| X-15 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Rocket-powered aircraft |
| Manufacturer | North American Aviation |
| Maiden flight | 8 June 1959 |
| Introduced | 17 September 1959 |
| Retired | December 1968 |
| Status | Museum piece |
| Primary users | U.S.Air Force NASA |
| Number built | 3 |
The North American X-15 rocket-powered aircraft was part of the USAF/NASA/USN X-series of experimental aircraft, initiated with the Bell X-1. A rocket-powered aircraft or rocket plane is an Aircraft that uses a Rocket for propulsion sometimes in addition to airbreathing Jet engines An aerospace manufacturer is a company or individual involved in the various aspects of designing building testing selling and maintaining Aircraft, Aircraft parts North American Aviation was a major US Aircraft manufacturer, responsible for a number of historic aircraft including the T-6 Texan trainer the The maiden flight of an Aircraft is the first occasion on which an aircraft leaves the ground of its own accord Events 68 - The Roman Senate accepts emperor Galba. 536 - St Silverius becomes Pope (probable This is a list of Aviation -related events from 1959: Events Unknown The Canadian Golden Hawks aerobatic team Events 1176 - The Battle of Myriokephalon is fought 1462 - The Battle of Świecino (or Battle of Żarnowiec This is a list of Aviation -related events from 1968: Events January January 21 - a US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress The National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA, ˈnæsə is an agency of the United States government, responsible for the nation's public space program North American Aviation was a major US Aircraft manufacturer, responsible for a number of historic aircraft including the T-6 Texan trainer the A rocket-powered aircraft or rocket plane is an Aircraft that uses a Rocket for propulsion sometimes in addition to airbreathing Jet engines The National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA, ˈnæsə is an agency of the United States government, responsible for the nation's public space program The X-planes are a series of experimental United States Aircraft (and some Rockets used for testing of new technologies and usually kept highly secret In generic use an experimental aircraft is an Aircraft that has not yet been fully proven in Flight. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The X-15 set numerous speed and altitude records in the early 1960s, reaching the edge of space and bringing back valuable data that was used in the design of later aircraft and spacecraft. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 A spacecraft is a Vehicle or machine designed for Spaceflight. It could be considered the first manned suborbital spacecraft ever flown.
During the X-15 program, 13 flights (by eight pilots) met the USAF's criteria for a spaceflight by passing an altitude of 50 miles (80. A human spaceflight is a Spaceflight with a human crew, and possibly passengers 47 km) and the pilots were accordingly awarded astronaut status by the USAF. An astronaut or cosmonaut (космона́вт) is a person trained Three X-15 pilots also qualified to receive NASA astronaut wings. The Astronaut Badge is a Badge of the United States, awarded to military and civilian pilots who have completed training and performed a successful [1][2]
Some respected aerospace researchers have placed the threshold of space at lower altitudes than the USAF and NASA, so many X-15 pilots could also be considered as astronauts. The "aeropause" region, where space-equivalent conditions are first encountered, starts at an altitude of 19 miles (30. 58 km. , 100,320 ft. ) above the Earth. Many X-15 pilots traveled through, and far above, the aeropause.
Out of all the X-15 missions, two flights (by the same pilot) also qualified for the international FAI definition of a spaceflight by passing the 100 kilometre (62. The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI is the world governing body for Air sports and Aeronautics and Astronautics world records 137 mi. , 328,084 ft. ) mark.
