An X-15 hangs from a pylon beneath the right wing of NASA's B-52 carrier aircraft as the moment nears to drop the rocket-powered aircraft on a high-speed research flight (NASA Photo EC65-885) For flight in the atmosphere, the X-15s used conventional aerodynamic controls consisting of rudders on two wedge … See more
The X-15 program has been called the most successful aeronautical research effort in history. The aircraft was conceived in the mid-1950s as the world's first piloted vehicle to stud… See more
During the first years that X-15 pilots were routinely using reaction controls to carry out research and test activities in the lower reaches of space, astronauts of Project Mercury began using reaction controls for the first time t… See more
The 12 pilots of NASA, the Air Force, Navy, and North American Aviation who flew in the program are listed in the order of their first flights, along with their total flight numbers. A. Scott Crossfield, NAA, 14 flights; Joseph A. Walker, N… See more
The scope of the X-15 research and test program encompassed many aerospace disciplines: hypersonic aerodynamic performance, heating rates, structural behavior at high heat rates… See more
In 1963, after the program's design goals had been met, the Air Force authorized North American Aviation to modify the No. 2 aircraft with external fuel tanks to achieve faster speeds. The … See more
The No. 1 X-15, with a serial number of 56-6670, is publicly displayed in the National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C., next to the Wright Brothers … See more
Because of the large fuel consumption of its rocket engine, the X-15 was air launched from a B-52aircraft at about 45,000 feet and speeds upward of 500 mph. Depending on the mission, the rocket engine provided thrust for the first 80 to 120 seconds of flight. The remainder of the normal 8- to 12-minute flight was without power and ended in a 200-m...
WebJul 28, 2020 · The X-15, however, could start its approach at 20,000 feet and at supersonic speeds in excess of 1,500 mph -- radically different conditions than most pilots experienced. Things did not …
The North American X-15 is a hypersonic rocket-powered aircraft. It was operated by the United States Air Force and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration as part of the X-plane series of experimental aircraft. The X-15 set speed and altitude records in the 1960s, reaching the edge of outer space and returning with valuable data used in aircraft and spacecraft design. The X-15's hi…
WebThe X-15 was air launched from a B-52 aircraft at 45,000 feet and at a speed of about 500 mph. After dropping from the B-52, the rocket engine provided thrust for the first 80 to 120 seconds of flight. The remainder of the …
WebSep 15, 2009 · Crossfield and his rocket plane finally were released from the B-52 on June 8, 1959, to make an unpowered glide to the lakebed below at Edwards Air Force Base in California. With the X-15’s primary rocket …
WebMay 13, 2021 · North American Aviation's X-15 is one of the world's fastest and highest flying aircraft. After test flights in 1959, in 1967 the X-15 eventually reached Mach 6.72. …
WebDec 27, 2014 · 5 Awesome Facts About NASA’s X-15, the World’s Fastest Rocket Plane 1. Operated Under Different Scenarios. The X-15 was operated under several different scenarios including attachment to a...
WebApr 08, 2021 · The X-15’s wings were rather stubby, a mere 22 feet—or 6.7 meters—across. The wing and the tail control surfaces provided control when flying through denser …