Edwards AFB in Kern County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

HL-10 Lifting Body

Photographed By Denise Boose, September 26, 2023

1. HL-10 Lifting Body Marker

Inscription.
Flown 37 times by NASA's Flight Research Center, Edwards Air Force Base, California.
First flight December 22, 1966. Final flight July 17, 1970.
Maximum speed and altitude records for lifting bodies held by the HL-10: Mach 1.86 (1228 MPH) and 90,300 feet.
Pilots: Bruce A. Peterson • John A. Manke • Peter C. Hoag • Jerauld R. Gentry • William H. Dana.

The HL-10 was part of a program that investigated blunt-shaped vehicles, called lifting bodies, which led to the selection of a lifting entry configuration for the Space Shuttle. Results from the lifting body flights greatly aided shuttle designers in the decision to land the orbiter as an unpowered glider.

Erected by National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical date for this entry is July 17, 1959.

Location. 34° 57.147′ N, 117° 53.382′ W. Marker is in Edwards AFB, California, in Kern County. Marker is on Lilly Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Edwards Air Force Base is not open to the public. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Edwards CA 93524, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird (within shouting distance of this marker); Lockheed F-104 (about 300 feet away, measured

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in a direct line); X-29 (about 300 feet away); NF-15B (about 300 feet away); F-8 DFBW (about 400 feet away); F-8 Digital Fly-By-Wire Aircraft (about 400 feet away); F-8 Supercritical Wing Aircraft (about 400 feet away); HiMAT (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Edwards AFB.

Also see . . . Northrop HL-10. (Submitted on March 31, 2013.)

Additional keywords. B-52, B-52-008, 008

HL-10 and Marker image. Click for full size.

February 25, 2013

2. HL-10 and Marker

HL-10 Marker image. Click for full size.

February 25, 2013

3. HL-10 Marker

With Gratitude and Special Thanks to the following people who made the HL-10 acquisition and restoration possible: Jerry S. Reedy, Robert W. Anderson, Stephen P. Blank, Richard S. Gordes, Nancy D. Lovato, Roger A. Lynn, Donald J. Whitefield, Keith D. Ness, Robert M. Sawyer, Edmund K. Swan, Boleshlaw Szuwalski.

HL-10 Lifting Body image. Click for full size.

February 25, 2013

4. HL-10 Lifting Body

February 25, 2013

5. HL-10 Lifting Body

Dryden Flight Research Center is now Armstrong Flight Research Center.

Photographed By Craig Baker, September 20, 2019

6. HL-10 Lifting Body

January 21, 2013

7. B-52-008

Located outside the North Gate of Edwards AFB.

HL-10's 37 Flights image. Click for full size.

January 21, 2013

8. HL-10's 37 Flights

Stencils of the aircraft launched from B-52-008.

January 21, 2013

9. B-52-008

B-52-008 Under-Wing Pylon image. Click for full size.

January 21, 2013

10. B-52-008 Under-Wing Pylon

B-52-008 Retired image. Click for full size.

January 21, 2013

11. B-52-008 Retired

B-52-008 Launching an X-15 image. Click for full size.

January 21, 2013

12. B-52-008 Launching an X-15

Credits. This page was last revised on September 29, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 31, 2013, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 970 times since then and 30 times this year. Last updated on September 21, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1. submitted on September 28, 2023, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 31, 2013. 6. submitted on September 21, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. submitted on March 31, 2013. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.