View source for Northrop M2-F3

{{short description|Lifting body prototype aircraft}}
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->
{{Infobox aircraft
 |name = M2-F3
 |image = Northrop_M2-F3.jpg
 |caption = 
 |type = Lifting body [[technology demonstrator]]
 |manufacturer = [[Northrop Corporation|Northrop]]
 |designer =
 |first_flight = 2 June 1970
 |introduction =
 |retired = 20 December 1972
 |produced =
 |number_built =
 |status = Donated to the [[Smithsonian Institution]], currently on display at the [[National Air and Space Museum]]
 |unit cost =
 |primary_user = [[NASA]]
 |more_users = 
 |developed_from = [[NASA M2-F1]]<br>[[Northrop M2-F2]]
 |variants = 
}}

The '''Northrop M2-F3''' is a heavyweight [[lifting body]] rebuilt from the [[Northrop M2-F2]] after it 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==
The 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 {{convert|904|mph|km/h}}) in the M2-F3. Over its 27 missions, the M2-F3 reached a top speed of {{convert|1,064|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} (Mach 1.6). The highest altitude reached by the vehicle was 71,500 feet (20,790 m) during its last flight on December 20, 1972, with NASA pilot John Manke at the controls.

[[File:M2-F2.jpg|thumb|The M2-F3 at the National Air and Space Museum]]

A [[reaction control system|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-stick|side control stick]] similar to side-stick controllers now used on many modern aircraft.

NASA donated the M2-F3 vehicle to the [[Smithsonian Institution]] in December 1973. It is currently on display in the [[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]], outside the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar where the [[Space Shuttle Discovery]] is housed.

*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" rowspan=2| Vehicle<br>Flight #
! width="125" rowspan=2| Date
! width="75" rowspan=2| Pilot
! width="50" rowspan=2| Mach
! width="50" rowspan=2| Velocity<br>(km/h)
! width="100" colspan=2 | Altitude
! width="50" rowspan=2| Duration
! rowspan=2|Comments
|-
! width="50" | ft
! width="50" | m
|-
| '''M2-F3 #1'''
| June 2, 1970
| Dana
| 0.688
| 755
| {{cvt|45,000|ft|m|disp=table}}
| 00:03:38
| First M2-F3 Flight<br>Unpowered glide 
|-
| '''M2-F3 #2'''
| July 21, 1970
| Dana
| 0.660
| 708
| {{cvt|45,000|ft|m|disp=table}}
| 00:03:48
| Unpowered glide 
|-
| '''M2-F3 #3'''
| November 2, 1970
| Dana
| 0.630
| 690
| {{cvt|45,000|ft|m|disp=table}}
| 00:03:56
| Unpowered glide 
|-
| '''M2-F3 #4'''
| November 25, 1970
| Dana
| 0.809
| 859
| {{cvt|51,900|ft|m|disp=table}}
| 00:06:17
| 1st powered flight 
|-
| '''M2-F3 #5'''
| February 9, 1971
| Gentry
| 0.707
| 755
| {{cvt|45,000|ft|m|disp=table}}
| 00:04:01
| - 
|-
| '''M2-F3 #6'''
| February 26, 1971
| Dana
| 0.773
| 821
| {{cvt|45,000|ft|m|disp=table}}
| 00:05:48
| Only 2 chambers lit 
|-
| '''M2-F3 #7'''
| July 23, 1971
| Dana
| 0.930
| 988
| {{cvt|60,500|ft|m|disp=table}}
| 00:05:53
| - 
|-
| '''M2-F3 #8'''
| August 9, 1971
| Dana
| 0.974
| 1,035
| {{cvt|62,000|ft|m|disp=table}}
| 00:06:55
| - 
|-
| '''M2-F3 #9'''
| August 25, 1971
| Dana
| 1.095
| 1,164
| {{cvt|67,300|ft|m|disp=table}}
| 00:06:30
| 1st supersonic flight 
|-
| '''M2-F3 #10'''
| September 24, 1971
| Dana
| 0.728
| 772
| {{cvt|42,000|ft|m|disp=table}}
| 00:03:30
| Engine fire 
|-
| '''M2-F3 #11'''
| November 15, 1971
| Dana
| 0.739
| 784
| {{cvt|45,000|ft|m|disp=table}}
| 00:03:35
| - 
|-
| '''M2-F3 #12'''
| December 1, 1971
| Dana
| 1.274
| 1,357
| {{cvt|70,800|ft|m|disp=table}}
| 00:06:31
| - 
|-
| '''M2-F3 #13'''
| December 16, 1971
| Dana
| 0.811
| 861
| {{cvt|46,800|ft|m|disp=table}}
| 00:07:31
| Only 2 chambers lit 
|-
| '''M2-F3 #14'''
| July 25, 1972
| Dana
| 0.989
| 1,049
| {{cvt|60,900|ft|m|disp=table}}
| 00:07:00
| - 
|-
| '''M2-F3 #15'''
| August 11, 1972
| Gentry
| 1.101
| 1,168
| {{cvt|67,200|ft|m|disp=table}}
| 00:06:15
| - 
|-
| '''M2-F3 #16'''
| August 24, 1972
| Dana
| 1.266
| 1,344
| {{cvt|66,700|ft|m|disp=table}}
| 00:06:16
| -
|-
| '''M2-F3 #17'''
| September 12, 1972
| Dana
| 0.880
| 935
| {{cvt|46,000|ft|m|disp=table}}
| 00:06:27
| Small engine fire 
|-
| '''M2-F3 #18'''
| September 27, 1972
| Dana
| 1.340
| 1,424
| {{cvt|66,700|ft|m|disp=table}}
| 00:06:07
| - 
|-
| '''M2-F3 #19'''
| October 5, 1972
| Dana
| 1.370
| 1,455
| {{cvt|66,300|ft|m|disp=table}}
| 00:06:16
| 100th lifting<br>body flight 
|-
| '''M2-F3 #20'''
| October 19, 1972
| Manke
| 0.905
| 961
| {{cvt|47,100|ft|m|disp=table}}
| 00:05:59
| - 
|-
| '''M2-F3 #21'''
| November 1, 1972
| Manke
| 1.213
| 1,292
| {{cvt|71,300|ft|m|disp=table}}
| 00:06:18
| - 
|-
| '''M2-F3 #22'''
| November 9, 1972
| Powell
| 0.906
| 961
| {{cvt|46,800|ft|m|disp=table}}
| 00:06:04
| - 
|-
| '''M2-F3 #23'''
| November 21, 1972
| Manke
| 1.435
| 1,524
| {{cvt|66,700|ft|m|disp=table}}
| 00:06:17
| Planned Rosamond<br>Lakebed landing 
|-
| '''M2-F3 #24'''
| November 29, 1972
| Powell
| 1.348
| 1,432
| {{cvt|67,500|ft|m|disp=table}}
| 00:05:57
| - 
|-
| '''M2-F3 #25'''
| December 6, 1972
| Powell
| 1.191
| 1,265
| {{cvt|68,300|ft|m|disp=table}}
| 00:05:32
| Planned Rosamond<br>Lakebed landing 
|-
| '''M2-F3 #26'''
| December 13, 1972
| Dana
| 1.613
| 1,712
| {{cvt|66,700|ft|m|disp=table}}
| 00:06:23
| Fastest flight
|-
| '''M2-F3 #27'''
| December 20, 1972
| Manke
| 1.294
| 1,378
| {{cvt|71,500|ft|m|disp=table}}
| 00:06:30
| Highest flight<br>Last M2-F3 flight
|}

