Eclipse Project
In 1997 and 1998 the Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards, California, supported and hosted a Kelly Space & Technology, Inc. (KST) project called Eclipse, which sought to demonstrate the feasibility of a reusable tow-launch vehicle concept. The objectives were: demonstration of towed takeoff, climb-out, and separation of the EXD-01 from the towing aircraft; validation of simulation models of the towed aircraft systems; and development of ground and flight procedures for towing and launching a delta-winged airplane configuration safely behind a transport-type aircraft. [1]
The NASA Eclipse Project was designed to examine the feasibility of towing a delta wing aircraft having high wing loading, validate the tow simulation model, and demonstrate various operational procedures, such as ground processing, in-flight maneuvers, and emergency abort scenarios. Further project goals were to successfully tow, in-flight, a modified QF-106 delta-wing aircraft with an Air Force C-141A transport aircraft. This would demonstrate the possibility of towing and launching an actual launch vehicle from behind a tow plane. The project was conducted in 1997-1998, with F-106 Delta Dart airframes modified to QF-106 drones, towed behind C-141A cargo aircraft.[2]Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).