X-15 rocket plane in its first powered flight. Glimpse of water tower at Edwards Air Force Base, California. NASA NB-52, 52-003, carrying an X-15 under its wing is seen overhead, along with two chase planes. All are generating contrails. The X-15 releases from the B-52 and its separate contrail is seen. It lags well behind the B-52 for moment, and then accelerates up and past the B-52 mothership. It is seen as a white dot moving at high speed across the sky. (Note: This is X-15 No. 2, tail number: 56-6671. Scott Crossfield flew this mission at mach 2.11 and altitude 52,341 feet.)
Post flight activities, at Edwards Air Force , involving the X-15, 56-6671, following its first-ever powered flight of an X-5 rocket plane. Cylinder with pressure gauges seen on sand. Technicians secure ground wires to the aircraft. One talks to test pilot Scott Crossfield, who is still in cockpit. Technicians examine nose gear. Some gather around rear of X-15. Fire Truck stands by. Test pilot Scott Crossfield leaves cockpit and accompanies civilian official to waiting car. Firemen hose down area around the X-15. Car carrying Crossfield drives away with white flag affixed to it. Ground crews prepare to tow the X-15.
Photograpy from an airborne chase plane, on the occasion of the first powered flight of an X-15 rocket plane. A Lockheed F-104 Starfighter chase plane seen flying in the contrails of the NASA B-52 mothership (NB-52A,52-003) flown by pilots Bock and Allovie, An F-100D fighter flies slightly ahead of the B-52. The X-15, 56-6671, with Scott Crossfield, in the cockpit, is cradled under the B-52's right wing. View from the photo chase plane, as it pulls closer to the B-52. The X-15 and leading F-100 chase plane are clearly visible. The camera plane has dropped back and the X-15 releases, from the B-52 mothership, as its rocket engines simultaneously ignite. It drops and accelerates below and in front of the B-52. It stays below momentarily, without leaving a contrail. Then it accelerates and climbs rapidly out of sight. Sunlight glares as two chase planes are seen.
X-15 first powered flight from Edwards Air Force Base in California. X-15 in flight with other chase planes. It flies over the mountains and lands. It taxis on a dry lake bed. Contrails comes out from the engine of X-15. A Piasecki H-21 helicopter hovers over it. Cars and vans approach X-15 after it lands.
The first public showing of X-15 rocket powered aircraft at NAA (North American Aviation) facility, Los Angeles. Various personnel stand near the tail end of the Western Airline plane. U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon and dignitaries take turns to speak from a platform. Personnel below the stand makes motion pictures. An X-15 rocket-powered aircraft being towed out of a hangar by a tug. Vice President Nixon stand beside the X-15 parked in front of the reviewing stand and talk with other dignitaries while inspecting the X-15.
The first public showing of an X-15 rocket powered aircraft at the NAA (North American Aviation) facility in Los Angeles, California. Various military, U.S. and foreign officers sit in bleachers. U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon gives a speech. The X-15 being towed out from a hangar by a tug. Vice President Nixon stands beside the nose of the X-15. He shakes hands with personnel and talks while looking at the X-15.