Developed in the mid-1950s by the US military and operated by NASA between 1959 and 1968, the X-15s were the first rocket-powered hypersonic research aircraft. They made 199 flights and reached speeds in excess of 4,000 mph and alti tudes above 270,000 ft , considered to be beyond the atmosphere and into the vacuum of space.
Three X-15s were built and one was lost following re-entry from high altitude but the other two continued flying. A second airframe was severely damaged but rebuilt for exploring flight close to Mach 7. Several famous pilots flew the X-15, including Neil Armstrong, commander of Apollo 11 and the first man to walk on the Moon.
With about 350 illustrations (b/w and colour pictures, technical drawings).

Author(s): David Baker
Publisher: Crecy
Pages: 368
Language: English
Edition: 1
Year of publication: 2022
Dimensions: 28,8 x 22,5 cm
Binding: Hardcover
Weight: 1.60 kg