraft had been dropped from the carrier aircraft .
The first (unpowered) flight took place on April 17, 1969; The pilot was Major Jerauld Gentry . The first powered flight took place on March 19, 1970, also with Gentry in the cockpit. In both powered and non-powered flights, the X-24A was carried by a converted Boeing B-52 bomber to an altitude of around 13,700 m and released there. By switching on the rocket engine, the aircraft could then climb even higher before the actual gliding flight began. The X-24A flew a total of 28 times and reached speeds of up to 1667 km / h and heights of up to 21.8 km.
The test pilots of the X-24A were:
- Jerauld R. Gentry (13 flights)
- John A. Manke (12 flights)
- Cecil W. Powell (3 flights)
After the tests were completed, the machine was brought to Martin Marietta and converted into the X-24B.
X-24B
Although based on the same aerodynamic concept, the exterior of the X-24B was very different from its predecessor. The most noticeable differences were a sharper bow and the recessed cockpit; the tail unit was also modified. This basic shape was later used for the Martin SV-5J and the X-38 Crew Return Vehicle (CRV) . The engine, however, was retained.
John A. Manke piloted the X-24B both on its first unpowered flight on August 1, 1973 and on its first flight with a rocket engine on November 15 of the same year. During a total of 36 flights (including 26 with propulsion), the X-24B reached speeds of up to 1873 km / h and heights of up to 22,600 m.
The test pilots of the X-24B were:
- John A. Manke (16 flights)
- Michael V. Love (12 flights)
- William H. Dana (2 flights)
- Einar K. Enevoldson (2 flights)
- Thomas C. McMurtry (2 flights)
- Francis Scobee (2 flights)
Towards the end of the test program, the X-24B landed twice on a concrete runway to prove that lifting body aircraft can also be used to target landing points.
The aircraft is on display today at the US Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base , Ohio .
The design principles of the X-24B were not yet taken into account in the later space shuttle , but were eventually used . a. in the projects X-33 and X-38 .
Technical data of the Martin-Marietta X-24 (versions A and B)
| Parameter | Data X-24A | Data X-24B |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Martin Marietta | Martin Marietta |
| crew | 1 | 1 |
| span | 3.51 m | 5.79 m |
| length | 7.47 m | 11.43 m |
| height | 2.92 m | 2.92 m |
| Wing area | 18.1 m² | 30.7 m² |
| Empty mass | 2885 kg | 3855 kg |
| Insert mass | 4853 kg | 5350 kg |
| Maximum take-off mass | 5192 kg | 6260 kg |
| thrust | 37.7 kN | 37.7 kN |
| Top speed | 1667 km / h | 1873 km / h |
| Range | 72 km | 72 km |
| Maximum altitude | 21,763 m | 22,590 m |
| Wing loading | 288 kg / m² | 205 kg / m² |
The flights of the X-24A
| Airplane flight no. |
date | pilot | Do | Max. Speed km / h |
Altitude m |
Flight duration | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X-24A # 1 | 17th April 1969 | gentry | 0.718 | 763 | 13,716 | 00:03:37 | First flight of the X-24A Non- propelled gliding flight |
| X-24A # 2 | May 8, 1969 | gentry | 0.693 | 735 | 13,716 | 00:04:13 | Driveless gliding |
