Description: Dr. Hugh Latimer Dryden, had many titles after his name in his lifetime. In 1949 he became the director of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). Dr. Dryden received many accolades More
(November 30, 1959) Dryden pilot Neil Armstrong is seen here next to the X-15 ship 1 (56-6670) after a research flight. The X-15 was a rocket-powered aircraft 50 feet long with a wingspan of 22 feet. It was a m More
(August 24, 1962) With the Paresev 1-A and the 450-hp Stearman Sport Biplane as a backdrop the pilot and crew pose for this picture in 1962. Starting at left: On the motorcycle is Walter Whiteside, in the Pares More
(October 17, 1962) The Paresev 1-A standing at Rogers Dry Lakebed at the NASA Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. Mercury Astronaut Gus Grissom is at left and NASA test pilot Milton Thompson is at righ More
(August 24, 1962) The Paresev 1-A (Paraglider Research Vehicle) and the tow airplane, 450-hp Stearman Sport Biplane sitting on Rogers dry lakebed, Edwards, California. The control system in the Paresev 1-A had More
(1972) NASA research pilot John A. Manke is seen here in front of the M2-F3 lifting body. Manke was hired by NASA on May 25, 1962, as a flight research engineer. He was later assigned to the pilot's office and More
A North American Aviation A-5A Vigilante (Navy serial number 147858/NASA tail number 858) arrived from the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, MD, on December 19, 1962, at the NASA Flight Research Center (no More
(1964) The M2-F1 lifting body is seen here under tow at the Flight Research Center (later redesignated the Dryden Flight Research Center), Edwards, California. The wingless, lifting body aircraft design was ini More
Original caption: NASA FLIGHT RESEARCH CENTER, EDWARDS, CALIF. - Four of the men who have flown the experimental lifting bodies are Jerauld R. Gentry, Peter C. Hoag, John A. Manke and William H. Dana. The HL-1 More
Description: The X-15 rocket-powered aircraft begins its climb after launch at the NASA Flight Research Center, Edwards, California (later renamed the Dryden Flight Research Center). The X-15 was a rocket power More
(February 1, 1966) Jay L. King, Joseph D. Huxman and Orion D. Billeter assist NASA research pilot Milt Thompson (on the ladder) into the cockpit of the M2-F2 lifting body research aircraft at the NASA Flight Re More
(November 21, 1966) The M2-F2 lifting body returns from a research flight at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California, with an F-104 flying chase. (Image # EC66-1567)
(November 30, 1968) NASA research pilot Bill Dana takes a moment to watch NASA's NB-52B cruise overhead after a research flight in the HL-10. On the left, John Reeves can be seen at the cockpit of the lifting b More
(1969) The four principal HL-10 pilots are seen here with the lifting body aircraft. They are, left to right; Air Force Major Jerauld R. Gentry, Air Force test pilot Peter Hoag, and NASA pilots John A. Manke an More
Photo Description: .(November 17, 1969) The HL-10 lifting body is seen here in powered flight shortly after launch from the B-52 "Mothership". When HL-10 powered flights began on October 23, 1968, the vehicle u More
Photo Description: (1970) The X-24A lights its XLR-11 rocket engine and begins its powered flight after being drop launched from its B-52 mothership, seen here with high-altitude contrails streaming from its w More
(November 30, 1970) Air Force pilot Major Cecil Powell stands in front of the X-24A after a research flight. Built for the Air Force by Martin Marietta, the X-24A was a bulbous vehicle shaped like a tear drop, More
(1971) This photo shows the M2-F3 lifting body being launched from NASA's B- 52 mothership at the NASA Flight Research Center (FRC--now the Armstrong Flight Research Center), Edwards, California. A fleet of lif More
Description: On March 26, 1976, the NASA Flight Research Center opened its doors to hundreds of guests for the dedication of the center in honor of Hugh Latimer Dryden. The dedication was very much a local even More
Research pilot Richard E. Gray, standing in front of the AD-1 Oblique Wing research aircraft.