The M2-F1 lifting body is seen here being towed behind a C-47 at the Flight Research Center, Edwards, California.

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The M2-F1 lifting body is seen here being towed behind a C-47 at the Flight Research Center (later redesignated the Dryden Flight Research Center), Edwards, California. The wingless, lifting body aircraft design was initially conceived as a means of landing an aircraft horizontally after atmospheric re-entry. The absence of wings would make the extreme heat of re-entry less damaging to the vehicle.

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Size: 2400px × 2664px
Photo credit: © NASA Archive / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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