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B1	B2	B45	B47	B50	B52	B58	F111	-	-	-	-
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T6A	T33	T37	T38	T41	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

North American X-15 Rocket Plane

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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

 

Parade Ground Aircraft
A7	A10	B17	B24	B25	B26	B29	C45	C47	C118	C119	C121
C123	F15	F16	F82	P38	P47	P51	P63	SR71	T6	T28	T34
Other USAF Aircraft
Bombers
B1	B2	B45	B47	B50	B52	B58	F111	-	-	-	-
Cargo, VIP, & Tanker
C5	C17	C21	C24	C46	C97	C130	C133	C140	C141	KC10	KC135
Experimental & Prototype
D558	F107	X1	X2	X3	X4	X5	X15	XB70	YC14	-	-
Fighters
A1	F4	F5	F22	F84	F84F	F86	F86D	F100	F101	F102	F104
F105	F106	F117	P40	P80	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Helicopters
CH3E	CH21	CH54A	H5A	HH43	MH60	R4B	R6A	UH1P	UH13	UH19	V22
Reconnaissance
E3	O1G	OV2	OV10	RF4	RF101	U2	-	-	-	-	-
Trainers
T6A	T33	T37	T38	T41	-	-	-	-	-	-	-