Contents |
Design and development
The original Request for Proposals was issued for the airframe 30 December 1954, and for the rocket engine on 4 February 1955. For other meanings see RFP (disambiguation. For information about Wikipedia proposals see WikipediaVillage pump (proposals. Events 1460 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Wakefield. 1816 - The Treaty of St Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) A rocket engine is a Jet engine that uses only Propellant mass for forming its high speed propulsive jet. Events 211 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus dies leaving the Roman Empire in the hands of his two quarrelsome sons Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) North American received the airframe contract in November 1955, and Reaction Motors contracted in 1956 to build the engines. North American Aviation was a major US Aircraft manufacturer, responsible for a number of historic aircraft including the T-6 Texan trainer the Thiokol (variously Thiokol Chemical Company, Morton-Thiokol Inc
As with many of the X-aircraft, the X-15 was designed to be carried aloft under the wing of a B-52. The fuselage was long and cylindrical, with fairings towards the rear giving it a flattened look, and it had thick wedge-shaped dorsal and ventral fins. A fairing is a structure whose primary function is to produce a smooth outline and reduce drag. Parts of the fuselage were made of a heat-resistant nickel-based alloy (Inconel-X 750). Nickel (ˈnɪkəl is a metallic Chemical element with the symbol Ni and Atomic number 28 An alloy is a Solid solution or Homogeneous mixture of two or more elements, at least one of which is a Metal, which itself has Inconel is a registered Trademark of Special Metals Corporation that refers to a family of Austenitic Nickel -based Superalloys Inconel The retractable landing gear consisted of a nose wheel and two skids — to provide sufficient clearance part of the ventral fin had to be jettisoned before landing. In Aviation, the undercarriage or landing gear is the structure (usually wheels that supports an Aircraft on the ground and allows it to taxi The two XLR-11 rocket engines of the initial model X-15A delivered 36 kN (8,000 lbf) of thrust; the "real" engine that came later was a single XLR-99 that delivered 254 kN (57,000 lbf) at sea level, and 311 kN (70,000 lbf) at peak altitude. Development of XLR11 Rocket engine began in 1944 at Reaction Motors, Inc A rocket engine is a Jet engine that uses only Propellant mass for forming its high speed propulsive jet. The XLR99 engine was the first large Throttleable restartable liquid propellant Rocket engine.
Prior to 1958, USAF and NACA (later NASA) officials discussed an orbital X-15, called the "X-15B", to be launched into space atop a Navajo missile. The North American SM-64 Navaho was a Supersonic intercontinental Cruise missile project built by North American Aviation. The idea was scrapped after NASA was formed out of NACA and Project Mercury was approved for manned orbital spaceflight. By 1959, the X-20 Dyna-Soar space-glider program became the USAF's preferred means to launch a military manned spacecraft into orbit. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The X-20 program was cancelled in the early 1960s.
The first X-15 flight was an unpowered test made by Scott Crossfield on 8 June 1959, who followed up with the first powered flight on 17 September. Albert Scott Crossfield (October 2 1921 – April 19 2006 normally known as Scott Crossfield, was an American naval officer and Test pilot Events 68 - The Roman Senate accepts emperor Galba. 536 - St Silverius becomes Pope (probable The year 1959 ( MCMLIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1176 - The Battle of Myriokephalon is fought 1462 - The Battle of Świecino (or Battle of Żarnowiec The first flight with the XLR-99 was on 15 November 1960. Events 655 - Battle of Winwaed: Penda of Mercia is defeated by Oswiu of Northumbria. Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
Operational history
Three X-15s were built in all, and they made a total of 199 test flights, the last one on 24 October 1968. Events 69 - Second Battle of Bedriacum, forces under Antonius Primus the commander of the Danube armies loyal to Vespasian, defeat Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Plans were made for a 200th X-15 flight to be launched over Smith Ranch, Nevada. It was scheduled for 21 November 1968 with William J. Knight as the pilot. Events 164 BC - Judas Maccabaeus, son of Mattathias of the Hasmonean family restores the Temple in Jerusalem. Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. William J "Pete" Knight ( November 18 1929 - May 8 2004) was a U Various technical and weather delays caused the planned launch to slip at least six times until late December, 1968. Finally after a cancellation on 20 December 1968 due to weather, it was decided there would not be a 200th flight. Events 69 - Vespasian, formerly a general under Nero, enters Rome to claim the title of Emperor. Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The X-15 ground crew de-mated the aircraft from the NB-52A, and prepared it for indefinite storage. X-15 #1 was sent to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. The National Air and Space Museum (NASM of the Smithsonian Institution is a museum in Washington D Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D X-15 #2 is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio. The National Museum of the United States Air Force (formerly the United States Air Force Museum) is the official National Museum of the United States Air Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in Greene and Montgomery counties eight miles (13 km) northeast of Dayton is a city in southwestern Ohio, United States. It is the County seat and largest city of Montgomery County. X-15 #3, 56-6672, was destroyed in a crash on 15 November 1967. Events 655 - Battle of Winwaed: Penda of Mercia is defeated by Oswiu of Northumbria. Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar.
