Message posted by Peter Merlin on April 26, 2012 at 9:24:49 PST:
Actually, the A-12 had three first flights. On 25 April 1962, during a high-speed taxi run, Lockheed test pilot Lou Schalk got Article 121 into the air for the first time. He flew for about a mile and a half at an altitude of around 20 feet. As the aircraft left the ground, Schalk was using full right rudder, but immediately had to correct in the opposite direction. This set up lateral oscillations that were horrible to watch. Schalk, however, managed to get the airplane back on the ground safely. Technicians later determined the trouble was caused by an improper connection between the rudder pedals and nose-wheel steering, as the rudder and nose wheel turned in opposite directions from those desired. Lockheed’s first planned flight took place the next day. Schalk made a beautiful takeoff but, by the time the airplane reached an altitude of 300 feet, it started shedding fillet panels from the lower fuselage. He landed safely and technicians spent the next four days solving the problem. Schalk flew again on 30 April for the customer’s official first flight. He was airborne for 59 minutes, attaining a top speed of 340 knots and a peak altitude of 30,000 feet. After conducting a stability and control check, Schalk declared the A-12 responded well in all regimes of flight. Prior to landing, he made a low pass over the old U-2 runway for the benefit of the VIP observers. Kelly Johnson later described the event as the smoothest first flight in his experience. Not surprising since the airplane already had two “first” flights in which to work the bugs out.
In Reply to: 50-Year Anniversary First Flight of CIA A-12 at Groom Lake posted by Joerg (Webmaster) on April 26, 2012 at 9:10:54 PST:
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