NASA’s Lifting Bodies — Airplanes by Design

This week continues the NASA research planes theme with the “lifting body” aircraft. In my opinion, never did any A and B model differ by so much as the X-24A and X-24B.

X-24 Lifting Body - NASA Photo ECN-2353
Here the X-24A is on the far left.

X-24B Landing Gear Drop Test - NASA Photo E-26140
The X-24B is rigged for a drop test, a means of demonstrating landing gear design loads.

X-24B landing with F-104N chase - NASA Photo ECN-4351
Finally, the X-24B lands on the lakebed with the F-104N in chase.

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