Twelve test pilots flew the plane, including Neil Armstrong, later the first man on the Moon, and Joe Engle, who went on to command Space Shuttle missions. Neil Alden Armstrong (born August 5 1930 is a former American Astronaut, Test pilot, University Professor, and United States Joe Henry Engle (born August 26 1932 in Chapman, Kansas) is a retired U NASA 's Space Shuttle, officially called the Space Transportation System ( STS) is the Spacecraft currently used by the United States
In July and August 1963, pilot Joe Walker crossed the 100 km altitude mark twice, becoming the first person to enter space twice. Joseph Albert "Joe" Walker ( 20 February 1921 &ndash 8 June 1966) was an American Test pilot and a
Air Force Test pilot Major Michael J. Adams was killed on 15 November 1967 in X-15 Flight 191 when his X-15-3 entered a hypersonic spin on descent, then experienced violent oscillations as aerodynamic forces increased after reentry. Michael James Adams ( May 5, 1930 - November 15, 1967) was an American Aviator and USAF Astronaut Events 655 - Battle of Winwaed: Penda of Mercia is defeated by Oswiu of Northumbria. Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. Mission parameters Mass unknown kg fueled unknown kg burnout Maximum Altitude 266000 feet (50 As the X-15-3's adaptive flight control system drove control surfaces to their limits, acceleration built to plus or minus 15 g vertically and plus or minus 8 g laterally. The airframe broke up as its descent neared 60,000 feet, scattering wreckage over 50 square miles. On 8 June 2004, a memorial monument was erected at the location of the cockpit near Randsburg, California. Events 68 - The Roman Senate accepts emperor Galba. 536 - St Silverius becomes Pope (probable "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Randsburg is a Census-designated place (CDP in Kern County, California, United States. [3] Maj. Adams was posthumously awarded astronaut wings for his last flight in the X-15-3, which had attained an altitude of 266,000 ft (81. The Astronaut Badge is a Badge of the United States, awarded to military and civilian pilots who have completed training and performed a successful 1 km, 50. 4 mi. ). In 1991, Adams' name was added to the Astronaut Memorial at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The John F Kennedy Space Center ( KSC) is the NASA Space vehicle launch facility and Launch Control Center ( Spaceport) on
The second X-15A was rebuilt after a landing accident. It was lengthened by about 2. 4 ft (0. 74 m), received a pair of auxiliary fuel tanks slung under the fuselage, and was given a heat-resistant surface treatment, the result being called the X-15A-2. It first flew 28 June 1964, and eventually reached a speed of 7,274 km/h (4,520 mph or 2,021 m/s). Events 1098 - Fighters of the First Crusade defeat Kerbogha of Mosul. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar.
The altitudes attained by the X-15 remained unsurpassed by any piloted aircraft except the Space Shuttle until the third spaceflight of SpaceShipOne in 2004. NASA 's Space Shuttle, officially called the Space Transportation System ( STS) is the Spacecraft currently used by the United States Flight 17P of SpaceShipOne was a Spaceflight in the Tier One program that took place on October 4 2004. SpaceShipOne is a Spaceplane that completed the first privately funded Human spaceflight on June 21, 2004. The speeds and altitudes have, also, frequently been exceeded by unpiloted air-launched rockets, such as the Pegasus rocket which has carried several satellites all the way into orbit. The widely reported record achieved by the diminutive X-43A scramjet testbed on 16 November 2004 of nearly Mach 10 (6,600 mph or 10,622 km/h or 2. The X-43 is an unmanned experimental Hypersonic Aircraft design with multiple planned scale variations meant to test different A scramjet ( s upersonic c ombustion ramjet) is a variation of a Ramjet with the distinction being that some or all of the combustion process Events 534 - A second and final revision of the Codex Justinianus is published "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Mach number (\mathrm{Ma} or M (generally ˈmɑːk sometimes /ˈmɑːx/ or /ˈmæk/ is the speed of an object moving through air or any Fluid 95 km/s) at 95,000 ft (29 km, 17. 99 mi) is only a record for an air-breathing jet engine. specific --->A jet engine is a Reaction engine that discharges a fast moving jet of Fluid to
Five main aircraft were involved in the X-15 program: The three X-15s and two B-52 carrier aircraft.
- X-15A-1 - 56-6670, 82 powered flights
- X-15A-2 - 56-6671, 53 powered flights
- X-15A-3 - 56-6672, 64 powered flights
- NB-52A - 52-003 (retired October 1969)
- NB-52B - 52-008 (retired November 2004)
Specifications (X-15)
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Length: 50 ft 9 in (15. The Balls Eight is a NASA NB-52B Mothership, NASA Tail number 52-008 A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit Inches redirects here To see the Les Savy Fav album see Inches. 45 m)
- Wingspan: 22 ft 4 in (6. The wingspan (or just span) of an airplane or a Bird, is the distance from the left wingtip to the right wingtip 8 m)
- Height: 13 ft 6 in (4. 12 m)
- Wing area: 200 ft² (18. 6 m²)
- Empty weight: 14,600 lb (6,620 kg)
- Loaded weight: 34,000 lb (15,420 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 34,000 lb (15,420 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Thiokol XLR99-RM-2 liquid-fuel rocket engine, 70,400 lbf at 30 km (313 kN)
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 6. The pound or pound-mass (abbreviation lb, lbm, or sometimes in the United States #) is a unit of Mass The Maximum Takeoff Weight or Maximum Takeoff Mass of an Aircraft is the maximum weight at which the pilot of the aircraft is allowed to attempt to take off Thiokol (variously Thiokol Chemical Company, Morton-Thiokol Inc The XLR99 engine was the first large Throttleable restartable liquid propellant Rocket engine. This article deals with the unit of force For the unit of mass see Pound (mass. In Aviation, V-speeds or Velocity-speeds are standard terms used to define Airspeeds important or useful to the operation of Aircraft, such Mach number (\mathrm{Ma} or M (generally ˈmɑːk sometimes /ˈmɑːx/ or /ˈmæk/ is the speed of an object moving through air or any Fluid 70 (4,520 mph / 7,274 km/h)
- Range: 280 mi (450 km)
- Service ceiling 67 mi (354,330 ft / 108 km)
- Rate of climb: 60,000 ft/min (18,288 m/min)
- Wing loading: 170 lb/ft² (829 kg/m²)
- Thrust/weight: 2. The maximal total range is the distance an Aircraft can fly between Takeoff and Landing, as limited by fuel capacity in powered aircraft or cross-country A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States In Aeronautics, a ceiling is the maximum Density altitude an aircraft can reach under a set of conditions In Aerodynamics, the rate of climb RoC is the speed at which an Aircraft increases its Altitude. In Aerodynamics, wing loading is the loaded weight of the aircraft divided by the area of the wing Thrust-to-weight ratio is as its name suggests the ratio of instantaneous Thrust to Weight (where weight means weight at the Earth ’s surface 07
Record flights
Highest flights
In the United States there are two definitions of how high a person must go to be referred to as an astronaut. An astronaut or cosmonaut (космона́вт) is a person trained The USAF decided to award astronaut wings to anyone who achieved an altitude of 50 miles (80. The Astronaut Badge is a Badge of the United States, awarded to military and civilian pilots who have completed training and performed a successful 47 km) or more. However the FAI set the limit of space at 100 km. The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI is the world governing body for Air sports and Aeronautics and Astronautics world records Thirteen X-15 flights went higher than 50 miles (80. 47 km) and two of these reached over 62. 137 miles (100 km).
