He was among the twelve pilots who flew the aircraft. The north american x 15 was a rocketpowered 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. In 1954, nasa completed its studies and presented the x15 proposal to the air force and navy. The story of the north american x15 by jenkins and landis. The north american x15 was a rocketpowered aircraft operated by the united states air force and the national aeronautics and space administration nasa as part of the xplane series of experimental aircraft. The north american x15 was flown by neil armstrong, the first man on the moon. The north american x10 originally designated rtva5 was an unmanned technology demonstrator developed by north american aviation. Composed of an internal structure of titanium and a skin surface of a chromenickel alloy known as inconel x, the x15 had its first, unpowered glide flight on. The x 10 was similar to the development of bell s x 9 shrike project, which was based on features of the gam63 rascal.
The x15s main objective was that it was made for short hypersonic flight at speeds of mach 5 and above and the information that was learned would eventually help with the design of the space shuttle decades later. Nobody was seriously hurt and north american subsequently. Jan 15, 2016 among the 12 pilots who flew the x 15 were future apollo 11 commander neil armstrong and space shuttle astronaut joe engle. The story of the pilot who flew the north american x15. Lessons learned in the highspeed aerodynamic research. Eight x 15 pilots flew higher than 80 kilometers 50 miles above the earth and were thus awarded astronaut wings. Subsonic flight tests of the 17scale model of the north american x15 nasa langley crgis. Past history has shown that the majority of problem areas and aborted flights occur. This book gives an in depth look into why the x 15 was made. The x15 weighed about 14,000 lb empty and approximately 34,000 lb at launch. The north american x 15 was a hypersonic rocketpowered aircraft operated by the united states air force usaf and the national aeronautics and space administration nasa as part of the x plane series of experimental aircraft. North american x15 experimental plane fighter aircraft. North american aviation built three x15 aircraft for the program. National archives and records administration arc 45005, li 255hq79 research project x15 the development of the x.
The x 15 program helped to expose the fallacies of this facility barrier. This is a comprehensive history of nasas aviation progr. Nov 16, 2004 north american x 15 metadata this file contains additional information such as exif metadata which may have been added by the digital camera, scanner, or software program used to create or digitize it. In the early 1950s some supersonic aerodynamic research was begun that was related to missile systems. North american x15 manual 2016 owners workshop manual. The story of the north american x15 specialty press by dennis r. The x15 program has been called the most successful aeronautical research effort in history. A brief history 1940 an early utilization of liquid nh3 as a fuel for motorbuses took place in belgium during 1943. Aeronautics from 1958 to 2008 from naca to the space age, dryden, langley, ames, xplanes, faget, hypersonics, lifting bodies, vstol, rutan, nasp, sst, composites by progressive management available from rakuten kobo. Still the fastest airplane ever flown, the north american x15 earned its title 40 years ago, when on october 3, 1967 air force major william pete knight flew. Each of these important x plane aircraft were given specific program goals and advanced as the technology of the time allowed. With shock impingement and interference heating on the x152 research airplane pdf.
In 1955, while navy decided to save the development cost and not to be put in the dissenting vote position, naca and the air force agreed with the north american s proposal as the winner of the competition which became the x 15 program. This research was prompted by a problem that had occurred with the u. The x15 set speed and altitude records in the early 1960s, reaching the edge of outer space and returning with valuable data used in aircraft and spacecraft design. The north american x 15 was the culmination of the rocket powered research aircraft that peppered the 1940s and 1950s beginning with the famous bell x 1. The north american x 15 was a hypersonic rocketpowered aircraft 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 two surviving north american x15 aircraft are on exhibit. All x15 research pilots were engineers as well as pilots. Headquarters films relating to aeronautics, compiled 1962 1981. Although not as famous as the bell x 1, 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 north american x 15 was flown by neil armstrong, the first man on the moon. Each of these important xplane aircraft were given specific program goals and advanced as. The north american x15 was the culmination of the rocket powered research aircraft that peppered the 1940s and 1950s beginning with the famous bell x1. The search for the ideal alternative fuel to eliminate us addiction to imported petroleum has been a long, difficult trek. Descriptionthe north american x 15 rocketpowered aircraft was part of the x series of experimental aircraft, initiated with thex1, that were made for the usaf, the nasa, and the usn. Subsonic flight tests of the 17scale model of the north.
X15 contributions to aerospace x15tale of the tape. The north american x15 was a hypersonic rocketpowered aircraft operated by the united states air force and the national aeronautics and space administration as part of the xplane series of experimental aircraft. North american north american x15 experimental aircraft. Dec 14, 2011 subsonic flight tests of the 17scale model of the north american x 15 nasa langley crgis. All types and models 19591968 by david baker at indigo. Buy north american x15 manual by david baker online from the works. Navy meeting on july 9, 1954, firmed up requirements. The x15 remains the fastest and highest flying manned aircraft ever flown, and is regarded by many as the most important research plane in history. While that book is a more polished and indepth affair than this manual, this book is nonetheless a very solid reference work in its own right. North american x15 rocketpowered aircraft north american. No other research program in aviation history has produced as. Descriptionthe north american x15 rocketpowered aircraft was part of the xseries of experimental aircraft, initiated with thex1, that were made for the usaf, the nasa, and the usn.
