With NASA F-104 and T-38 chase planes keeping pace, the X-24B lifting body flares for landing on the main runway at Edwards Air Force Base on Aug. 5, 1975.
E75-28923
With NASA F-104 and T-38 chase planes keeping pace, the X-24B lifting body flares for landing on the main runway at Edwards Air Force Base on Aug. 5, 1975. This precision landing of the X-24B by NASA research pilot John Manke, and a similar landing by Air Force Maj. Mike Love later, proved that a low lift-to-drag aircraft could be flown to a precise unpowered landing, leading designers of the coming space shuttle to eliminate adding auxiliary jet engines to the shuttle to aid its landing approaches.Aug. 5, 1975
NASA/USAF photo