NASA M2-F1
Encyclopedia
The NASA
M2-F1 was a lightweight, unpowered prototype aircraft, developed to flight test the wingless lifting body
concept. It looked like a "flying bathtub," and was designated the M2-F1, the "M" referring to "manned" and "F" referring to "flight" version. In 1962
, NASA Dryden management approved a program to build a lightweight, unpowered lifting body prototype. It featured a plywood shell placed over a tubular steel frame crafted at Dryden. Construction was completed in 1963
.
' Ames Aeronautical Laboratory, Mountain View, California. By February 1962, a series of possible shapes had been developed, and R. Dale Reed was working to gain support for a research vehicle.
The construction of the M2-F1 was a joint effort by Dryden and a local glider manufacturer, the Briegleb Glider Company. The budget was US$30,000. NASA craftsmen and engineers built the tubular steel interior frame. Its mahogany plywood shell was hand-made by Gus Briegleb and company. Ernie Lowder, a NASA craftsman who had worked on Howard Hughes
' H-4 Hercules
(or Spruce Goose), was assigned to help Briegleb.
Final assembly of the remaining components (including aluminum tail surfaces, push rod controls, and landing gear from a Cessna 150
, which was later replaced by Cessna 180
landing gear) was done at the NASA facility.
The wingless, lifting body aircraft design was initially conceived as a means of landing a spacecraft horizontally after atmospheric reentry. The absence of wings would make the extreme heat of re-entry less damaging to the vehicle. Rather than using a ballistic reentry trajectory like a Command Module, very limited in manoeuvering range, a lifting body vehicle had a landing footprint
the size of California
.
The first flight tests of the M2-F1 were at Rogers Dry Lake
, at the end of a tow rope attached to a Pontiac Catalina
convertible. On April 5, 1963 test pilot Milt Thompson lifted the M2-F1's nose off the ground for the first time on-tow. Speed was 86 miles per hour (38.4 m/s) . The little craft seemed to bounce uncontrollably back and forth on the main landing gear, and stopped when he lowered the nose to the ground. He tried again, but each time with the same results. He felt it was a landing gear problem that could have caused the aircraft to roll on its back if he had lifted the main gear off the ground.
After looking at movies of the tests, it was decided that the bouncing was probably caused by unwanted rudder movements. Flight control system number two was replaced in favor of number one, and it never bounced again.
It was found that the car used to tow the aircraft was not powerful enough to entirely lift the M2-F1 off the ground, so the FRC arranged to have the tow car hot-rodded
by Bill Straub, a conversion that tuned the engine for increased power, added a rollbar, and turned the front passenger seat to face aft so the passenger could observe the aircraft. This proved successful and tow tests continued.
Speeds on tow inched up to 110 miles per hour (49.2 m/s) , which allowed Thompson to climb to about 20 feet (6.1 m) , then glide for about 20 seconds after releasing the line. That was the most that could be expected during an auto tow.
These initial tests produced enough flight data about the M2-F1 to proceed with flights behind a U.S. Navy C-47
tow plane at greater altitudes.
" - in the tail to extend the landing flare for about 5 seconds if needed, and Thompson prepared for the flight with a few more tows behind the Pontiac.
Forward visibility in the M2-F1 was very limited on tow, requiring Thompson to fly about 20 feet (6.1 m) higher than the C-47 so he could see the plane through the nose window. Towing speed was about 100 miles per hour (44.7 m/s) .
The C-47 took the craft to an altitude of 12000 feet (3,657.6 m) where free flights back to Rogers Dry Lake began. Pilot for the first series of flights of the M2-F1 was NASA research pilot Milt Thompson. Typical glide flights with the M2-F1 lasted about two minutes and reached speeds of 110 to 120 mph (49.2 to 53.6 )
Tow release was at 12000 feet (3,657.6 m) The lifting body descended at an average rate of about 3,600 feet-per-minute (1,100 m/min). At 1000 feet (304.8 m) above the ground, the nose was lowered to increase speed to about 150 miles per hour (67.1 m/s) , flare was at 200 feet (61 m) from a 20 degree dive. The landing was smooth, and the lifting body program was on its way.
The M2-F1 was flown until August 16, 1966. It proved the lifting body concept and led the way for subsequent, metal "heavyweight" designs. Chuck Yeager
, Bruce Peterson
and Don Mallick also flew the M2-F1.
More than 400 ground tows and 77 aircraft tow flights were carried out with the M2-F1. The success of Dryden's M2-F1 program led to NASA's development and construction of two heavyweight lifting bodies based on studies at NASA's Ames and Langley research centers—the Northrop M2-F2
and the Northrop HL-10
, both built by the Northrop Corporation, and the U.S. Air Force's X-24 program. The lifting body
program also heavily influenced the Space Shuttle
program.
The M2-F1 program demonstrated the feasibility of the lifting-body concept for horizontal landings of atmospheric entry vehicles. It also demonstrated a procurement and management concept for prototype flight research vehicles that produced rapid results at very low cost (approximately $US 50,000, excluding salaries of government employees assigned to the project).
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
M2-F1 was a lightweight, unpowered prototype aircraft, developed to flight test the wingless lifting body
Lifting body
A lifting body is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration in which the body itself produces lift. In contrast to a flying wing, which is a wing with minimal or no conventional fuselage, a lifting body can be thought of as a fuselage with little or no conventional wing...
concept. It looked like a "flying bathtub," and was designated the M2-F1, the "M" referring to "manned" and "F" referring to "flight" version. In 1962
1962 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1962:- Events :* Early 1962 – In Operation High Jump, the United States Navy McDonnell F4H-1 Phantom II fighter sets a number of world climb-to altitude records: 34.523 seconds to 3,000 meters , 48.787 seconds to 6,000 meters , 61.629 seconds to...
, NASA Dryden management approved a program to build a lightweight, unpowered lifting body prototype. It featured a plywood shell placed over a tubular steel frame crafted at Dryden. Construction was completed in 1963
1963 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1963:- Events :* Violating a 1959 requirement that all aircraft operating from the aircraft carrier Minas Gerais - which never has operated aircraft - belong to the Brazilian Air Force, the Brazilian Navy establishes an air group of its own for the...
.
Development
The lifting-body concept originated in the mid-1950s at the National Advisory Committee for AeronauticsNational Advisory Committee for Aeronautics
The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics was a U.S. federal agency founded on March 3, 1915 to undertake, promote, and institutionalize aeronautical research. On October 1, 1958 the agency was dissolved, and its assets and personnel transferred to the newly created National Aeronautics and...
' Ames Aeronautical Laboratory, Mountain View, California. By February 1962, a series of possible shapes had been developed, and R. Dale Reed was working to gain support for a research vehicle.
The construction of the M2-F1 was a joint effort by Dryden and a local glider manufacturer, the Briegleb Glider Company. The budget was US$30,000. NASA craftsmen and engineers built the tubular steel interior frame. Its mahogany plywood shell was hand-made by Gus Briegleb and company. Ernie Lowder, a NASA craftsman who had worked on Howard Hughes
Howard Hughes
Howard Robard Hughes, Jr. was an American business magnate, investor, aviator, engineer, film producer, director, and philanthropist. He was one of the wealthiest people in the world...
' H-4 Hercules
Hughes H-4 Hercules
The Hughes H-4 Hercules is a prototype heavy transport aircraft designed and built by the Hughes Aircraft company. The aircraft made its only flight on November 2, 1947 and the project was never advanced beyond the single example produced...
(or Spruce Goose), was assigned to help Briegleb.
Final assembly of the remaining components (including aluminum tail surfaces, push rod controls, and landing gear from a Cessna 150
Cessna 150
The Cessna 150 is a two-seat tricycle gear general aviation airplane, that was designed for flight training, touring and personal use.The Cessna 150 is the seventh most produced civilian plane ever, with 23,839 aircraft produced...
, which was later replaced by Cessna 180
Cessna 180
The Cessna 180 is a four- or six-seat, fixed conventional gear general aviation airplane which was produced between 1953 and 1981. Though the design is no longer in production, many of these aircraft are still in use as personal aircraft and in utility roles such as bush...
landing gear) was done at the NASA facility.
The wingless, lifting body aircraft design was initially conceived as a means of landing a spacecraft horizontally after atmospheric reentry. The absence of wings would make the extreme heat of re-entry less damaging to the vehicle. Rather than using a ballistic reentry trajectory like a Command Module, very limited in manoeuvering range, a lifting body vehicle had a landing footprint
Landing footprint
After Atmospheric reentry, a non powered spacecraft will land on an area depending upon entry angle, entry mass, atmosphere and drag. It is therefore impossible to know the spacecraft's landing point with absolute precision...
the size of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Tow testing
Rogers Dry Lake
Rogers Dry Lake is an endorheic desert salt pan in the Mojave Desert of Kern County, California. The lake derives its name from the Anglicization from the Spanish name, Rodriguez Dry Lake. It is the central part of Edwards Air Force Base as its hard surface provides a natural extension to the...
, at the end of a tow rope attached to a Pontiac Catalina
Pontiac Catalina
The Pontiac Catalina was part of Pontiac's full-sized automobile line. Initially, the name was used strictly to denote hardtop body styles, first appearing in the 1950 Chieftain Eight and DeLuxe Eight lines...
convertible. On April 5, 1963 test pilot Milt Thompson lifted the M2-F1's nose off the ground for the first time on-tow. Speed was 86 miles per hour (38.4 m/s) . The little craft seemed to bounce uncontrollably back and forth on the main landing gear, and stopped when he lowered the nose to the ground. He tried again, but each time with the same results. He felt it was a landing gear problem that could have caused the aircraft to roll on its back if he had lifted the main gear off the ground.
After looking at movies of the tests, it was decided that the bouncing was probably caused by unwanted rudder movements. Flight control system number two was replaced in favor of number one, and it never bounced again.
It was found that the car used to tow the aircraft was not powerful enough to entirely lift the M2-F1 off the ground, so the FRC arranged to have the tow car hot-rodded
Hot rod
Hot rods are typically American cars with large engines modified for linear speed. The origin of the term "hot rod" is unclear. One explanation is that the term is a contraction of "hot roadster," meaning a roadster that was modified for speed. Another possible origin includes modifications to or...
by Bill Straub, a conversion that tuned the engine for increased power, added a rollbar, and turned the front passenger seat to face aft so the passenger could observe the aircraft. This proved successful and tow tests continued.
Speeds on tow inched up to 110 miles per hour (49.2 m/s) , which allowed Thompson to climb to about 20 feet (6.1 m) , then glide for about 20 seconds after releasing the line. That was the most that could be expected during an auto tow.
These initial tests produced enough flight data about the M2-F1 to proceed with flights behind a U.S. Navy C-47
C-47 Skytrain
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
tow plane at greater altitudes.
Flight testing
A NASA C-47 was used for all of the aero tows. The first was on August 16, 1963. The M2-F1 had recently been equipped with an ejection seat and small rockets - referred to by the test team as "instant L/DLift-to-drag ratio
In aerodynamics, the lift-to-drag ratio, or L/D ratio, is the amount of lift generated by a wing or vehicle, divided by the drag it creates by moving through the air...
" - in the tail to extend the landing flare for about 5 seconds if needed, and Thompson prepared for the flight with a few more tows behind the Pontiac.
Forward visibility in the M2-F1 was very limited on tow, requiring Thompson to fly about 20 feet (6.1 m) higher than the C-47 so he could see the plane through the nose window. Towing speed was about 100 miles per hour (44.7 m/s) .
The C-47 took the craft to an altitude of 12000 feet (3,657.6 m) where free flights back to Rogers Dry Lake began. Pilot for the first series of flights of the M2-F1 was NASA research pilot Milt Thompson. Typical glide flights with the M2-F1 lasted about two minutes and reached speeds of 110 to 120 mph (49.2 to 53.6 )
Tow release was at 12000 feet (3,657.6 m) The lifting body descended at an average rate of about 3,600 feet-per-minute (1,100 m/min). At 1000 feet (304.8 m) above the ground, the nose was lowered to increase speed to about 150 miles per hour (67.1 m/s) , flare was at 200 feet (61 m) from a 20 degree dive. The landing was smooth, and the lifting body program was on its way.
The M2-F1 was flown until August 16, 1966. It proved the lifting body concept and led the way for subsequent, metal "heavyweight" designs. Chuck Yeager
Chuck Yeager
Charles Elwood "Chuck" Yeager is a retired major general in the United States Air Force and noted test pilot. He was the first pilot to travel faster than sound...
, Bruce Peterson
Bruce Peterson
Bruce Peterson was a test pilot for NASA.A native of Washburn, North Dakota, he attended the University of California at Los Angeles, and California Polytechnic State University...
and Don Mallick also flew the M2-F1.
More than 400 ground tows and 77 aircraft tow flights were carried out with the M2-F1. The success of Dryden's M2-F1 program led to NASA's development and construction of two heavyweight lifting bodies based on studies at NASA's Ames and Langley research centers—the Northrop M2-F2
Northrop M2-F2
|-See also:-External links:***** of Peterson's crash...
and the Northrop HL-10
Northrop HL-10
The Northrop HL-10 was one of five heavyweight lifting body designs flown at NASA's Flight Research Center , Edwards, California, from July 1966 to November 1975 to study and validate the concept of safely maneuvering and landing a low lift-over-drag vehicle designed for reentry from space...
, both built by the Northrop Corporation, and the U.S. Air Force's X-24 program. The lifting body
Lifting body
A lifting body is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration in which the body itself produces lift. In contrast to a flying wing, which is a wing with minimal or no conventional fuselage, a lifting body can be thought of as a fuselage with little or no conventional wing...
program also heavily influenced the Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
program.
The M2-F1 program demonstrated the feasibility of the lifting-body concept for horizontal landings of atmospheric entry vehicles. It also demonstrated a procurement and management concept for prototype flight research vehicles that produced rapid results at very low cost (approximately $US 50,000, excluding salaries of government employees assigned to the project).
M2F1 Pilots
- Milt Thompson - 45 flights
- Bruce PetersonBruce PetersonBruce Peterson was a test pilot for NASA.A native of Washburn, North Dakota, he attended the University of California at Los Angeles, and California Polytechnic State University...
- 17 flights - Chuck YeagerChuck YeagerCharles Elwood "Chuck" Yeager is a retired major general in the United States Air Force and noted test pilot. He was the first pilot to travel faster than sound...
- 5 flights - Donald M. Sorlie - 5 flights
- Donald L. Mallick - 2 flights
- Jerauld R. GentryJerauld R. GentryJerauld Richard "Jerry" Gentry was a United States Air Force test pilot and Vietnam combat veteran. As chief USAF pilot of the Lifting Body Research Program, he helped validate the concept of flying a wingless vehicle back to Earth from space and landing it like an aircraft—an approach used...
- 2 flights - Bill DanaWilliam H. Dana-Career:Dana was born in Pasadena, California, November 3, 1930, received his Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military Academy in 1952 and served four years as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force...
- 1 flight - James W. WoodJames W. WoodJames Wayne Wood was an American astronaut in the X-20 Dyna-Soar program.He was born in Paragould, Arkansas on August 9, 1924....
- 1 ground tow - Fred HaiseFred HaiseFred Wallace Haise, Jr. is an engineer and former NASA astronaut. He is one of only 24 people to have flown to the Moon. Having flown on Apollo 13, Haise was to be the sixth human to walk on the Moon, but the mission did not land due to a failure aboard the spacecraft.-Early life and...
- 1 ground tow - Joe Engle - 1 ground tow
Specifications (M2-F1)
M2-F1 flights
| Vehicle Flight # |
Date | Pilot | Duration | Velocity (km/h) |
Altitude (m) |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M2-F1 #0 | March 1, 1963 | Thompson | - | 135 | 0 | First Ground Tow. 400 total ground tows. |
| M2-F1 #1 | August 16, 1963 | Thompson | 0:02:00 | 240 | 3,650 | First M2-F1 Flight. 77 total flights. |
| M2-F1 #2 | August 28, 1963 | Thompson | 0:02:09 | 240 | 3,650 | - |
| M2-F1 #3 | August 29, 1963 | Thompson | 0:02:25 | 240 | 3,650 | - |
| M2-F1 #4 | August 30, 1963 | Thompson | 0:04:42 | 240 | 3,650 | 1st flight of day |
| M2-F1 #5 | August 30, 1963 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 2nd flight of day |
| M2-F1 #6 | September 3, 1963 | Thompson | 0:04:50 | 240 | 3,650 | 1st flight of day |
| M2-F1 #7 | September 3, 1963 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 2nd flight of day |
| M2-F1 #8 | October 7, 1963 | Thompson | 0:01:26 | 240 | 3,650 | - |
| M2-F1 #9 | October 9, 1963 | Thompson | 0:01:51 | 240 | 3,650 | - |
| M2-F1 #10 | October 15, 1963 | Thompson | 0:02:20 | 240 | 3,650 | - |
| M2-F1 #11 | October 23, 1963 | Thompson | 0:03:00 | 240 | 3,650 | - |
| M2-F1 #12 | October 25, 1963 | Thompson | 0:03:52 | 240 | 3,650 | 1st flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #13 | October 25, 1963 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 2nd flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #14 | November 8, 1963 | Thompson | 0:07:45 | 240 | 3,650 | 1st flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #15 | November 8, 1963 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 2nd flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #16 | November 8, 1963 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 3rd flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #17 | December 3, 1963 | Thompson | 0:01:00 | 240 | 3,650 | - |
| M2-F1 #18 | December 3, 1963 | Yeager | 0:01:35 | 240 | 3,650 | - |
| M2-F1 #19 | December 3, 1963 | Peterson | 0:03:15 | 240 | 3,650 | 1st flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #20 | December 3, 1963 | Peterson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 2nd flight of the day Broke landing gear |
| M2-F1 #21 | January 29, 1964 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 1st flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #22 | January 29, 1964 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 2nd flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #23 | January 29, 1964 | Peterson | 0:04:44 | 240 | 3,650 | 1st flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #24 | January 29, 1964 | Peterson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 2nd flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #25 | January 29, 1964 | Yeager | - | 240 | 3,650 | 1st flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #26 | January 29, 1964 | Yeager | - | 240 | 3,650 | 2nd flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #27 | January 30, 1964 | Yeager | - | 240 | 3,650 | 1st flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #28 | January 30, 1964 | Yeager | - | 240 | 3,650 | 2nd flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #29 | January 30, 1964 | Mullick | - | 240 | 3,650 | 1st flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #30 | January 30, 1964 | Mullick | - | 240 | 3,650 | 2nd flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #31 | February 28, 1964 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 1st flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #32 | February 28, 1964 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 2nd flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #33 | March 30, 1964 | Peterson | 0:02:25 | 240 | 3,650 | - |
