X15s mach 6.7 flight

Only three X15 airframes were built, number 1 and 2 did the early flights and number 3 blew up prior to its first flight, it was repaired, and all three flew until Number 2 broke its back on landing. That was also repaired.
They all continued to fly until Number 2 suffered the excessive heating damage after which it was repaired but never flew again.
Number 3 was destroyed when it broke up in the air due to high G loads following a spin, Major Adams killed.
That left number one to make the last flights ending with flight 199 on 24-10-68.

X15-1 56-6670 Air and Space Museum Washington.
X15-2 56-6671 Dmgd/repaired/dmgd/repaired. Wright Patterson Museum.
X15-3 56-6672 Blew up/repaired/destroyed.

A slender delta version was proposed but not built.

Nice pic!

I´m no expert – I guess I should google a bit – but I know one X15 was destroyed in spin accident, one was blown up with Scott Crossfield another was broken in half on landing and subsequently repaired IIRC. I seem to remember there were some plans to build a delta winged version too.

X-15

Was it this one, being inspected by me this September at Wright-Patterson?

I heard this one never flew again afterwards IIRC. Now I know why!

Was it just a case of taking her up and seeing what she´ll do, since the programme was coming to an end anyway?

Sheeez, when you think that thing was built like a tank, out of titanium alloy, and AIR did that…

I’ve always loved the interview with Scott Crossfield (IIRC) on “Reaching for the Skies” when they talked to him about the infamous engine ground test when he throttled forward, throttled back and WHAM!

Something along the lines of “It gives you a load of confidence when you are strapped into the cockpit holding the throttle and the engineers are all in a bomb-proof bunker 400 yards away…”

Adrian