| Flight | Date | Top speed | Altitude | Pilot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 62 | 17 July 1962 | 3,831 mph | 59. Events 180 - Twelve inhabitants of Scillium in North Africa are executed for being Christians Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 6 miles | Robert M. White |
| Flight 77 | 17 January 1963 | 3,677 mph | 51. This article is not about Robert M White, American theoretical physicist Major-General Robert Michael White (born 6 July 1924 Events 38 BC - Octavian marries Livia Drusilla. 1287 - King Alfonso III of Aragon invades Minorca Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 4 miles | Joe Walker |
| Flight 87 | 27 June 1963 | 3,425 mph | 53. Joseph Albert "Joe" Walker ( 20 February 1921 &ndash 8 June 1966) was an American Test pilot and a Events 1358 - Republic of Dubrovnik is founded 1709 - Peter the Great defeats Charles XII of Sweden Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 9 miles | Robert Rushworth |
| Flight 90 | 19 July 1963 | 3,710 mph | 65. Robert Aitken Rushworth was a United States Air Force Test pilot for the North American X-15 program Crew Number in parentheses indicates number of spaceflights by each individual prior to and including this mission Events 711 - Muslim forces under Tariq ibn Ziyad defeat the Visigoths led by their king Roderic. Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 8 miles | Joe Walker |
| Flight 91 | 22 August 1963 | 3,794 mph | 67. Joseph Albert "Joe" Walker ( 20 February 1921 &ndash 8 June 1966) was an American Test pilot and a Crew Number in parentheses indicates number of spaceflights by each individual prior to and including this mission Events 392 - Arbogast has Eugenius elected Western Roman Emperor. Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 0 miles | Joe Walker |
| Flight 138 | 29 June 1965 | 3,431 mph | 53. Joseph Albert "Joe" Walker ( 20 February 1921 &ndash 8 June 1966) was an American Test pilot and a Events 512 - A Solar eclipse is recorded by a monastic chronicler in Ireland. Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. 1 miles | Joseph H. Engle |
| Flight 143 | 10 August 1965 | 3,549 mph | 51. Joe Henry Engle (born August 26 1932 in Chapman, Kansas) is a retired U Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. 3 miles | Joseph H. Engle |
| Flight 150 | 28 September 1965 | 3,731 mph | 55. Joe Henry Engle (born August 26 1932 in Chapman, Kansas) is a retired U Events 48 BC - Pompey the Great is assassinated on orders of King Ptolemy of Egypt after landing in Egypt. Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. 9 miles | John B. McKay |
| Flight 153 | 14 October 1965 | 3,554 mph | 50. John B McKay ( December 8, 1922 &ndash April 27, 1975) was one of the first pilots assigned to the X-15 flight research Events 1066 - Norman Conquest: Battle of Hastings - In England on Senlac Hill seven miles from Hastings, the forces Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. 4 miles | Joseph H. Engle |
| Flight 174 | 1 November 1966 | 3,750 mph | 58. Joe Henry Engle (born August 26 1932 in Chapman, Kansas) is a retired U Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. 1 miles | Bill Dana |
| Flight 190 | 17 October 1967 | 3,856 mph | 53. William Harvey "Bill" Dana is a retired test pilot He was born in Pasadena, California, November 3, 1930, received his Bachelor Events 539 BC - King Cyrus The Great of Persia marches into the city of Babylon, releasing the Jews from almost Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. 1 miles | Pete Knight |
| Flight 191 | 15 November 1967 | 3,569 mph | 50. William J "Pete" Knight ( November 18 1929 - May 8 2004) was a U Mission parameters Mass unknown kg fueled unknown kg burnout Maximum Altitude 266000 feet (50 Events 655 - Battle of Winwaed: Penda of Mercia is defeated by Oswiu of Northumbria. Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. 3 miles | Michael J. Adams† |
| Flight 197 | 21 August 1968 | 3,443 mph | 50. Michael James Adams ( May 5, 1930 - November 15, 1967) was an American Aviator and USAF Astronaut Events 1192 - Minamoto Yoritomo becomes Seii Tai Shōgun and the De facto ruler of Japan. Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 6 miles | Bill Dana |
Fastest flights
| Flight | Date | Top Speed | Altitude | Pilot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 45 | 9 November 1961 | 4,092 mph | 19. William Harvey "Bill" Dana is a retired test pilot He was born in Pasadena, California, November 3, 1930, received his Bachelor Events 694 - Egica, a king of the Visigoths of Hispania, accuses Jews of aiding Muslims sentencing all Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 2 miles | Robert M. White |
| Flight 59 | 27 June 1962 | 4,104 mph | 23. This article is not about Robert M White, American theoretical physicist Major-General Robert Michael White (born 6 July 1924 Events 1358 - Republic of Dubrovnik is founded 1709 - Peter the Great defeats Charles XII of Sweden Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 4 miles | Joe Walker |
| Flight 64 | 26 July 1962 | 3,989 mph | 18. Joseph Albert "Joe" Walker ( 20 February 1921 &ndash 8 June 1966) was an American Test pilot and a Events 657 - Battle of Siffin. 811 - Battle of Pliska; Byzantine Emperor Nicephorus Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 7 miles | Neil Armstrong |
| Flight 86 | 25 June 1963 | 3,910 mph | 21. Neil Alden Armstrong (born August 5 1930 is a former American Astronaut, Test pilot, University Professor, and United States Events 524 - Battle of Vézeronce, the Franks defeat the Burgundians Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 7 miles | Joe Walker |
| Flight 89 | 18 July 1963 | 3,925 mph | 19. Joseph Albert "Joe" Walker ( 20 February 1921 &ndash 8 June 1966) was an American Test pilot and a Events 390 BC - Roman - Gaulish Wars Battle of the Allia - a Roman army is defeated by raiding Gauls, Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 8 miles | Robert Rushworth |
| Flight 97 | 5 December 1963 | 4,017 mph | 19. Robert Aitken Rushworth was a United States Air Force Test pilot for the North American X-15 program Events 63 BC - Cicero reads the last of his Catiline Orations. Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 1 miles | Robert Rushworth |
| Flight 105 | 29 April 1964 | 3,905 mph | 19. Robert Aitken Rushworth was a United States Air Force Test pilot for the North American X-15 program Events 1429 - Joan of Arc arrives to relieve the Siege of Orleans. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. 2 miles | Robert Rushworth |
| Flight 137 | 22 June 1965 | 3,938 mph | 29. Robert Aitken Rushworth was a United States Air Force Test pilot for the North American X-15 program Events 217 BC - Battle of Raphia: Ptolemy IV of Egypt defeats Antiochus III the Great of the Seleucid kingdom. Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. 5 miles | John B. McKay |
| Flight 175 | 18 November 1966 | 4,250 mph | 18. John B McKay ( December 8, 1922 &ndash April 27, 1975) was one of the first pilots assigned to the X-15 flight research Events 326 - The old St Peter's Basilica is consecrated 1302 - Pope Boniface VIII issues the Papal bull Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. 7 miles | Pete Knight |
| Flight 188 | 3 October 1967 | 4,519 mph | 36. William J "Pete" Knight ( November 18 1929 - May 8 2004) was a U Events 42 BC - First Battle of Philippi: Triumvirs Mark Antony and Octavian fight an indecisive battle with Caesar's Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. 3 miles | Pete Knight |
X-15 Pilots
| X-15 pilots and their achievements during the program | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot | Organization | Total Flights | USAF space flights | FAI space flights | Max Mach | Max speed (mph) | Max altitude (miles) |
| Michael J. Adams† | U. William J "Pete" Knight ( November 18 1929 - May 8 2004) was a U Michael James Adams ( May 5, 1930 - November 15, 1967) was an American Aviator and USAF Astronaut S. Air Force | 7 | 1 | 0 | 5. 59 | 3,822 | 50. 3 |
| Neil Armstrong | NASA | 7 | 0 | 0 | 5. Neil Alden Armstrong (born August 5 1930 is a former American Astronaut, Test pilot, University Professor, and United States 74 | 3,989 | 39. 2 |
| Scott Crossfield | North American Aviation | 14 | 0 | 0 | 2. Albert Scott Crossfield (October 2 1921 – April 19 2006 normally known as Scott Crossfield, was an American naval officer and Test pilot 97 | 1,959 | 15. 3 |
| Bill Dana | NASA | 16 | 0 | 0 | 5. William Harvey "Bill" Dana is a retired test pilot He was born in Pasadena, California, November 3, 1930, received his Bachelor 53 | 3,897 | 58. 1 |
| Joseph H. Engle | U. Joe Henry Engle (born August 26 1932 in Chapman, Kansas) is a retired U S. Air Force | 16 | 3 | 0 | 5. 71 | 3,887 | 53. 1 |
| Pete Knight | U. William J "Pete" Knight ( November 18 1929 - May 8 2004) was a U S. Air Force | 16 | 1 | 0 | 6. 70 | 4,519 | 53. 1 |
| John B. McKay | NASA | 29 | 0 | 0 | 5. John B McKay ( December 8, 1922 &ndash April 27, 1975) was one of the first pilots assigned to the X-15 flight research 65 | 3,863 | 55. 9 |
| Forrest S. Petersen | U. Vice Admiral Forrest S Petersen ( May 16, 1922 - December 8, 1990) was a United States Aviator. S. Navy | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5. 3 | 3,600 | 19. 2 |
| Robert A. Rushworth | U. Robert Aitken Rushworth was a United States Air Force Test pilot for the North American X-15 program S. Air Force | 34 | 1 | 0 | 6. 06 | 4,017 | 53. 9 |
| Milt Thompson | NASA | 14 | 0 | 0 | 5. Milton Orville Thompson (usually referred to as Milt Thompson) (4 May 1926 – 6 August 1993 was a NASA research pilot selected as an Astronaut 48 | 3,723 | 40. 5 |
| Joe Walker | U. Joseph Albert "Joe" Walker ( 20 February 1921 &ndash 8 June 1966) was an American Test pilot and a S. Air Force | 25 | 3 | 2 | 5. 92 | 4,104 | 67. 0 |
| Robert M. White* | U. This article is not about Robert M White, American theoretical physicist Major-General Robert Michael White (born 6 July 1924 S. Air Force | 16 | 1 | 0 | 6. 04 | 4,092 | 59. 6 |
| † Killed • * White was backup for Capt. Iven Kincheloe | |||||||
See also
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
References
Notes
- ^ Jenkins, Dennis R. Iven Carl "Kinch" Kincheloe Jr ( July 2, 1928 &ndash July 26, 1958) was an American Test pilot, recipient of What follows is a list of North American X-15 pilots and flights WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout This is an incomplete listing loosely chronological sorted by type used for launch of some aircraft that used rocket propulsion Spaceplanes Spaceplanes are aircraft that What follows is a list of North American X-15 pilots and flights Space accidents, either during operations or training for Spaceflights have killed 22 Astronauts (five percent of all people who have been in space two percent Space Shuttle: The History of the National Space Transportation System: The First 100 Missions, 3rd edition. Stillwater, Minnesota: Voyageur Press, 2001. ISBN 0-9633974-5-1.
- ^ NASA Press Release, NASA astronaut wings award ceremony, 23 August 2005. Events 79 - Mount Vesuvius begins stirring on the feast day of Vulcan the Roman god of fire Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
- ^ X-15A Crash site
Bibliography
- American X-Vehicles: An Inventory X-1 to X-50, SP-2000-4531 - June 2003; NASA online PDF Monograph
- Flight experience with shock impingement and interference heating on the X-15-2 research airplane 1968 - NASA (PDF format)
- Godwin, Robert, ed. X-15: The NASA Mission Reports. Burlington, Ontario: Apogee Books, 2001. ISBN 1-896522-65-3.
- Hallion, Dr. Richard P. "Saga of the Rocket Ships. " AirEnthusiast Six March-June 1978. Bromley, Kent, UK: Pilot Press Ltd. , 1978.
- Hypersonics Before the Shuttle: A Concise History of the X-15 Research Airplane - NASA report (PDF format)
- Thermal protection system X-15A-2 Design report 1968 - NASA report (PDF format)
- Thompson, Milton O. and Armstrong, Neil. At the Edge of Space: The X-15 Flight Program. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1992. ISBN 1-56098-107-5.
- Tregaskis, Richard. X-15 Diary: The Story of America's First Space Ship. Lincoln, Nebraska: iUniverse. com, 2000. ISBN 0-595-00250-1.
- X-15 research results with a selected bibliography - NASA report (PDF format)
External links
- NASA's X-15 website
- X-15 Research Results With a Selected Bibliography (NASA SP-60, 1965)
- "Transiting from Air to Space: The North American X-15" (1998)
- "Proceedings of the X-15 First Flight 30th Anniversary Celebration, 8 June 1989"
- (PDF) Hypersonics Before the Shuttle: A Concise History of the X-15 Research Airplane (NASA SP-2000-4518, 2000)
- A Field Guide to American Spacecraft - Locations of X-15 aircraft
- unofficial X-15 website
- X-15 Research Results (1964)
- X-15 photos at Dryden
- Encyclopedia Astronautica's X-15 chronology
- Major Michael Adams Monument
- X15 site in French, with detailed flight reports
- Aerospace Legacy Foundation
- X-15, X-15A-2 • Dimensional references, plans and images (Primary source: NASA Technical Reports)
- Fly the X-15 in Flight Simulator.
- Interview with Neil Armstrong about his experience in the X-15
- X-15 at the Internet Movie Database
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