Chuck Yeager, Bruce Peterson and Donald L. Mallick also flew the M2-F1. More than 400 ground tows and 77 aircraft tow flights were carried out with the M2-F1. The success of Dryden's M2-F1 program led to NASA's development and construction of two heavyweight lifting bodies based on studies at NASA's Ames and Langley research centers – the Northrop M2-F2 and the Northrop HL-10, both built by the Northrop Corporation, and the U.S. Air Force's X-24 program. The lifting-body program also heavily influenced the Space Shuttle program. The M2-F1 program demonstrated the feasibility of the lifting-body concept for horizontal landings of atmospheric entry vehicles. It also demonstrated a procurement and management concept for prototype flight research vehicles that produced rapid results at very low cost (approximately US$50,000, excluding salaries of government employees assigned to the project). Pilots Milt Thompson – 45 flights Bruce Peterson – 17 flights Chuck Yeager – 5 flights Donald M. Sorlie – 5 flights Donald L. Mallick – 2 flights Jerauld R. Gentry – 2 flights Bill Dana – 1 flight James W. Wood – 1 ground tow Fred Haise – 1 ground tow Joe Engle – 1 ground tow Aircraft serial number NASA M2-F1 – N86652, 77 flights, 400 ground tows Aircraft on display As of January 23, 2015, M2-F1 N86652 is on display at the Air Force Flight Test Museum on Edwards Air Force Base, California. Specifications Flights See also References NASA Dryden M2-F1 Photo Collection Lifting bodies M2-F1, NASA NASA M2-F1 Lifting Body NASA aircraft Aircraft manufactured in the United States Aircraft first flown in 1963