Shape:
Half-cone body (flattop, round
bottom) with blunt nose and three vertical tail fins
Dimensions (m):
Length:
6.75
Width:
2.92
Height:
2.69
Engine:
XLR-11
Weight (kg):
2300 (with water ballast test tanks
full, 4100)
Construction:
Aluminum
Controls:
Rudder on outer face of each fin for
yaw; upper flaps for roll control and pitch trim;
full-length pitch flap on lower surface of tail; center
vertical fin for improved lateral control
First flight:
June 2, 1970
Last flight:
December 21, 1972
Times flown:
27
Test pilots:
William H. Dana, John A. Manke, Cecil
Powell, Jerauld R. Gentry
Cognizant:
ARC (design)
NASA center:
FRC (flight testing)
Program manager:
John McTigue
Contractor:
Northrop Corporation, prime
Remarks:
Modified M2-F2, which suffered a
crashlanding in May 1967; redesignated the M2-F3; center
vertical fin added.
Mode of Operation:
Released in midair from under the
wing of a B-52