Between December 1963 and January 1964, Yeager completed five flights in the NASA M2-F1 lifting body.The “Glamorous Glennis” is at the National Air and Space Museum.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_M2-F1
A NASA C-47 was used for all of the aero tows. The first was on August 16, 1963. The M2-F1 had recently been equipped with an ejection seat and small rockets - referred to by the test team as “instant L/D”[2] - in the tail to extend the landing flare for about 5 seconds if needed, and Thompson prepared for the flight with a few more tows behind the Pontiac.
Forward visibility in the M2-F1 was very limited on tow, requiring Thompson to fly about 20Â feet (6.1 m) higher than the C-47 so he could see the plane through the nose window. Towing speed was about 100Â miles per hour (160 km/h) .
The C-47 took the craft to an altitude of 12,000Â feet (3,700 m) where free flights back to Rogers Dry Lake began. Pilot for the first series of flights of the M2-F1 was NASA research pilot Milt Thompson. Typical glide flights with the M2-F1 lasted about two minutes and reached speeds of 110 to 120 miles per hour (180 to 190 km/h)
Tow release was at 12,000Â feet (3,700 m) The lifting body descended at an average rate of about 3,600 feet-per-minute (1,100 m/min). At 1,000Â feet (300 m) above the ground, the nose was lowered to increase speed to about 150Â miles per hour (240 km/h) , flare was at 200Â feet (61 m) from a 20 degree dive. The landing was smooth, and the lifting body program was on its way.