 |
Dryden supported and hosted a Kelly Space and Technology, Inc., (KST)/USAF project, known as Eclipse, which demonstrated a reusable tow launch vehicle concept. The goal of the project was to successfully tow in flight a modified QF-106 delta-wing aircraft with an Air Force C-141A transport-type aircraft. Eclipse Home Page
| DFRC Photo # |
Photo Date |
Image Description |
| |
 |
Eclipse Photo Collection Contact Sheet |
| EC98-44471-1 |
February 17, 1998 |
Pilot Mark Stucky in Eclipse Simulator |
| EC98-44398-10 |
January 28, 1998 |
The Eclipse project’s modified QF-106 under tow by a USAF C-141A. |
| EC97-44357-8 |
December 20, 1997 |
Eclipse project QF-106 and C-141A takeoff on first flight December 20, 1997 |
| EC97-44357-9 |
December 20, 1997 |
Eclipse project closeup of QF-106 under tow on takeoff on first flight December 20, 1997 |
| EC97-44357-10 |
December 20, 1997 |
Eclipse project closeup of QF-106 under tow on first flight December 20, 1997 |
| EC97-44357-13 |
December 20, 1997 |
Eclipse project QF-106 and C-141A climbs out under tow on first flight December 20, 1997 |
| EC96-43755-4 |
September 26, 1996 |
Eclipse program F-106 aircraft |
| EC97-43932-8 |
February 12, 1997 |
Eclipse program F-106 aircraft taxi at airport in Mojave, California |
| EC97-43932-7 |
February 12, 1997 |
Eclipse program F-106 aircraft takeoff from airport in Mojave, California |
| EC97-43932-12 |
February 12, 1997 |
Eclipse program F-106 aircraft in flight |
| EC97-43932-16 |
February 12, 1997 |
Eclipse program F-106 aircraft in flight, view from tanker |
| EC97-44159-8 |
August 1997 |
Eclipse program F-106 aircraft in flight, front view |
| EC97-44233-4 |
September 1997 |
Closeup of F-106 release hook for Eclipse program |
| EC97-44233-5 |
September 17, 1997 |
F-106 tow cable attachment and release mechanism for Eclipse program |
| EC97-44233-11 |
September 17, 1997 |
View of F-106 aircraft cockpit for Eclipse program |
Additional Information
Dryden was the Responsible Test Organization and had flight safety responsibility for the Eclipse project. Dryden was also supplying engineering, instrumentation, simulation, modification , maintenance, range support, research pilots, and chase aircraft for the test series.
The Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC) supplied the C-141A transport aircraft and crew and configuring the aircraft as required for the tests. They also provied general engineering support and assuming flight safety responsibilities for the C-141A.
KST provided concept and detail design and analysis as well as hardware for the tow system and QF-106 modifications. Dryden performed the modifications to convert the QF-106 drone into the piloted EXD-01 (Eclipse eXperimental Demonstrator -01) experimental airplane.
KST will use the results gleaned from the tow tests in developing a series of low-cost, reusable launch vehicles. These tests demonstrated the viability of towing a delta-wing aircraft having high wing loading, validate the tow simulation model, and demonstrate various operational procedures, such as ground processing, in-flight maneuvers, and emergency abort scenarios.
|
