| Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Registration / Serial: | 56-6671 |
| Alternate Serial: | 66671 |
| Aircraft Original Type: | North American X-15 |
| Aircraft Generic Type: | North American X-15 |
| Aircraft Version: | North American X-15A-2 |
| C/n (msn): | 240-2 |
| Operator Titles: | USA - Air Force / NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| City / Airport: | Dayton - Wright-Patterson AFB / Wright AFBMap |
| Region / Country: | Ohio, United States |
| Airport Codes: | ICAO: KDWF IATA: - Local: DWF Other: - |
| Collection: | National Museum of the United States Air Force |
| Photo Date: | 16 December 2024 |
| Photo by: | Richard Vandervord |
| Photo ID: | 829676 |
| Photo Comment |
|---|
|
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 This photo is copyright © Richard Vandervord, and may not be used or published in any way without permission. It was added on 28 July 2025, and has since been viewed 18 times. |