GAM-87A SKYBOLT AIR LAUNCHED BALLISTIC MISSILE, 1 JANUARY -- 30 JUNE 1961 Part 1

Description

Summary: Douglas progress report covering the participation of RAF Vulcan B. Mk.2 in the GAM-87A flight test program; the first instrumented drop test of GAM-87A from B-52G; training support conference; and static firings of first and second stage motors. 10' MS & MCU of GAM-87A No. 20013 being mated to right outboard pylon on B-52G at Eglin AFB. 34' MLS to MS SV pan left with B-52G/GAM-87A taking off at Eglin AFB. 37' EMS FV high angle of B-52G/GAM-87A in flight over flat terrain. 40' MS's of Eglin facility nearing completion and ground testing of flight-weight GAM-87A components. 45' MLS left FV of RAF Vulcan B. Mk.2 on floodlighted ramp. (Night scene) 47' MS of two civilians boarding RAF Vulcan B. Mk.2 by access door. 48' MS's of civilian conference. 61' MCU FV & SV of B-52H with Skybolt missiles being rolled out of hangar. 69' MCU FV & SV of B-52G with four test missiles taxiing out and on takeoff run. 78' MCU of B-52G pilot operating controls. 80' AMS left FV high angle of B-52G with four Skybolt test missiles in flight to left. 83' Series of shots of model GAM-87A being placed into the Douglas four-foot hypersonic wind tunnel and rotating on stinger. 95' High-speed photography of an unclean GAM-87A separation from model B-52G pylon in wind tunnel test. 101' MS & MCU deflector flaps operating on inverted "Y" missile pylon. 105' AMS & AMCU left FV of B-52G with four test missiles in flight -- shows CU of deflector flaps operating. 114' AMS to ALS low angle of B-52G with test missiles banking away from camera. 120' AELS of contrails during aircraft climb. 125' MS of sign: EGLIN AFB, HOME OF AIR PROVING GROUND CENTER. 127' ALS of contrails as aircraft loses altitude. 133' AMCU's of GAM-87A drop (painted missile) from B-52G showing clean separation -- camera pans down with missile. 149' LS of "Cowbell" radar target range -- shows impact of GAM-87A. 154' MS left FV of B-52G with Skybolt missiles parked on ramp. 159' LS & MS of Skybolt facilities at Eglin AFB, as construction nears completion, showing checkout, aircraft servicing, mating and propellant storage areas. 185' MSL to MS slight pan right, B-52G with four Skybolt test missiles on takeoff run. 189' MS's & MCU off instrumented platform to be installed in B-52 at the Wichita Facility, including tape and oscillograph recorders. 208' Shows GAM-87A No. 20013 being mated to right wing of B-52G. 214' LS & MLS high angle of engineering inspection on the GAM-87A weapon system. 222' MLS of conference of Boeing, Douglas and Nortronics personnel. 226' MCU's of GAM-87A cylinder nose cone mockups and new cone design. 244' Shows man placing Skybolt nose configuration into one-foot trisonic wind tunnel for testing. 259' MS of laboratory testing of GAM-87A guidance system at Nortronics, showing astroinertial instrument, inertial platform control unit, and prelaunch ballistic computer. 287' MCU's of astrotracker unit and portable chronometer being calibrated. 303' MS of technician gimbaling a gyroscope. 307' Series of shots of hydrostatic tests of first and second stage motor cases -- shows CU of crack in case. 323' MS & CU's of motor case with heater blanket being pushed on rail into test area and removal of dolly cradle. 336' MLS & LS of Aerojet General building in Sacramento, California -- cars parked in fg. 340' MS of GAM-87A horizontal motor static firing test at Sacramento, California. 352' Series of shots of first and second stage firings, including gimbaling of nozzle on second stage and motor failure on last test. 393' Scenes of conference showing charts and Skybolt projected program. 422' Series of shots of men and women doing paper work in office. 440' Series of shots of AF, RAF and civilian personnel in a training support conference at Douglas, Santa Monica, California. 457' Series of shots of civilian and military personnel training classes. 471' Shows several office scenes and draftsman working at drawing table. 491' Shows drawing of programming set, checkout sequence, trailer and rail-type STU-47 positioned for GAM-87A. 499' MS of AN/GJQ-9 programming set. 504' MS's to MCU dolly in to GAM-87A on rail-type trailer being pushed under B-52G right wing. 510' MCU of draftsman working at drawing table. 512' Shows sketch of missile lift and re-entry vehicle. 514' Shows missile pylon launch assembly mounted on B-52 wing section undergoing stress and deflection tests, and scenes of oscillograph during testing. 531' MS & MCU of civilian checking Skybolt mockup. 537' MS low angle of Vulcan B. Mk.2 model with two Skybolt missiles. 540' MS left SV of RAF Vulcan B. Mk.2. No. XH 535 taxiing out from ramp. 549' LS to MS of RAF Vulcan B. Mk. 2 landing at Los Angeles International Airport. 555' MCU FV of RAF Vulcan B. Mk. 2 as engineers examine under access opening. 565' MS's of cargo being unloaded from ship by crane and transported by trailer trucks along highway. 572' MS right SV of RAF Vulcan B. Mk. 2 taxiing on ramp at Edwards AFB. 576' Series of shots of Douglas and Avro personnel at test equipment checking electronic compatibility tests on the Vulcan B. Mk. 2. (Night scenes) 592' MS's of Vulcan pylon and Skybolt missile being tested in the Douglas one-foot trisonic wind tunnel. 598' MS's of technician attaching Skybolt to Vulcan B. Mk. 2 model in wind tunnel -- shows technicians at wind tunnel controls during test. 609' MS of GAM-87A on rail-type trailer moving toward B-52G. 617' LS to MS low angle of RAF Vulcan B. Mk. 2 in flight to right. 621' MS FV of B-52/GAM-87A turning on ramp. 630' Total footage in reel. Good (Basic: Orig color)

Collection

Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations

Series

Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities