Author Topic: Paraglider 1965 at Edwards AFB?  (Read 16263 times)

Offline dcsugeek

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Paraglider 1965 at Edwards AFB?
« on: January 24, 2006, 01:25:57 AM »
Anyone here work on the Paraglider project (NAA), Edwards 1964-66?

Offline Johno

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Re: Paraglider 1965 at Edwards AFB?
« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2006, 08:16:50 AM »
Someone has been reading NAA's biography, methinks . . :)  Yes, I'd like to hear about that too.

Offline dcsugeek

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Re: Paraglider 1965 at Edwards AFB?
« Reply #2 on: January 25, 2006, 10:13:38 PM »
There’s got to be somebody here that worked on it, I can't be the only one on this site!
There were four capsules, two with landing gear and two others. We wired and modified them at S&ID's Compton facility in 1963. Up at Edwards, we used the west hanger at the south runway while the two XB70's were over in the east hanger. One of the mornings there remembered listing to the horrible news of the lost of the B70 It was truly a very sad day for everyone.

 June 1966 during the last final go at convincing NASA they were safe, one flight our pilot Jack Swigert took a nosedive into the lakebed. A crosswind caused the wing to flare early (about 150 feet) the nose tipped and down she went. Mr. Scott Crossfield was flying the chase plane and I was driving the small tan NAA radio truck. He landed and taxied right to the area while at the same time I was driving as fast as possible to help Swigert out of the capsule. We were all grateful that Jack popped out and walked away.
Afterward I got my butt chewed royally by Crossfield for trying to get to the site before him. Anyway after the near miss went back to the DI and found our good friend “Jack” waiting for us.

Offline Johno

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Re: Paraglider 1965 at Edwards AFB?
« Reply #3 on: January 26, 2006, 06:18:54 AM »
WOW!

I have read something about Crossfield (during the Skyrocket program, interesting book because it predates Space exploration IIRC).  What is/was he like in general?

Also, Swigert seems a fascinating character.  I wish I'd had the chance to meet him.

Offline dcsugeek

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Re: Paraglider 1965 at Edwards AFB?
« Reply #4 on: February 03, 2006, 03:29:02 AM »
Jack Swigert was a real nice guy, as tough as they come. After a morning on the hot Edwards lakebed, we all ended up back at our motel (the DI) in Lancaster. Nothing to do after post-test discussions, but lay in the summer heat next to the pool. All at once, the flight crew decided Jack needed a dip, easier said than done, we really had a hard time trying to push (dump) him into the pool but mass counts and we finally won!
I had the pleasure of going on a double date at the AVI with Swigert and two girls that we met at poolside also staying at the DI. Here he was a seasoned fighter pilot captivating both girls and of course me, (age 22) with stories concerning his experiences flying the fastest planes in our Air Force. He was a great story teller. In early 1983 I received word that he died. That hurt bad.

Offline spacecat27

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Re: Paraglider 1965 at Edwards AFB?
« Reply #5 on: February 03, 2006, 11:47:57 AM »
I'm guessing this is what was also known, or originally known, as the "Roballo Wing?" 
Only item of interest I can add- is that in '70/'71 there was a little company in Cape Canaveral called Aero-Foil Systems; Gordo Cooper was one of the officers.  They got some very limited R&D monies from NASA to explore the concept further... probably because at that stage there were multiple visions for the Shuttle, some with fly-back boosters & such.  While I've heard some of their work did contribute to lifting body knowledge, don't think any of their designs went beyond basic wind tunnel studies.

Offline Ottawan

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Re: Paraglider 1965 at Edwards AFB?
« Reply #6 on: February 03, 2006, 12:07:52 PM »
I think that's "Rogallo Wing" spacecat :D
Man must explore . . . and this is exploration at its greatest

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Offline spacecat27

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Re: Paraglider 1965 at Edwards AFB?
« Reply #7 on: February 03, 2006, 09:47:13 PM »
Yeah, well, see- ya get old......  :roll: