The North American X-15 is a hypersonic rocket-powered aircraft formerly operated by the United States Air Force and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as part of the X-plane …

Feb 28, 2014 · It spanned nearly a decade, setting the world’s unofficial speed and altitude records — 4,520 mph (Mach 6.7) and 354,200 feet, respectively. This program investigated all aspects of …

First flown in 1959, the North American X-15 bridged the gap between human flight in the atmosphere and spaceflight. It was the first winged aircraft to fly Mach 4, 5, & 6 and to operate at altitudes above …

Flights of the experimental X-15 in the 1960s set unofficial altitude and speed records for piloted aircraft and contributed to the development of the U.S. crewed spaceflight program.

Its purpose was to fly high and fast, testing the machine and subjecting pilots to conditions that future astronauts would face. It made the first manned flights to the edges of space and was the world’s …

Dec 25, 2025 · Information and pictures on the aircraft, X-15.

Oct 28, 2025 · Let’s delve into the fascinating world of the X-15 Rocket Plane and explore its history, design, achievements, and impact on space exploration. The X-15 Rocket Plane was developed in …

Twelve pilots flew three X-15 spaceplanes, flying record high-altitude flights, high-speed flights, and sub-orbital spaceflights. Collectively, pilots and craft performed a total of 199 free flights after being …

Composed of an internal structure of titanium and a skin surface of a chrome-nickel alloy known as Inconel X, the X-15 had its first, unpowered glide flight on June 8, 1959, while the first powered flight …

Mar 18, 2014 · After winning an industry-wide competition, North American Aviation designed and built the X-15. This is the same company that designed the famous P-51 Mustang of World War II, and …