White Knight Two Flight Test Summaries
The following list includes summaries of the flight
test activity of the White Knight Two (WK2) aircraft.
White Knight Two is the mothership/ launch aircraft
for SpaceShipTwo (SS2) and potentially other large payloads.
It is equipped with many common system components to
SS2 (cabin, ECS, speed-brake actuators, avionics, trim
servos, air data, test data, video & TM). Thus,
the flight test program of WK2 includes many tests that
focus on SS2 systems qualification and maturity.
Rocket
Motor Two Fire Log
| Flight:
01 |
| Date:
21 Dec 08
|
Flight
Time: 1 hour
|
| Pilot:
Siebold |
Copilot:
Nichols
|
| FTE:
None |
| Objectives: |
| First flight.
Qualitative assessment of stability & controls
to facilitate a safe landing. |
| Results: |
| Objective
achieved. Gear down envelope to 110ktas. Max altitude
18,000ft. " Beautiful airplane to fly".
|
| Flight:
02 |
| Date:
4 Feb 09
|
Flight
Time: 1.5 hours
|
| Pilot:
Siebold |
Copilot:
Nichols
|
| FTE:
None |
| Objectives: |
| Envelope
expansion. |
| Results: |
| Objectives
achieved. Gear down speed expansion to 130ktas,
max 1.5g, and max altitude of 18,000 ft. |
| Flight:
03 |
| Date:
25 Mar 09
|
Flight
Time: 2 hrs 20 mins
|
| Pilot:
Siebold |
Copilot:
Nichols
|
| FTE:
None |
| Objectives: |
| Envelope
expansion. Landing gear evaluation. Engine in-flight
restarts |
| Results: |
| Objectives
achieved. Stability & controls, performance
and speed brakes evaluated to 135ktas. Max altitude
20,000ft. Engine in-flight restarts were cooler
than planned. |
| Flight:
04 |
| Date:
20 Apr 09
|
Flight
Time: 4 mins
|
| Pilot:
Siebold |
Copilot:
Binnie
|
| FTE:
None |
| Objectives: |
| New pilot
integration. Envelope expansion. Landing gear evaluation.
|
| Results: |
| Objectives
achieved. Stability & controls, performance
and speed brakes evaluated to 140ktas, max 2g's
and altitude of 18,000ft. Landing gear cycled at
100 ktas. Asymmetric thrust on go-around resulted
in large pitch and yaw excursions including tail
contact with ground. |
| Flight:
05 |
| Date:
20 May 09
|
Flight
Time: Aprox. 3 hours
|
| Pilot:
Siebold |
Copilot:
Nichols
|
| FTE:
None |
| Objectives: |
| Aft center
of gravity handling qualities evaluation. Initial
evaluation of pressurization and environmental control
systems (ECS). |
| Results: |
| All objectives
completed. Pressurization and ECS worked as designed.
Airspeed increased to 188 KTAS. Max altitude 20,000
ft. After landing, conducted an emergency response
drill, including both Scaled and Mojave Air and
Space Port resources. |
| Flight:
06 |
| Date:
2 June 09
|
Flight
Time: 3.1 hours
|
| Pilot:
Siebold |
Copilot:
Nichols
|
| FTE:
None |
| Objectives: |
| Weight expansion
at mid cg. Further pressurization/ECS functionality
checks to 35,000 ft. Gear-down speed envelope expansion. |
| Results: |
| All objectives
completed. Pressurization and ECS worked as designed.
