The 100th flight of the heavy-weight lifting bodies was completed on October 5, 1972, with pilot Bill Dana soaring to…
Flight Research Center engineer R. Dale Reed has long used free-flight models to test new concepts.
Richard C. Eldredge, Dale Reed, James O. Newman, and Bob McDonald with the mothership (top) and other models.
The success of Dryden’s M2-F1 program led to NASA’s development and construction of two heavyweight lifting bodies based on studies…
After the M2-F1 (left) proved the lifting-body concept, NASA and the Air Force began work on a series of heavyweight,…
The HL-10 touches down on its main landing gear, while the pilot was holding the nose up to slow the…
The HL-10 Lifting Body is seen here in flight over Rogers Dry Lakebed. Like the other lifting bodies, the HL-10…
NASA Flight Research Center pilot John Manke is shown here on the lakebed next to the HL-10, one of four…
The HL-10 lifting body is seen here in flight over Rogers Dry Lake at Edwards AFB. After the vehicle’s fins…