==Specifications (M2-F3)==
[[File:NASA M2-F3 diagram.png|thumb|right|300px|NASA M2-F3 Lifting Body Diagram]]
{{Aircraft specs
|ref={{citation needed|date=September 2019}}
|prime units?=kts
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew=1
|length ft=22
|length in=2
|length note=
|span ft=9
|span in=8
|span note=
|height ft=9
|height in=6
|height note=
|wing area sqft=160
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=
|empty weight lb=5071
|empty weight note=
|gross weight lb=6000
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight lb=7937
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Reaction Motors XLR-11]]
|eng1 type=liquid-fuelled rocket motor
|eng1 lbf=8000
|eng1 note= with four combustion chamber/nozzle assemblies
<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed kts=925
|max speed note=
|max speed mach=<!-- supersonic aircraft -->
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed kts=
|minimum control speed note=
|range nmi=39
|range note=
|combat range nmi=
|combat range note=
|ferry range nmi=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling ft=71500
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|glide ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|climb rate ftmin=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|sink rate ftmin=<!-- sailplanes -->
|sink rate note=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading lb/sqft=49
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|thrust/weight=1.3

|more performance=
|avionics=
}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:M2F3museum.JPG|
Image:M2F3museum1.JPG|
Image:M2F3museum2.JPG|
Image:M2F3museum3.JPG|
</gallery>

==See also==
'''Comparable aircraft:'''
*[[Martin-Marietta X-24|X-24]] 
*[[NASA M2-F1|M2-F1]] 
*[[Northrop M2-F2|M2-F2]] 
*[[Northrop HL-10|HL-10]]

==External links==
{{Commons category|Northrop M2-F3}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20030219122711/http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/gallery/photo/M2-F3/ NASA Dryden M2-F3 Photo Collection]
*[https://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]

{{Northrop aircraft}}
{{X-planes}}

[[Category:Lifting bodies]]
[[Category:1970s United States experimental aircraft|M2-F3]]
[[Category:Gliding in the United States|M2-F3, Northrop]]
[[Category:Rocket-powered aircraft|M2-F3, Northrop]]
[[Category:Northrop aircraft|M2-F3]]