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NASA. Number built. 3. The North American X-15 is a hypersonic rocket-powered aircraft operated by the United States Air Force and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as part of the X-plane series of experimental aircraft. The X-15 set speed and altitude records in the 1960s, crossing the edge of outer space and returning ...
Feb 28, 2014 · White inside the X-15 about to launch on the first flight above Mach 6. In the joint X-15 hypersonic research program that NASA conducted with the U.S. Air Force, the Navy, and North American Aviation Inc., the aircraft flew during a period of nearly 10 years and set the world’s unofficial speed and altitude records of 4,520 mph (Mach 6.7 ...
Mar 18, 2014 · Mounted under the wing of a B-52 jet bomber, on that day the X-15 and Crossfield were carried to an altitude of 11,445 meters (37,550 feet), and then released. This first flight was a gliding flight; the rocket powered flights were to come later. Nevertheless, the X-15 reached a speed of Mach 0.79 on its decent to the desert floor below.
Sep 15, 2009 · Joe Engle—retired U.S. Air Force major general, former space shuttle astronaut and X-15 test pilot. NASA / Kathy Barnstorff. Engle knows what he’s talking about. The Kansas native flew the X-15 for the U.S. Air Force 16 times from 1963 to 1965 and went on to command two missions of NASA’s space shuttle. Still an active pilot, the retired ...
Jul 23, 2019 · North American X-15 is on display at the National Air and Space Museum in the Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall. Eight X-15 pilots actually flew into space in an X-15; ironically, Neil Armstrong was not one of them. Instead, he flew seven of the X-15’s 199 flights, including the first flight of X-15 #3. His fastest flight occurred in X-15 #1 ...
Mar 25, 2014 · The X-15 is the fastest and highest-flying manned aircraft. Decades after its record-breaking flights, it’s inspiring a new generation of space planes.
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Sep 5, 2012 · X-15 Extending the Frontiers of Flight Book Cover. The X-15 was the ultimate “X” vehicle. Built in the 1950s, she became the fastest and highest-flying winged aircraft of its time. During 199 flights from 1959 through 1968, she collected data about hypersonic flight that was invaluable to aeronautics and to developers of the space shuttle.
