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THE 456th FIGHTER INTERCEPTOR SQUADRON |
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THE PROTECTORS OF S. A. C. |
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M ISHAM
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The "B" Model F-106 Cockpit |
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Note that the date on the picture should be 3/22/1961 |
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The first seven American astronauts.
(Official NASA Astronaut Biographies, NASA Curator Jerry Wright ) |
Date: 01/20/1961
Title: Original 7 astronauts in front of the Convair F-106 B aircraft
Description: The original seven Mercury astronauts during training at NASA Langley Research Center Project Mercury. The original seven astronauts trained at NASA Langley Research Center. Chosen from among hundreds of applicants, the seven men were all test pilots. Standing in front of the U.S. Air Force Convair F-106B aircraft, the astronauts are, from left, Lt. M. Scott Carpenter, Capt. Gordon Cooper, Col. John H. Glenn Jr., Capt. Virgil "Gus" Grissom, Lt. Comdr. Walter Schirra, Lt. Comdr. Alan B. Shepard Jr. and Capt. Donald K. "Deke" Slayton. While familiarizing the astronauts with the Mercury set-up, Langley employees helped them to specialize in the technical areas crucial to the overall success of Project Mercury. Langley people also guided and monitored the astronauts activities through the many spaceflight simulators and other training devices built at the Center expressly for the manned space program. In less than three years, Project Mercury proved that men could be sent into space and returned safely to Earth, setting the stage for the longer duration Gemini flights and the Apollo lunar landings. This photograph was originally taken on 01/20/1961 and is published in Spaceflight Revolution NASA Langley Research Center from Sputnik to Apollo, NASA SP-4308, by James R. Hansen, 1995, page 40. Courtisy of NASA
The Seven Original Project Mercury astronauts trained at NASA Langley Research Center were chosen from among hundreds of applicants and were all test pilots. They are standing here in front of F-106B 58-0158 on 20 Jan 19611. While familiarizing the astronauts with the Mercury set-up, Langley employees helped them to specialize in the technical areas crucial to the overall success of Project Mercury. Langley people also guided and monitored the astronauts activities through the many spaceflight simulators and other training devices built at the Center expressly for the manned space program. In less than three years, Project Mercury proved that men could be sent into space and returned safely to Earth, setting the stage for the longer duration Gemini flights and the Apollo lunar landings.
The Cockpit
The pilot entered the cockpit from the left side of the fuselage with a tubular steel ladder hooked over the cockpit edge. Consoles ran along both sides of the ejection seat and the instrument panel. The throttle lever, a fuse block, a spare fuse holder, an anti-g-suit selector switch, fuel tank transfer switches, a canopy opening and closing switch (emergency and automatic), oxygen system controls, the landing light switch, radar horizontal and vertical scan control switches, weapons bay switches for missile arming, an emergency hydraulic pump, and a T-handle were located on the left console. The right console contained the radio equipment (navagitional and communications). Most of the more important instruments, like the altimeter and speedometer, were displayed with vertical tape on the instrument panel in front of the pilot on the newer aircraft. The tape instruments were much easier to read than the conventional ones, but they were harder to maintain and service.
The enigne RPM, temperature gauges, fuel and oil level gauges, and autopilot controls were also located on this instrument panel. On the upper left of the control panel was the drag chute control handle. Pulling the handle deployed the chute, and pushing it back in jettisoned it. However, the chute was usually dragged by the aircraft to the ramp, so someone didn't have to go down and retrieve it from the runway or taxiway. In the center, from top to bottom, were the radar scope, the attitude controller display, compass, and tactical situation display. The optical sight for visual missile firing and M61 aiming was high in the triangle formed by the windscreen.
The stick formed a double-handle U-shape from its central shaft rooted in the floor. The pilot held on with both hands and could control the weapons and attack functions with switches and buttons.
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Back Seat Looking Forward |
Front Seat Looking Back |
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| Front Cockpit | Back Cockpit |
Control Yoke |
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OLD "B" FRONT |
NEW "B" FRONT |
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OLD "B" BACK |
NEW "B" BACK |
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Last Updated |
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02/17/2009 |
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