Speed envelope expanded to 250 KTAS with the gear
down. Peak altitude increased to 35,000 ft. Starship
was onboard for video and safety chase. Two low
approaches were followed by a full stop landing.
|
| Flight:
07 |
| Date:
8 June 09
|
Flight
Time: 6.1 hours
|
| Pilot:
Siebold |
Copilot:
Alsbury
|
| FTE:
None |
| Objectives: |
| Weight expansion
at mid cg. Further pressurization/ECS functionality
checks to 45,000 ft. Speed envelope expansion. G
envelope expansion. Airborne engine relights |
| Results: |
|
All objectives completed. Pressurization and
ECS worked as designed. Speed envelope expanded
with the gear up and down to 340 KTAS. Peak altitude
increased to 45,000 ft. Wind-up turns were performed
to 2.5g's. Engines were shut down and restarted
per plan.
|
| Flight:
08 |
| Date:
11 June 09
|
Flight
Time: 1 hours
|
| Pilot:
Siebold |
Copilot:
Nichols
|
| FTE:
None |
| Objectives: |
| FAA monitored
flight for issuance of pilot letter of authorization. |
| Results: |
|
Letter of authorization issued
|
| Flight:
09 |
| Date:
15 June 09
|
Flight
Time: 7.5 hours
|
| Pilot:
Siebold |
Copilot:
Stucky
|
| FTE:
None |
| Objectives: |
| Weight expansion
at mid cg. Further pressurization/ECS functionality
checks to 51,000 ft. Speed envelope expansion. Airborne
engine relights. |
| Results: |
|
All objectives completed. Pressurization and
ECS worked as designed. Speed envelope expanded
with the gear up to 370 KTAS. Peak altitudes increased
to 52,400 ft. Performance, stability and handling
evaluation performed at altitude. Engines were
shut down and restarted per plan. Practiced instrument
approaches.
|
| Flight:
10 |
| Date:
19 June 09
|
Flight
Time: 6 hours (planned)
|
| Pilot:
Siebold |
Copilot:
Nichols
|
| FTE:
None |
| Objectives: |
| To evaluate
performance, stability and control, and cold soak
effects on 1st long cross country. Flyby at Spaceport
America as able. |
| Results: |
|
En route testing above 40,000 feet was uneventful.
During the descent toward the Spaceport America
groundbreaking we experienced a failure of a speedbrake
actuator. Based on facilities available and logistics
for our ground crew, the pilots elected to make
a precautionary landing at Williams Gateway airport
near Phoenix. Our ground crew is on site and we
hope to return to Mojave either this afternoon
or tomorrow morning.
|
| Flight:
11 |
| Date:
20 June 09
|
Flight
Time: 3 hours (planned)
|
| Pilot:
Siebold |
Copilot:
Nichols
|
| FTE:
None |
| Objectives: |
| Flyby at
Los Cruses NM in support of Spaceport America event.
Instrument approaches. |
| Results: |
|
Despite mechanical issues the day before the
Scaled team was able to turn the jet for a Saturday
morning demo at Los Cruses. Several flybys and
approaches were performed for spectators in support
of the Spaceport America groundbreaking. Systems
were evaluated on the high altitude return leg
to Mojave. One simulated approach was made to
runway 26 before landing on 30.
|
| Flight:
12 |
| Date:
9 July 09
|
Flight
Time: 4.5 hours
|
| Pilot:
Stucky |
Copilot:
Siebold
|
| FTE:
None |
| Objectives: |
| ECS evaluation,
3rd Seat Evaluation, Performance, Landing gear envelope
expansion. |
| Results: |
|
All objectives completed. ECS shows exceptional
cabin heating & cooling capability. 3rd seat
adequate for test engineer duties. Gear extended
out to 160 keas. Peak altitude for flight 51,000ft.
Instrument approach & touch and go at Victorville.
|
| Flight:
13 |
| Date:
14 July 09
|
Flight
Time: 5 hours
|
| Pilot:
Stucky |
Copilot:
Siebold
|
| FTE:
None |
| Objectives: |
| Eval control
surface mods, Eval pitot probe relocation, Intstrument
approach practice, Pilot LOA practice |
| Results: |
|
All objectives completed. Peak altitude for flight
51,000ft. Instrument approaches practiced. LOA
maneuvers practiced.
|
| Flight:
14 |
| Date:
17 July 09
|
Flight
Time: .9 hours
|
| Pilot:
Stucky |
Copilot:
Siebold
|
| FTE:
None |
| Objectives: |
| Evaluate
new DAS build, Instrument approach practice, FAA
Monitored flight for pilot "Type Rating." |
| Results: |
|
All objectives completed. Rating Issued.
|
| Flight:
15 |
| Date:
21 July 09
|
Flight
Time: 5.7 hours
|
| Pilot:
Siebold |
Copilot:
Nichols
|
| FTE:
Morgan |
| Objectives: |
| Oshkosh dress
rehersal |
| Results: |
|
Objectives achieved. Practiced all procedures
& plans in preparation for our long cross
country to the Oshkosh Airventure Convention.