| X-24A # 3 | August 21, 1969 | gentry | 0.718 | 782 | 12.192 | 00:04:30 | Driveless gliding |
| X-24A # 4 | 9th September 1969 | gentry | 0.594 | 647 | 12.192 | 00:03:52 | Driveless gliding |
| X-24A # 5 | September 24, 1969 | gentry | 0.596 | 637 | 12.192 | 00:04:17 | Driveless gliding |
| X-24A # 6 | October 22, 1969 | Fault | 0.587 | 623 | 12.192 | 00:03:58 | Driveless gliding |
| X-24A # 7 | November 13, 1969 | gentry | 0.646 | 687 | 13,716 | 00:04:30 | Driveless gliding |
| X-24A # 8 | November 25, 1969 | gentry | 0.685 | 731 | 13,716 | 00:04:26 | Driveless gliding |
| X-24A # 9 | February 24, 1970 | gentry | 0.771 | 819 | 14,326 | 00:04:18 | Driveless gliding |
| X-24A # 10 | March 19, 1970 | gentry | 0.865 | 919 | 13,533 | 00:07:04 | first flight with propulsion |
| X-24A # 11 | April 2nd, 1970 | Fault | 0.866 | 919 | 17,892 | 00:07:15 | - |
| X-24A # 12 | April 22, 1970 | gentry | 0.925 | 982 | 17,587 | 00:06:48 | - |
| X-24A # 13 | May 14, 1970 | Fault | 0.748 | 795 | 13,594 | 00:08:33 | only 2 out of 4 combustion chambers ignited |
| X-24A # 14 | 17th June 1970 | Fault | 0.990 | 1,051 | 18,593 | 00:07:12 | - |
| X-24A # 15 | July 28, 1970 | gentry | 0.938 | 996 | 17,709 | 00:06:28 | - |
| X-24A # 16 | August 11, 1970 | Fault | 0.986 | 1,048 | 19,477 | 00:06:53 | - |
| X-24A # 17 | August 26, 1970 | gentry | 0.694 | 737 | 12,649 | 00:07:59 | only 2 out of 4 combustion chambers ignited |
| X-24A # 18 | October 14, 1970 | Fault | 1.186 | 1,262 | 20,696 | 00:06:51 | first supersonic flight |
| X-24A # 19 | October 27, 1970 | Fault | 1.357 | 1,447 | 21,763 | 00:06:57 | greatest altitude |
| X-24A # 20 | November 20, 1970 | gentry | 1,370 | 1,456 | 20,604 | 00:07:12 | - |
| X-24A # 21 | January 21, 1971 | Fault | 1.033 | 1,093 | 17,648 | 00:07:42 | - |
| X-24A # 22 | 4th February 1971 | Powell | 0.659 | 700 | 13,716 | 00:03:55 | Driveless gliding |
| X-24A # 23 | 18th February 1971 | Fault | 1.511 | 1,606 | 20,544 | 00:07:27 | - |
| X-24A # 24 | March 8, 1971 | Powell | 1.002 | 1,064 | 17,343 | 00:07:17 | - |
| X-24A # 25 | March 29, 1971 | Fault | 1,600 | 1,667 | 21,488 | 00:07:26 | fastest flight |
| X-24A # 26 | May 12, 1971 | Powell | 1.389 | 1,477 | 21,610 | 00:07:03 | delayed engine ignition |
| X-24A # 27 | May 25, 1971 | Fault | 1.191 | 1,265 | 19.903 | 00:09:08 | only 3 out of 4 combustion chambers ignited |
| X-24A # 28 | 4th June 1971 | Fault | 0.817 | 867 | 16,581 | 00:08:37 | only 2 of 4 combustion chambers ignited last flight |
The flights of the X-24B
| Airplane flight no. |
date | pilot | Do | Max. Speed km / h |
Altitude m |
Flight duration | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X-24B # 1 | 1st August 1973 | Fault | 0.640 | 740 | 12.192 | 00:04:12 | First flight of the X-24B Unpowered gliding flight |
| X-24B # 2 | 17th August 1973 | Fault | 0.650 | 723 | 13,716 | 00:04:27 | Driveless gliding |
| X-24B # 3 | August 31, 1973 | Fault | 0.716 | 797 | 13,716 | 00:04:37 | Driveless gliding |
| X-24B # 4 | 18th September 1973 | Fault | 0.687 | 724 | 13,716 | 00:04:31 | Driveless gliding |
| X-24B # 5 | 4th October 1973 | Love | 0.704 | 742 | 13,716 | 00:04:39 | Driveless gliding |
