OXCART PROGRAM

Created: 5/1/1962

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

EO LfJH

Yis) ;

Copy J_ of

^

MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence

Program

1. The official first flight of2 Aircraftutilizing5 engines with afterburner, took

morning of The

aire rail, piloted 0y" LoCKheed Aircraft Corporation test pilot Mr.

Louis Chalk, was taken offnots per hour,ross weight0nd climbed0 feet. peednots was indicated on climb-out, but dueinor problem,airing bending, the aircraft speed for the flight was heldimitnots. During flight, instrumentation calibration and preliminary stability and control checks were made. The aircraft stability and augmentation system was turned off during flight, and yaw-roll (lateral directional coupling) was checked. The aircraft handled exceptionally well in these maneuvers down to very low speeds. The test was concluded afterinutes of flight with aircraft touchdown on the runway occurringpeednots per hour. The pilot, Mr. Chalk, reports that the aircraft feels good in all regimes tested, has good response to controls and is extremely stable with or without stability augmentors In the speed regimes tested. Minor squawks concerning the aircraft, requiring corrective action, included: ent fairing (corrected either by spring-loading or beefing up theb) two slightly dragging wheel brakes requiring adjustment; and (c) adjustmentudder trim actuator. Mr. C. L. Johnson, designer of the OXCARTreports this to be the smoothest official first flight of any aircraft he has designed and tested. Photographs of OXCART Aircraft fl in flight are attached to this report.

The second teat flight of2ay. with Mr. Louie Chalk, Lockheed test pilot, at the controls was

*

WFROVED rOP HELEWK DATE: AUG Zuul

age 2

Copy / of

satisfactorily complete!otal of one hour and twelve minutes in the air. Take-off occurredross weightbs.apid climb-outcheduled altitude0 feetcheduled maximum speednots per hour indicated. Actual top speed for the flight waseet. The aircraft was checked throughout the transonic range and performed exceptionally well. In low subsonic ranges, the aircraft performance was excellent. Gross evaluation was made of single engine performance and handling characteristics at altitudes fromeet. No aircraft problems were encountered during the flightinorproblem relatinguel tank venting system. According to Mr. C. Ij. Johnson the aircraft performed well throughout the flight range covered thus far in tests.

test flights of Aircraftre scheduled for 8three weeks test flights are scheduled in the machnd

upeet regimes. OXCARThe ARonfigured aircraft, is scheduled for delivery in Intensive pole testing of this aircraft on the anti-radar test range will be followed by extensive flight tests.

Pratt fc WhitneyXCARTdevelopment program is now in the phase of intensivetesting preparatory to flight qualification. our endurance engine tests have been completed.

Of the nine engines in the development program, five now are on test with the other four being overhauled preparatory to further testing. Test time accumulation now stands as follows:

Total Engine Time8 configurations) 3 hours

Afterburnerhours

onfigurationhours

Machemperaturehours

Machemperaturehours

Machemperaturehours

Maximum Turbineours

Engine Time with Automatichours

opy I of

Significant progress has been realized since2 in the major problem area of hydraulic pump durability, combustion temperature distribution as it affects turbine durability, and engine controls development. Further engine development and endurance testing is required in order to establish fllghtworthincss. Thehour preliminary flight rating test to establish flight-worthiness is scheduled fortrong effort is being made to accelerate the development and testing program. Also, back-up alternate design work has been accelerated on certain key engine components as insurance to the program. An additional engine hot test stand facility has been authorized athitney's Florida test centerodificationest stand at thehitney Willgoos facility in Connecticut to accommodate8 engine in order to speed up endurance engine testing and calibration.

5. Production delivery engines are on or slightly ahead of schedule at this time. The first production engine targeted02 delivery passed the initial acceptance test and now is being reassembled for the final acceptance test. The second engine targeted12 delivery has been assembled and is being prepared for an initial acceptance test run. The third and fourth production engines are on schedule.

Deputy Director (Research)

Original document.

---

---