Data are presented for the pretouchdown condition, the impact period, and the runout phase of 17 landings made with the X-15 airplane. Vertical velocities up to 9.5 feet per second and true ground speeds between 145 knots and 238 knots were recorded during the landings.nThe results of the investigation indicate that the highest main-gear shock-strut force, drag reaction, airplane upper-mass response, and horizontal-tail load occurred during the nose-gear touchdown for all of the landings.nThe mean value of the coefficient of friction of the main-gear skids calculated for one landing was 0.33. The combined effect of the high skid drag and low rolling friction of the nosewheel tires provided more than adequate directional stability during the runout. As a consequence, pilot-induced input6 resulted In only small changes to the airplane direction of motion during the runout.nNo nosewheel shimmy was observed in any of the landings, despite the absence of a shimmy damper.
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