JOHAN VISSCHEDIJK COLLECTION No. 7004. Northrop HL-10 (N804NA c/n NLB 102) NASA
Photograph from Military Aircraft Photographs (MAP), taken at Edwards AFB, California, USA, 1978
10/31/2007. Northrop built this advanced design vehicle for NASA in
which the highest state of aerodynamics was incorporated to produce a
wingless body with sufficient stability and lift to fly well. The
HL-10 was designed in a research program (also known as the Lifting
Body Program) to develop a vehicle to allow astronauts to return
safely to earth from space missions.
Between December 22, 1966 and July 17, 1970 the HL-10 (HL = Horizontal
Lander) made 37 flights, launched from a B-52. It held records for
maximum speed (Mach 1.86, 1,379 mph, 2,219 kmh) and reached altitude
(90,300 ft, 27,524m).
