215k GIF
Smithsonian Institution photograph #79-833 by D. Penland
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Milestone:
First winged aircraft to achieve Mach 4, 5, & 6 and to operate
at altitudes above 30,500 meters (100,000 feet) |
Date of Milestone:
Test flights began in 1959 |
Aircraft:
North American X-15 |
Operated By:
NASA |
Aircraft Location:
Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum, Milestones of Flight Gallery
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The North American X-15, a rocket-powered
research aircraft, bridged the gap between manned flight in the
atmosphere and space flight. After its initial test flights in 1959,
the X-15 became the first winged aircraft to attain hypersonic velocities
of Mach 4, 5, and 6 (four to six times the speed of sound) and to
operate at altitudes well above 30,500 meters (100,000 feet).
The X-15 was carried to an altitude of 12,000
meters (40,000 feet) under the wing of a Boeing B-52 bomber. During
one test, it attained an altitude of over 108 kilometers (67 miles),
flying so high that it functioned more as a spacecraft than an airplane.
In 1967 it reached Mach 6.72 (7,297 kilometers or 4,534 miles per
hour).
The X-15 was designed to explore the problems
of flight at very high speeds and altitudes. The X-15 and other
research aircraft contribute to the advancement of aerospace technology.
Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Design Features:
The wedge-shaped tail surfaces of the X-15
provided directional stability at speeds where conventionally shaped
airfoils would not be effective. The large upper and lower fins
and the downward slant of the wings enabled the aircraft to remain
stable during steep climbs and at high altitudes. The substructure
of the X-15 is titanium with a covering of Inconel X, a nickel alloy
capable of withstanding temperatures of 650° (1,200°). The black
color of the aircraft helped to dissipate heat, and the gaps along
the fuselage closed as the external temperature increased. The small
holes near the nose are for attitude control jets, used at very
high altitudes where airfoil surfaces no longer provide aerodynamic
control.
Wingspan: |
6.7 m (22 ft) |
Length: |
15.5 m (51 ft) |
Height: |
4 m (13 ft) |
Weight, gross: |
17,237 kg (38,000 lb) |
Engine: |
Thiokol (Reaction Motors) XLR-99-RM-2 rocket engine rated
at 250,000 newtons (57,000 lbs) thrust at sea level |
Manufacturer: |
North American Aviation, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.,
1959 |
More Information:
North American X-15A-1
- Aircraft of The Smithsonian
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