| X-24B # 6 | 15th November 1973 | Fault | 0.930 | 962 | 16,082 | 00:06:44 | first powered flight |
| X-24B # 7 | December 12, 1973 | Fault | 0.646 | 1,038 | 19,227 | 00:07:14 | - |
| X-24B # 8 | February 15, 1974 | Love | 0.696 | 734 | 13,716 | 00:05:07 | Driveless gliding |
| X-24B # 9 | March 5th 1974 | Fault | 1.086 | 1,139 | 18,390 | 00:07:17 | first supersonic flight |
| X-24B # 10 | April 30, 1974 | Love | 0.876 | 930 | 15,862 | 00:06:59 | - |
| X-24B # 11 | May 24, 1974 | Fault | 1,140 | 1,212 | 17,062 | 00:07:28 | - |
| X-24B # 12 | June 14, 1974 | Love | 1.228 | 1,304 | 19,968 | 00:06:45 | - |
| X-24B # 13 | June 28, 1974 | Fault | 1.391 | 1,481 | 20,772 | 00:07:07 | - |
| X-24B # 14 | August 8, 1974 | Love | 1.541 | 1,645 | 22,366 | 00:06:35 | - |
| X-24B # 15 | 29th August 1974 | Fault | 1.098 | 1,170 | 22,080 | 00:07:47 | - |
| X-24B # 16 | October 25, 1974 | Love | 1.752 | 1,873 | 21,991 | 00:06:57 | fastest flight |
| X-24B # 17 | 15th November 1974 | Love | 1.615 | 1,722 | 21,964 | 00:08:01 | - |
| X-24B # 18 | 17th December 1974 | Love | 1.585 | 1,667 | 20,964 | 00:07:00 | - |
| X-24B # 19 | January 14, 1975 | Fault | 1.748 | 1,862 | 22,185 | 00:07:57 | - |
| X-24B # 20 | March 20, 1975 | Love | 1.443 | 1,537 | 21,450 | 00:06:49 | - |
| X-24B # 21 | April 18, 1975 | Fault | 1.204 | 1,279 | 17,648 | 00:07:30 | - |
| X-24B # 22 | May 6, 1975 | Love | 1.444 | 1,542 | 22,372 | 00:07:28 | - |
| X-24B # 23 | May 22, 1975 | Fault | 1.633 | 1,745 | 22,586 | 00:07:41 | greatest altitude |
| X-24B # 24 | June 6, 1975 | Love | 1.002 | 1,786 | 21,976 | 00:07:54 | - |
| X-24B # 25 | June 25, 1975 | Fault | 1.343 | 1,427 | 17,678 | 00:07:06 | - |
| X-24B # 26 | 15th July 1975 | Love | 1.585 | 1,685 | 21,178 | 00:06:55 | - |
| X-24B # 27 | 15th August 1975 | Fault | 1.190 | 1,244 | 18,288 | 00:07:00 | first landing on concrete runway |
| X-24B # 28 | 20th August 1975 | Love | 1,548 | 1,625 | 21,946 | 00:07:00 | Landing on concrete runway |
| X-24B # 29 | September 9, 1975 | Dana | 1.481 | 1,593 | 21,641 | 00:07:15 | - |
| X-24B # 30 | 23rd September 1975 | Dana | 1.157 | 1,255 | 17,678 | 00:07:18 | last powered flight |
| X-24B # 31 | October 9, 1975 | Enevoldson | 0.705 | 724 | 13,716 | 00:04:11 | unpowered gliding |
| X-24B # 32 | October 21, 1975 | Scobee | 0.686 | 744 | 13,716 | 00:04:15 | unpowered gliding |
| X-24B # 33 | 3rd November 1975 | McMurtry | 0.702 | 734 | 13,716 | 00:04:08 | unpowered gliding |
| X-24B # 34 | November 12, 1975 | Enevoldson | 0.702 | 734 | 13,716 | 00:04:01 | unpowered gliding |
| X-24B # 35 | 19th November 1975 | Scobee | 0.700 | 740 | 13,716 | 00:04:09 | unpowered gliding |
| X-24B # 36 | November 26, 1975 | McMurtry | 0.713 | 740 | 13,716 | 00:04:25 | unpowered gliding last flight |
See also
Web links
- X-24A and X24B ( Memento from March 24, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
- Wingless Flight: The Lifting Body Story. NASA History Series SP-4220 1997 PDF (12.89 MB)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Description on history.nasa.gov p. 31 (PDF; 1.2 MB) Retrieved on February 11, 2013 .
- ↑ Description on history.nasa.gov p. 32. (PDF; 1.2 MB) Retrieved on February 11, 2013 .