NASA M2-F1 Pioneering Lifting-Body Research Aircraft Family
The NASA M2-F1 was a lightweight, unpowered, wingless lifting-body prototype built in 1963 through a joint Dryden Flight Research Center and Briegleb Glider Company effort. Its plywood shell and tubular-steel frame pioneered piloted lifting-body flight: after more than 400 car tows and 77 aircraft-tow flights from 1963 through 1966, the vehicle supplied aerodynamic and controllability data that helped establish later reentry-vehicle and Space Shuttle landing concepts.
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Identity
- Aliases
- M2-F1M2-F1 lifting bodyM2-F1 Flying BathtubManned 2 Flight 1
- Family Name
- NASA M2-F1
- Full Name
- NASA M2-F1 Pioneering Lifting-Body Research Aircraft Family
- Roles
- researchexperimentaltechnology_demonstrator
- Status
- retired
- Type
- aircraft
Details
- Aircraft Specs
- Configuration
- other
- Operating Modes
- land
- Description
- The NASA M2-F1 was a lightweight, unpowered, wingless lifting-body prototype built in 1963 through a joint Dryden Flight Research Center and Briegleb Glider Company effort. Its plywood shell and tubular-steel frame pioneered piloted lifting-body flight: after more than 400 car tows and 77 aircraft-tow flights from 1963 through 1966, the vehicle supplied aerodynamic and controllability data that helped establish later reentry-vehicle and Space Shuttle landing concepts.
- First Flight Year
- 1,963
- Last Flight Year
- 1,966
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 13, 2026 at 21:29:34 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 13, 2026 at 21:29:34 UTC