(B2431) wrote:

From: "Paul F Austin"


In Pete Knight's obituary in AvWeek, it mentioned that the record setting
Mach 6+ flight in the X-15A2 resulted in structural damage to the aircraft
that resulted in it being withdrawn from use. Was the damage a result of the
thermal environment or was it the dynamic pressure envirnoment?

If I remember right it was the one that broke its back on a rough landing. It
was filmed and I bet there's a video clip around somewhere.

Dan,

I found the photo of the incident you're thinking of at the NASA Dryden
site: http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Pho...ML/E-9543.html

I remember seeing the aftermath of the hypersonic flight on one of the
cable channels (History? Discovery Wings?) but haven't yet found the site.
IIRC, the damage that grounded X-15 #2 was from the thermal environment. I
have a mental picture of the rear of the aircraft (horizontal stab, skin
near the engine bell) burned through. Will keep looking.

| George Ruch
| "Is there life in Clovis after Clovis Man?"