As a kid in the 1960s I can well remember being inspired by this extraordinary rocket-powered machine built to investigate the effects of hypersonic flight. In June 1962 this, the second of three X-15s, became the first aircraft to exceed Mach 5 after being air-dropped form its NB-52A mothership over Mud Lake, NV. In October 1967, after a fuselage stretch and addition of the large propellant tanks, it reached Mach 6.7, fastest of the three X-15s. In December 1968 the 200th X-15 flight was cancelled and 56-6671 went into storage till moved to the USAFM the following year

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The wedge-shaped vertical stabilizer necessary for directional stability, upper speed brakes and a small tail-skid in retracted position is visible on the first X-15 on display at NASM. Just three of these hypersonic aircraft were built, and only 12 pilots flew them including Neil Armstrong for a total of 199 flights from 1959-68. The X-15 set the world's unofficial speed record of Mach 6.70 with Flight No. 2-53-97, and an altitude record of 354,200 ft. with Flight No. 3-22-36. The second X-15 is displayed at NMUSAF. The third X-15 was lost on 15 Nov 1967 on Flight 3-65-97 in a fatal accident.

The X-15 was a rocket powered hypersonic research aircraft. It first flew in 1959 and three were built obtaining valuable data for subsequent space flights. Launched from under a B-52 speeds of over 4,500 mph were attained and altitudes of over 100km meaning that the aircraft actually flew into space. Canon Ftb, Tri-X film, ID11 developer

This was the second of three X-15 a/c. After a mishap, it was rebuilt into an improved version. This included external propellant tanks for longer burn time and a slightly longer fuselage. In October 1967, being flown by Pete Knight, this X-15 set a speed record of Mach 6.7 (4,520 miles per hour) which still stands today. Transferred to the museum in 1969 after the X-15 program ended.

The first of the three X-15's - also referred to as the X-15-1. Launched from the B-52 carriers, this rocket-powered research aircraft reached over Mach 5 and 50 miles altitude. The pilots of those particular flights being classified by the Americans as astronauts.

The first of three X-15 research aircraft is pictured on display in the Air and Space Museum's Milestones of Flight foyer. This aircraft conducted 82 of the 199 powered flights in the X-15 program. The second aircraft is displayed at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, OH and the third was lost during testing.