Static test number 1041 of XLR-11 engine for X-15. Edwards Air Force Base, January 23, 1959. Heavy plumes of white smoke emerge as test is begun. Only one jet of gas appears from upper exhaust.
Static test number 1044 of XLR-11 engine for X-15. Edwards Air Force Base, January 13, 1959.
Static test number 1051 of XLR-11 engine at Edwards Air Force Base, on February 2, 1959. A technician walks past the engine just before it is fired up on the test stand. A jet flame comes out the engine.
X-15 first powered flight on Thursday, 17 September, 1959. (X-15 No. 2, tail number: 56-6671 with LR-11 engines. Scott Crossfield flew this mission at mach 2.11 and altitude 52,341 feet.) Scenes of several other X-15 powered flights are also shown. View of the water tower at Edwards Air Force Base, california. Overhead, NASA NB-52A, No. 003 and an F-100D chase plane, are seen at high altitude, with contrails behind them. The X-15, cradled under the B-52's right wing, drops clear, starts its rocket engines and begins its first independent powered flight, climbing rapidly away from the B-52. NASA camera tracks it, appearing as a moving white dot against the sky. The next sequences show later powered flights. View of NASA B-52 and three chase planes leaving contrails overhead. X-15 drops, its engines are running and falls behind the B-52, before accelerating rapidly, passing to its right, and continuing upward. Another scene shows brief glimpse of NASA B-52 overhead (no contrails). In final scene, X-15 is seen moving rapidly, leaving a long contrail behind it. Cloud then obscures the image somewhat.
U.S. Air Force X-15A aircraft first unpowered drop flight and landing in California, United States on June 8, 1959. United States Air Force Boeing NB-52A aircraft with X-15 under its wing, taxis and takes off from Edwards Air Force Base, California. American X-15 aircraft in captive-carry position, mated to pylon under wing of Boeing NB-52A aircraft. The aircraft taxis and takes off from the runway. Chase planes U.S. Air Force F-104A flies along NB-52A aircraft. X-15 releases from NB-52A aircraft in mid flight. Radar dish antenna records course of the flight. Pilot seated in the cockpit of F-104A aircraft. Technicians look at plotting boards and flight monitors. Pilot Albert Scott Crossfield converses with ground crew members. X-15 piloted by Crossfield lands at Rogers Dry Lake in California.
U.S. Air Force X-15 aircraft in flight in California, United States. Fire brigade and ambulances around X-15 aircraft engine run tests at Edwards Air Force Base. Ground crew fuels X-15A (56-6671). Pilot gets into the cockpit. View of rear of engines during test firing operations on ground. Crew members monitor tests in blockhouse. View of pilot manipulating X-15 cockpit controls. Ground crews around plane at conclusion of engine tests. View from ground of September 17,1959 powered X-15 release and flight from NB-52A aircraft and begining of solo flight.