Practiced demo flight after simulated mission
profile.
|
| Flight:
16 |
| Date:
27 July 09
|
Flight
Time: 5.5 hours
|
| Pilot:
Siebold |
Copilot:
Nichols
|
| FTE:
Morgan |
| Objectives: |
| Cross country
to Oshkosh Airventure. |
| Results: |
|
Evaluated systems functionality & performance
on trip to Oshkosh. Arrived at KOSH & performed
short demo flight.
|
| Flight:
17 |
| Date:
25 July 09
|
Flight
Time: 0.2 hours
|
| Pilot:
Siebold |
Copilot:
Nichols
|
| FTE:
Branson |
| Objectives: |
| Oshkosh demo
flight. |
| Results: |
|
Demo flight performed.
|
| Flight:
18 |
| Date:
31 July 09
|
Flight
Time: 0.2 hours
|
| Pilot:
Siebold |
Copilot:
Nichols
|
| FTE:
Morgan |
| Objectives: |
| Oshkosh demo
flight. |
| Results: |
|
Demo flight performed.
|
| Flight:
19 |
| Date:
1 August 09
|
Flight
Time: 5.1 hours
|
| Pilot:
Siebold |
Copilot:
Nichols
|
| FTE:
Morgan |
| Objectives: |
| Return to
Mojave. |
| Results: |
|
Evaluated systems functionality & performance
on return trip to Mojave.
|
| Flight:
20 |
| Date:
15 Oct 09
|
Flight
Time: 3.5 hours
|
| Pilot:
Stucky |
Copilot:
Kalogiannis
|
| FTE:
Stinemetze |
| Objectives: |
Modified
spoilflap envelope expansion
Pressurization/ECS functionality with SS2 valves
to 50,000 ft
Landing gear/spoilflap cold soak extension retraction
Fuel system temperature evaluation
Avionics and instrument approach checkout
Aircrew proficiency
Edwards Air Show Practice
|
| Results: |
|
Objectives achieved.
|
| Flight:
21 |
| Date:
17 Oct 09
|
Flight
Time: 1.3 hours
|
| Pilot:
Stucky |
Copilot:
Kalogiannis
|
| FTE:
Stinemetze |
| Objectives: |
Spoilflaps
Loads Data
ECS Evaluation
GPS Airspeed Calibration
Roll Effects of Angle of Attack
Edwards Air Show Practice |
| Results: |
|
GPS airspeed cal, and approaches scrubbed for
time. Other objectives achieved. Demo performed
on arrival to Edwards Air Force Base "Flight
Test Nation" Open House/ Air show.
|
| Flight:
22 |
| Date:
17 Oct 09
|
Flight
Time: 1.2 hours
|
| Pilot:
Stucky |
Copilot:
Kalogiannis
|
| FTE:
Stinemetze |
| Objectives: |
Spoilflap
Loads Data
Continued ECS Testing
GPS Airspeed Calibration
Return from Edwards Air Show
|
| Results: |
|
Objectives achieved. Airborne pickup and unrestricted
climb departure from Edwards Open House with WK1.
|
| Flight:
23 |
| Date:
28 Jan 10
|
Flight
Time: 3.1 Hrs
|
| Pilot:
Stucky |
Copilot:
Binnie
|
| FTE:
Kalogiannis |
| Objectives: |
Launch pylon envelope expansion and performance
effects
Landing gear door evaluation
SpaceShipTwo approach guidance evaluation
Pilot proficiency |
| Results: |
|
Launch pylon and gear doors performed well. Multiple
SpaceShipTwo approaches flown.
|
|
