Armstrong test-pilots a microlight..

[Simpo Two]

Idly reading about Neil Armstrong on Wiki this struck me as odd...

'As a research pilot, Armstrong served as project pilot on the F-100 Super Sabre A and C variants, F-101 Voodoo, and the Lockheed F-104A Starfighter. He also flew the Bell X-1B, Bell X-5, North American X-15, F-105 Thunderchief, F-106 Delta Dart, B-47 Stratojet, KC-135 Stratotanker, and was one of eight elite pilots involved in the paraglider research vehicle program (Paresev).'

Wow, I thought, this 'paresev' thing must be really awesome. What could be more exciting and dangerous than that lot? So I clicked the link...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_Paresev

I was expecting a bit more than a microlight!!

[Simpo Two]

I'm sure it was the first, but it seems the realms of a stuntman/thrill-seeker rather than arguably the best test pilot in the business. It would have been a tragic loss if he'd been killed flying a motorised kite... 'Eight elite pilots' makes it sound in the same league as Apollo!

[Simpo Two]

Indeed, but if you have a man capable of flying an X15, why risk him in a metal frame where he just wiggles about?

[Simpo Two]

JuniorD said:

Even the thoughts of shuttle glide landings with no go-around option freaks me out.

But glider pilots do this every time!

[Simpo Two]

Tango13 said:

The whole lifting body program was just a thinly disguised excuse for the test pilots to run a muscle car at NASA's expense...

In an interesting parallel, when I 'glid' as a student, we used an old XJ6 with the doors missing to get us airborne!