HL-10 on Lakebed with B-52 flyby
Collection: NASA Great Images in Nasa Collection
Title: HL-10 on Lakebed with B-52 flyby
Full Description: NASA research pilot Bill Dana takes a moment to watch NASA's NB-52B cruise overhead after a research flight in the HL-10. On the left, John Reeves can be seen at the cockpit of the lifting body. The HL-10 was one of five lifting body designs flown at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California, from July 1966 to November 1975 to study and validate the concept of safely maneuvering and landing a low lift-over-drag vehicle designed for reentry from space. Northrop Corporation built the HL-10 and M2-F2, the first two of the fleet of "heavy" lifting bodies flown by NASA. The contract for construction of the HL-10 and the M2-F2 was $1.8 million. "HL" stands for horizontal landing, and "10" refers to the tenth design studied by engineers at NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va. After delivery to NASA in January 1966, the HL-10 made its first flight on December 22, 1966, with research pilot Bruce Peterson in the cockpit. Although an XLR-11 vehicle, the first 11 drop flights from the B-52 launch aircraft were powerless glide flights to assess handling qualities, stability, and control. In the end, the HL-10 was judged to be the best handling of the three original heavy- weight lifting bodies (M2-F2/F3, HL-10, X-24A). The HL-10 was flown 37 times during the lifting body research program and logged the highest altitude and fastest speed in the Lifting Body program. On February 18, 1970, Air Force test pilot Peter Hoag piloted the HL-10 to Mach 1.86 (1,228 mph). Nine days later, NASA pilot Bill Dana flew the vehicle to 90,030 feet, which became the highest altitude reached in the program. Some new and different lessons were learned through the successful flight testing of the HL-10.
Date: 01/01/1969
Image #: ECN-2203
Original url: grin.hq.nasa.gov/ABSTRACTS/GPN-2000-000201.html
UID: SPD-GRIN-GPN-2000-00 0201
Center: DFRC
Center Number: ECN-2203
GRIN DataBase Number: GPN-2000-000201
SOURCE: nasaimages.org/luna/servlet/detail/nasaNAS~5~5~22472~127029
Visit www.nasaimages.org for the most comprehensive compilation of NASA stills, film and video, created in partnership with Internet Archive.
Comments and faves
n.a.k., andy pucko, mikepetrucci, Telstar Logistics, and 396 other people added this photo to their favorites.
Xyling (21 months ago | reply)
Holy cow, what a fricking awesome shot.
ariel7515 (21 months ago | reply)
Amazing!... great shot!!!
Henry Maddocks (21 months ago | reply)
Is this the one Steve Austin crashed? :)
leomartins (21 months ago | reply)
Pure sci-fi. Great shot!
RamixTwo (21 months ago | reply)
Nice picture!
PeteGilbert (21 months ago | reply)
Great picture
Rob Leath (21 months ago | reply)
WOW i was just 3 months old when this awesome shot was taken
Already have a Flickr account? [deleted] (21 months ago | reply)
Cool.
NicolasArg (21 months ago | reply)
What an amazing photo. I wonder what did they use to take it. It's clearly a kodachrome, and it looks a bit grainy to be a 4x5. Any hint?
abpadrian (21 months ago | reply)
Beautiful
ALEXISEZ (21 months ago | reply)
This shot is so awesome I will love to meet the person who shot it
Mr.Gottahavit (21 months ago | reply)
Purdy
PJ Nelson (21 months ago | reply)
See if this reminds you of a certain movie :)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3jqRiHHmaM
* Lobo * (21 months ago | reply)
Best
Shot
Ever.
Lobo.
Jutka75 (21 months ago | reply)
Love this, great one!
-sigma- (21 months ago | reply)
A great classic. Almost surreal.
Nils Jorgensen (20 months ago | reply)
Nice.
flun1tr4z3p4m (20 months ago | reply)
What an outstanding shot!
itai bachar (20 months ago | reply)
Beautiful!!
This can pass as a Syd Mead frame!
Wasn't this Steve Austin's accident airplane?
holloway steve (19 months ago | reply)
oh that's cool.
Sergio Verrecchia - Digital Imaging Technician (18 months ago | reply)
Your work is perfect for our
Contest #4: The World of Iron Wings!
Please consider posting!
This photo was invited and added to the Aviation Art - Invited images only group.
airplaneguy38 (17 months ago | reply)
I want that photographers job, Great shot
This photo was invited and added to the Exergy group.
soundTHAT | blogsite (7 months ago | reply)
wowsa!
hey_mark (5 months ago | reply)
I see this photo's used in the new transformers movie (Dark of the Moon). Mounted on a wall in the background of one of the shots. Awesome shot.