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X-24B on Lakebed
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X-24B on Lakebed
The X-24B is seen here on the lakebed at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. The X-24B was the last aircraft to fly in Drydens Lifting Body program. Lifting bodies were wingless vehicles designed to fly back to Earth from space and be landed like an aircraft at a pre-determined site. First to fly the X-24B was John Manke, conducting a glide flight on August 1, 1973. He was also the pilot on the first powered mission on November 15, 1973. Among the final flights with the X-24B were two precise landings on the main concrete runway at Edwards which showed that accurate unpowered reentry vehicle landings were operationally feasible. These missions were flown by Manke and Air Force Maj. Mike Love, and represented the final milestone in a program that helped write the flight plan for todays Space Shuttle program. The final powered flight with the X-24B was on September 23, l975. The pilot was Bill Dana, and it was also the last rocket-powered flight flown at Dryden. It was Dana who also flew the last X-15 mission about seven years earlier. Top speed reached with the X-24B was l, l64 mph (Mach l.76) by Love. The highest altitude reached was 74, 100 feet, by Manke. The information the lifting body program generated contributed to the data base that led to development of todays Space Shuttle program. The X-24B is on public display at the Air Force Museum, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
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Media ID 634524
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This print showcases the X-24B gracefully resting on the lakebed at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. As the final aircraft to fly in Dryden's Lifting Body program, the X-24B holds a significant place in aerospace history. Designed as a wingless vehicle capable of returning from space and landing like an airplane, lifting bodies paved the way for future space exploration. The X-24B's maiden glide flight took place on August 1,1973, with John Manke at its controls. Later that year, Manke also piloted its first powered mission on November 15th. Notably, two precise landings were executed by Manke and Air Force Maj. Mike Love on Edwards' main concrete runway, demonstrating the operational feasibility of accurate unpowered reentry vehicle landings. On September 23rd, 1975, Bill Dana piloted the final rocket-powered flight with the X-24B - marking not only its last such flight but also Dryden's farewell to rocket-powered missions since his previous involvement with the X-15 project seven years prior. Impressively reaching speeds of up to 1,164 mph (Mach 1.76) under Major Love's command and soaring to an altitude of 74,100 feet thanks to Manke's skillful maneuvering; these achievements contributed invaluable data towards developing today's Space Shuttle program. Nowadays, visitors can admire this iconic piece of aviation history at Wright-Patterson AFB's Air Force Museum in Ohio—a testament to humanity's relentless pursuit of exploring beyond our planet’s boundaries.
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