Some left a record of engineering achievement that is little known but that may in fact have been at least as important as their flight experience. After completing its initial test flights in 1959, the x15 became the first winged aircraft to attain velocities of mach 4, 5, and 6 four, five, and six times the speed of sound. Buy north american x 15 manual by david baker online from the works. Those of us in the program at flight 190 thought that the x15 would continue indefinitely. The x10 was similar to the development of the bell x9 shrike project, which was based on features of the gam63 rascal. The x15 emerged from a combined us air force and us navy request for a research aircraft to reach altitudes of 250,000 ft and speeds exceeding mach 6. The x 15 s main objective was that it was made for short hypersonic flight at speeds of mach 5 and above and the information that was learned would eventually help with the design of the space shuttle decades later. The x 15 weighed about 14,000 lb empty and approximately 34,000 lb at launch. Threequarter right rear view, close up, of north american x 15 on the ground, mounted beneath the right wing of its boeing nb52 stratofortress mothership. Scott crossfield is foremost on this list for his work with north american aviation in development of the x 15.
This book gives an in depth look into why the x15 was made. North american x15 aircraft operated by the usaf and nasa as. Get the vector version of this image original image dimensions. Visit now to browse our huge range of products at great prices. The north american x15 rocketpowered research aircraft bridged the gap between manned flight within the atmosphere and manned flight beyond the atmosphere into space. These are not necessarily in the public domain materials based on hubble space telescope data may be ed if they are not explicitly produced. After completing its initial test flights in 1959, the x 15 became the first winged aircraft to attain velocities of mach 4, 5, and 6 four, five, and six times the speed of sound. Virtually all of the flight pressures and forces were found to be in excellent agreement with the lowtemperature windtunnel predictions refs.
The hardcover of the north american x15 owners workshop manual. Boeing b50 planned as air launch carrier airplane douglas designation d558 project. The xlr99 rocket engine, manufactured by thiokol chemical corp. The x15s official world record for the highest speed has remained unchallenged as of march 2017. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The man facing the camera at left foreground appears to be x 15 pilot scott crossfield. Among the 12 pilots who flew the x15 were future apollo 11 commander neil armstrong and space shuttle astronaut joe engle. The man facing the camera at left foreground appears to be x15 pilot scott crossfield. Air force and naca while the x 1 and x 1a projects were still underway.
Threequarter right rear view, close up, of north american x15 on the ground, mounted beneath the right wing of its boeing nb52 stratofortress mothership. National archives and records administration arc 45005, li 255hq79 research project x 15 the development of the x. Despite the fact that it is one of the most celebrated experimental aircraft ever flown, most historical writings have always had a rather peculiar blind spot regarding the x 15 program. Although not as famous as the bell x1, the x15 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. Jan 15, 2016 buy the hardcover book north american x 15 owners workshop manual. Nasa langley was instrumental in the development of the x15. This joint program by nasa, the air force, the navy, and north american operated the most remarkable of all the rocket research aircraft. Composed of an internal structure of titanium and a skin surface of a chromenickel alloy known as inconel x, the x 15 had its first, unpowered glide flight on june 8, 1959, while the first powered flight. Despite the fact that it is one of the most celebrated experimental aircraft ever flown, most historical writings have always had a rather peculiar blind spot regarding the x15 program. Hypersonics before the shuttle north american x 15. It was a subscale reusable design that included many of the design features of the sm64 navaho missile.
The north american x15 rocketpowered research aircraft bridged the gap between manned flight within the atmosphere and manned flight beyond the. The north american x15 rocket plane was perhaps the most important of the usafusn xseries of experimental aircraft. The x15 set speed and altitude records in the 1960s, reaching the edge of outer space and returning with valuable data used in. North american x15 experimental aircraft blueprints. Apr 28, 2014 north american x15 rocketpowered aircraft north american aviation usaf, nasa envelope. North american x15 manual by david baker military books at. The x 15 remains the fastest and highest flying manned aircraft ever flown, and is regarded by many as the most important research plane in history. The x 15 emerged from a combined us air force and us navy request for a research aircraft to reach altitudes of 250,000 ft and speeds exceeding mach 6. Emeric kroch developed these ammonia coal gas hybrid motors to keep public transportation in operation despite the extreme diesel shortages of world war ii. Hypersonic research at the edge of space this joint program by nasa, the air force, the navy, and north american operated the most remarkable of all the rocket research aircraft. The two surviving north american x 15 aircraft are on exhibit. While that book is a more polished and indepth affair than this manual, this book is nonetheless a very.
Eight x15 pilots flew higher than 80 kilometers 50 miles above the earth and were thus awarded astronaut wings. Use of nasa logos, insignia and emblems is restricted per u. The x 15 set speed and altitude records in the early 1960s, reaching the edge of outer space and returning with valuable data used in aircraft and spacecraft. North american x15 aircraft operated by the usaf and nasa. Air force and naca while the x1 and x 1a projects were still underway. The north american x 15 rocket plane was perhaps the most important of the usafusn x series of experimental aircraft. North american aviation built three x 15 aircraft for the program.
The north american x15 was a hypersonic rocketpowered aircraft operated by the united. The main obstacle this book has to overcome is dennis jenkins and tony landis superb hypersonic. The north american x 10 model rtva5 was an unmanned technology demonstrator, developed by north american aviation. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. North american north american x 15 experimental aircraft. Nasa facts x15 hypersonic research program 1998 north.
North american x15 the x15 program is a direct successor to the series of supersonic research aircraft that began with the x1 in 1946. Nasa langley was instrumental in the development of the x 15. All x 15 research pilots were engineers as well as pilots. The ominous impacts of the 1973 opec oil embargo and subsequent oil price shocks brought to light a very unfortunate truth, that the fate of the us economy and our very way of life is dictated by our longstanding addiction to imported petroleum. Scott crossfield is foremost on this list for his work with north american aviation in development of the x15. North american x15 manual by david baker military books. In the joint x15 hypersonic research program that nasa conducted with the air force, the navy, and north american aviation, inc. The north american x 15 rocketpowered research aircraft bridged the gap between manned flight within the atmosphere and manned flight beyond the atmosphere into space. Buy the hardcover book north american x15 owners workshop manual. The x15 program helped to expose the fallacies of this facility barrier.