The NASA/US Air Force X-15 was the fastest plane ever built, reaching an incredible speed of 4,520 mph. If it were used for travel, it could fly from London to New York in just 45 minutes. However, this experimental aircraft was designed for research rather than commercial flights.
Developed as a joint project between NASA and the U.S. Air Force, the X-15 was part of an ambitious program to study hypersonic flight. This rocket-powered plane could fly at speeds over five times the speed of sound and reach the edge of space. Because of its sleek and sharp design, it was often compared to a giant dart.
The X-15 program made history, setting speed and altitude records that still stand today. It completed 199 test flights over nine years, beginning in 1959. While it had the ability to cross the Atlantic in under an hour, its main purpose was to study how aircraft behave at extreme speeds and altitudes. The plane would climb into space and then return to Edwards Air Force Base in California within just 10 minutes.
According to U.S. Air Force historian Stephanie Smith, the X-15 was “the most productive aviation research program ever.” The information gathered from its missions helped pave the way for future space exploration, including the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs.
However, the program was not without risks. On November 15, 1967, test pilot Michael Adams lost his life during his seventh flight when a technical failure led to a fatal crash. He was the only pilot to die in the program. Another pilot, Jack McKay, suffered severe injuries in 1962 after an emergency landing caused the aircraft to flip. Although he survived and returned to flying, his injuries later forced him to retire.
One of the most famous X-15 pilots was Neil Armstrong, who later became the first man to walk on the moon. His contributions to the program were so significant that NASA renamed the Dryden Flight Research Center in his honor.
Despite the dangers, the X-15 program was a major success. It reached record-breaking speeds and altitudes of up to 345,200 feet. The knowledge gained from these test flights played a crucial role in advancing human spaceflight. The pilots who flew the X-15 were seen as pioneers, pushing the boundaries of what was possible in aviation and space exploration.