| M2-F1 #34 | April 9, 1964 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 1st flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #35 | April 9, 1964 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 2nd flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #36 | April 9, 1964 | Peterson | 0:08:00 | 240 | 3,650 | 1st flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #37 | April 9, 1964 | Peterson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 2nd flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #38 | April 9, 1964 | Peterson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 3rd flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #39 | May 19, 1964 | Peterson | 0:04:08 | 240 | 3,650 | 1st flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #40 | May 19, 1964 | Peterson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 2nd flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #41 | June 3, 1964 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | - |
| M2-F1 #42 | July 24, 1964 | Peterson | 0:06:50 | 240 | 3,650 | 1st flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #43 | July 24, 1964 | Peterson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 2nd flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #44 | July 24, 1964 | Peterson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 3rd flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #45 | August 18, 1964 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | - |
| M2-F1 #46 | August 21, 1964 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 1st flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #47 | August 21, 1964 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 2nd flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #48 | August 21, 1964 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 3rd flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #49 | August 21, 1964 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 4th flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #50 | February 16, 1965 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | - |
| M2-F1 #51 | May 27, 1965 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 1st flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #52 | May 27, 1965 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 2nd flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #53 | May 27, 1965 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 3rd flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #54 | May 27, 1965 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 4th flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #55 | May 27, 1965 | Sorlie | 0:06:00 | 240 | 3,650 | 1st flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #56 | May 27, 1965 | Sorlie | - | 240 | 3,650 | 2nd flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #57 | May 27, 1965 | Sorlie | - | 240 | 3,650 | 3rd flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #58 | May 28, 1965 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | - |
| M2-F1 #59 | May 28, 1965 | Sorlie | 0:04:30 | 240 | 3,650 | 1st flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #60 | May 28, 1965 | Sorlie | - | 240 | 3,650 | 2nd flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #61 | July 16, 1965 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | - |
| M2-F1 #62 | July 16, 1965 | Dana | - | 240 | 3,650 | - |
| M2-F1 #63 | July 16, 1965 | Gentry | 0:00:09 | 200 | 10 | Rolled M2-F1 on liftoff. Recovered. Safe landing. |
| M2-F1 #64 | August 30, 1965 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 1st flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #65 | August 30, 1965 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 2nd flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #66 | August 30, 1965 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 3rd flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #67 | August 31, 1965 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | - |
| M2-F1 #68 | October 6, 1965 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 1st flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #69 | October 6, 1965 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 2nd flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #70 | October 8, 1965 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | - |
| M2-F1 #71 | March 28, 1966 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 1st flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #72 | March 28, 1966 | Thompson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 2nd flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #73 | August 4, 1966 | Peterson | 0:02:00 | 240 | 3,650 | - |
| M2-F1 #74 | August 5, 1966 | Peterson | 0:04:00 | 240 | 3,650 | 1st flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #75 | August 5, 1966 | Peterson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 2nd flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #76 | August 5, 1966 | Peterson | - | 240 | 3,650 | 3rd flight of the day |
| M2-F1 #77 | August 16, 1966 | Gentry | - | 200 | 10 | Rolled M2-F1 on liftoff. Recovered. Fired landing rockets. Safe landing. Last flight. |