NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center

This 33-second video taken January 28, 1998 shows the QF-106 "Delta Dart" being towed on a long tether behind an Air Force C-141 over Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert during the Eclipse Tow Launch Demonstration Project.

NASA Dryden Flight Research Center (now Armstrong) supported a Kelly Space and Technology, Inc. (KST)/U.S. Air Force project, known as Eclipse, which demonstrated a reusable tow launch vehicle concept.

The purpose of the project was to demonstrate a reusable tow launch vehicle concept conceived and patented by KST. Kelly Space obtained a contract with the USAF Research Laboratory for the tow launch demonstration project under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The USAF SBIR contract included the modifications to turn the QF-106 into the Experimental Demonstrator #1 (EXD-01), and C-141A aircraft to incorporate the tow provisions to link the two aircraft, as well as conducting flight tests. The demonstration consisted of ground and flight tests.

To learn more about the Eclipse project visit: https://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstron...