X15 research results, with a selected bibliography, by wendell h. American x15 at 7274 kmh 4520 miles per hour at 105,218 m 354,200 ft. The story of the north american x15 by jenkins and landis. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Flight experience with shock impingement and interference heating on the x152 research airplane pdf. Jul, 2015 a good search string will reward you with a nice oversized, crystal clear pdf file of the nasanorth american aviation x15 poster. This was flight 52 of the nasa x15 hypersonic research program. After its initial test flights in 1959, the x15 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. During the 1950s and 1960s, this flight research was expanded with numerous other u. May 21, 20 among the most popular and productive x planes, the x 15 flew high enough to earn astronaut wings for a number of its pilots. Download the x 15 rocket plane in pdf and epub formats for free.
Indian hypersonic glide vehicle hgv202f in development. The basic physics of hypersonic flight have been understood for decades, with the air force and nasa flying the rocketpowered x15 in the 1960s. 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. Inflight simulation studies at the nasa dryden flight research facility pdf file. The x 15 that hangs in the smithsonian institutions national air space museum is the first of three built by north american aviation. In most examples, boostglide roughly doubles the range over the purely ballistic trajectory. The vehicle, however, burned on atmospheric reentry, and only charred remnants were found. The x15 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.
North american x15 aircraft operated by the usaf and nasa. After completing its initial test flights in 1959, the x15 became the first winged. December 1954, in the files of the nasa history office, washington. X15 contributions to aerospace x15tale of the tape. The only recently broken sound barrier was smashed completely by the x 15, which could hit mach 6. The story of the north american x15 specialty press by dennis r. The x15, shown in figure 111, is the only true manned hypersonic airplane flown to date. The x 15 experimental, manned vehicle with liquid rocket propulsion reached a speed record of mach 6. The x 15 program investigated piloted hypersonic flight in the areas of aerodynamic performance and heating rates, structural behavior during high heating and high flight loads, hypersonic stability and control during exit from and reentry of the.
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. Those of us in the program at flight 190 thought that the x15 would. White flew the north american x15 at 4520 mph at an altitude of 354,200 ft a mach number of 6. The x15 set speed and altitude records in the 1960s, reaching the edge of outer space and returning with valuable data used in. Apr 28, 2014 north american x15 rocketpowered aircraft north american aviation usaf, nasa envelope. I n early 1950s, a several highspeed flight researches were being proceeded by different agencies, the nacas hypersonic research, the air forces project 1226 and the navys d558 program.
At an altitude of approximately 45,000 feet,716 meters over mud lake, nevada, the x 15 was released from balls 8, the nb52b drop ship, at 10. Pdf download the x 15 rocket plane free unquote books. Pdf download north american x 15 x planes free ebooks pdf. The x15 hypersonic flight research program was officially started in 1954 and ran until 1968 when funding was cutoff mainly due to the nasa budget overruns with the landing a man on the moon projects. On may 5, 1967, the x15a2 with no ablative coating was. The first xlr99 engine flight in november, 1960 started to expand the x 15 performance envelope to the design goals. It will take most of an evening to read the entire poster but, it is well worth your time. Nasa x15 hypersonic research program archives page 3 of. Among the most popular and productive xplanes, the x15 flew high enough to earn astronaut wings for a number of its pilots. Hypersonic vehicles joint air power competence centre. Hypersonic aircraft the x15, other hypersonic studies.
North american x15 aircraft operated by the usaf and nasa as. The x 15 set speed and altitude records in the 1960s, reaching the edge of outer space and returning with valuable data used in. This was flight 52 of the nasa x 15 hypersonic research program. Built in the two decades following world war ii, it was the most successful of the highspeed x planes. Dfrc, to lee saegesser nasa history office, transmitting a copy of the setp paper for the file. Nobody was seriously hurt and north american subsequently. Nasa x15 hypersonic research program archives page 3 of 5. The north american x15 was a hypersonic rocketpowered aircraft operated by the united. Air force, became the first pilot to fly faster than mach 6 when he flew the number two north american aviation x15 hypersonic research rocketplane, 566671, to mach 6. The north american x15, a rocketpowered research aircraft, bridged the gap between manned flight in the atmosphere and space flight. Nasa x15 hypersonic research program archives this day. Built in the two decades following world war ii, it was the most successful of the highspeed xplanes. Find art you love and shop highquality art prints, photographs, framed artworks and. A concise history of the x15 research airplane by dennis r.
The north american x15 rocketpowered research aircraft bridged the gap between. Although nasa has completed its scramjet tests, the australians have taken the lead and flew a scramjet in march 2006, just one of three planned. North american x15 hypersonic experimental aircraft. High speed strike weapon hssw usa prompt global strike pgs usa arclight missile usa darpa falcon project usa boeing x 51 usa north american x 15 usa wu14 china. For a photo history and quicktime movies of the x15, see the archives at. The north american x15 the x15 program in retrospect nasa facts. Hypersonics is the study of flight at speeds where. Americas fastest spy plane may be backand hypersonic. A modified x 15 subsequently attained a speed of mach 6. The present historical account of the x 15 hypersonic research aircraft development program, which began in 1952 with the determination by nacas committee on aeronautics to attempt speeds of mach. Piloted by north american test pilot scott crossfield who had been so dedicated to the project that, as it began, he left naca for north american, the first x 15, af 566670, made its maiden. 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.
Hypersonic flight is flight through the atmosphere below about 90 km at speeds above mach 5, a speed where dissociation of air begins to become significant and high heat loads exist. The only recently broken sound barrier was smashed completely by the x15, which could hit mach 6. This book should have been printed in a different format page. Past history has shown that the majority of problem areas and aborted flights. North american x15 rocketpowered aircraft north american. Nasa history office, transmitting a copy of the setp paper for the file. Professionally converted for accurate flowingtext ebook format reproduction, this is an excellent history of the famous x 15 rocket plane, called by neil armstrong the most successful research airplane in history. December 1954, in the files of the nasa history office, washington, dc. Developed by the us air force and the national aeronautics and space administration nasa in collaboration with north american aviation, the x15 was sleek, black, and powerfula missile with stubby wings and a. On october 3, 1967, pilot peter knight reached mach 6. Nasa x15 hypersonic research program archives this day in.
Find art you love and shop highquality art prints, photographs, framed artworks and posters at. Critical hypersonic aerothermodynamic phenomena john j. Indeed, the hypersonic flight regime is defined as flight at. The present historical account of the x15 hypersonic research aircraft development program, which began in 1952 with the determination by nacas committee on aeronautics to attempt speeds of mach. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read hypersonic. The x43a proved that hypersonic flight, at speeds faster than 3 700 mph 6 000 kmh, is possible and that scramjets are workable engines with enormous potential. The x15 program investigated piloted hypersonic flight in the areas of aerodynamic performance and heating rates, structural behavior during high heating and high flight loads, hypersonic stability and control during exit from and reentry of the. 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. The first flight was by scott crossfield in june of 1959. The revolutionary x 15 remains the fastest manned aircraft ever to fly. The purpose of this test flight was to explore aerodynamic heating and stability at very high altitudes. From 1959 through 1968 a decadelong research program employed the north american aviation x15 to explore hypersonic flight and technologies needed for space flight. Hypersonic flight has been with us since 22 september 1963, when robert m. 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.
In the joint x15 hypersonic research program that nasa conducted with the air force, the navy, and north american aviation, inc. The story of the north american x15 ebook written by dennis r. The x15 was also challenged by the physical constraints of hypersonic flight. National advisory committee for aeronautics and national aeronautics and. The first xlr99 engine flight in november, 1960 started to expand the x15 performance envelope to the design goals. Laying a foundation for later space programs, the x15 program relied on a ground simulator to help pilots grow familiar with the minute controls and precise timing required for hypersonic flight. It was rolled out on october 15, 1958, 15 days after its original sponsor, the national advisory committee for aeronautics, became nasa.
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. Developed by the us air force and the national aeronautics and space administration nasa in collaboration with north american aviation, the x15 was sleek, black, and powerfula missile with stubby wings and a cockpit on the nose. The air force selected north american to develop three x 15 research aircraft in september 1955. In february 1949, at white sands, the rocket reached a speed of 8,288. The flights did not go without some troubles, including a cracked airframe after a hard, overweight landing after an emergency, and the loss of x15 3 and the tragic death of usaf pilot michael adams in november, 1967 when his x15 entered a hypersonic spin, breaking. The revolutionary x15 remains the fastest manned aircraft ever to fly. Research project x15 nasa film about the hypersonic. This was the 45th flight of the x15 program, and bob whites 11th flight. In others, a series of skips allows range to be further extended, and leads to the.
The flights did not go without some troubles, including a cracked airframe after a hard, overweight landing after an emergency, and the loss of x153 and the tragic death of usaf pilot michael adams in november, 1967 when his x15 entered a hypersonic spin, breaking. X15 rocket aircraft history hypersonics before the shuttle. It was rocket powered, and started flight by being dropped from a b52, so it was purely a research airplane. Six weeks later, on november 15, the inflight breakup of the third x15 claimed the life of pilot mike adams. The mach number ranges from mach 7 for the x15 to mach 36 for the apollo capsule. It was the longest flight in duration we had in the x15. In the joint x 15 hypersonic research program that nasa conducted with the air force, the navy, and north american aviation, inc. At an altitude of approximately 45,000 feet,716 meters over mud lake, nevada, the x15 was released from balls 8, the nb52b drop ship, at 10. Pdf north american x 15 download full pdf book download. To explore space and atmospheric flight at hypersonic speed and altitude 250,000 feet u. Research in hypersonic flight has a long history 2 reaching back to the x 15 program, which aimed at preparation for spaceflight.
Offices hypersonic revolution, no one has space shuttle to proceed. This is a truly authoritative work covering all aspects of the historic. 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. Piloted by north american test pilot scott crossfield who had been so dedicated to the project that, as it began, he left naca for north american, the first x15, af 566670, made its maiden. This remarkable achievement was accomplished over six decades due to intensive research and development by a large number of scientists and engineers. The x15 that hangs in the smithsonian institutions national air space museum is the first of three built by north american aviation. The story of the north american x15 revised edition. The flights did not go without some troubles, including a cracked airframe after a hard, overweight landing after an emergency, and the loss of x 15 3 and the tragic death of usaf pilot michael adams in november, 1967 when his x 15 entered a hypersonic spin, breaking. North american x15 hypersonic experimental aircraft photographic print. The x 15 rocket plane book also available for read online, mobi, docx and mobile and kindle reading. From 1959 through 1968 a decadelong research program employed the north american aviation x 15 to explore hypersonic flight and technologies needed for space flight. Sep 20, 2017 more important than records, however, were the x 15 s probing of hypersonic aerodynamic performance and heating rates, research into structural behavior during high heating and high flight loads. The air force selected north american to develop three x15 research aircraft in september 1955.
Boostglide trajectories are a class of spacecraft guidance and reentry trajectories that extend the range of suborbital spaceplanes and reentry vehicles by employing aerodynamic lift in the high upper atmosphere. In 1954, langley team of naca gathered those similar researches from military services and aerospace industries, combined with the air force and navy to launch the new project 1226 competition. More important than records, however, were the x15s probing of hypersonic aerodynamic performance and heating rates, research into structural behavior during high heating and high flight loads. Russia is the first country to deploy a hypersonic nuclear missile. This book gives an in depth look into why the x 15 was made. The x 15 s pioneering flights set records that still have not been broken four decades later, including a top speed of mach 6. This book gives an in depth look into why the x15 was made. Pdf critical hypersonic aerothermodynamic phenomena. The x 15, shown in figure 111, is the only true manned hypersonic airplane flown to date.