on orbiting spacecraft, was also installed to obtain research data about their effectiveness for vehicle control. As the M2-F3's portion of the lifting body program neared an end, it evaluated a rate command augmentation control system, and a side control stick similar to side-stick controllers now used on many modern aircraft. NASA donated the M2-F3 vehicle to the Smithsonian Institution in December 1973. It is currently hanging in the National Air and Space Museum along with the X-15 aircraft number 1, which was its hangar partner at Dryden from 1965 to 1969. M2-F3 pilots William H. Dana - 19 flights John A. Manke - 4 flights Cecil W. Powell - 3 flights Jerauld R. Gentry - 1 flight Most of text taken from NASA Dryden webpage. Aircraft serial number NASA M2-F3 - NASA 803, 27 flights M2-F3 flights Specifications (M2-F3) Gallery See also Comparable aircraft: X-24 M2-F1 M2-F2 HL-10 External links NASA Dryden M2-F3 Photo Collection Wingless Flight: The Lifting Body Story. NASA History Series SP-4220 1997 PDF Lifting bodies M2-F3 M2-F3, Northrop M2-F3, Northrop M2-F3