Flight Without Wings (NASA 1969)

This NASA-produced film from 1969 documents the first test flight of the Northrup HL-10 heavy lifting-body aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The test was flown by NASA test pilot John Manke. The film also shows footage from testing of the M2-F1 and M2-F2 aircraft during development and test flights.

From Wikipedia: "The Northrop HL-10 was one of five US heavyweight lifting body designs flown at NASA's Flight Research Center (FRC-later Dryden Flight Research Center) in 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."

Footage is also presented from a horrendous crash during the final flight of the M2-F2 piloted by NASA's Bruce Peterson. This real-life crash footage was made famous as part the opening sequence of the 1970s TV show, "The Six Million Dollar Man". Amazingly, pilot Bruce Peterson survived the crash and was able to continue his test-pilot career.

Opening Montage Music: By Alex_Kizenkov via Pixabay:
"Drive And Motion (Sport Rock)":
https://pixabay.com/music/rock-drive-and-motion-sport-rock-141633/

More info on the Northrup HL-10: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_HL-10
More info on the NASA/Briegleb Glider Company M2-F1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_M2-F1
More info on the Northrop M2-F2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_M2-F2
More info on NASA Test Pilot John A. Manke: https://www.nasa.gov/people/john-a-manke/
More info on NASA Test Pilot Bruce Peterson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Peterson

National Archives URL - https://catalog.archives.gov/id/45013
NA Identifier: 45013
Local ID: 255-HQ-175
Accession Number: NN3-255-91-003
NAIL Control Number: NWDNM(m)-255-HQ-175