Test flight of Rocket Powered Aircraft X-15A at Edwards Air Force Base in California. NB-52B Stratofortress with Rocket Powered Aircraft X-15A taxis on dry lake bed. It takes off after few minutes. A wheel of NB-52B.
" X-15 Research Airplane Request for Bids" issued by the U.S. Air Force Air Materiel Command, Washington, DC. Documents labeled 'Confidential Information'. Cover of another document reads: "North American Aviation Inc." View of North American aircraft design engineers at work designing and drawing sketches of landing gear, fuel system, hydraulics, surface control and study it. A sketch of X-15. Wind tunnel tests. Sketches of various aircraft designs. Vehicles outside North American Aviation Inc. A sign reads 'SABRE JET'. A sign reads 'Unauthorized personnel Keep Out' and 'Closed Area Admittance by Authorization Only'. Engine testing. Airframe fabrication. More wind tunnel tests.
Military and civilian officials, workers in hard hats, and others at Edwards Air Force Base await landing of the X-15 following its first high powered flight. Visible are cars, vans , construction equipment and observers. A hangar in the background. Observers shield their eyes from the sun as they look up to watch the approaching X-15. A fire truck in the background. Some observers around a yellow van. Officers seated in a car A civilian official smokes An Air Force officer looks through binoculars. A senior master sergeant stands next to him. A sign reads 'Edwards AF' on a car. A man inside a van smokes a cigar.
Start of first high-powered flight mission of X-15. Pilot Scott Crossfield mounts steps aside B-52 and enters cockpit of X-15 fastened under its wing. Others help him to strap in and fasten his helmet.
NASA X-15 parked on Rogers Dry Lake runway after landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, immediately after an unsuccessful mission due to problems involving liquid oxygen tank pressure fluctuations. View from the rear, showing the twin vertical mounted rocket engines. Vehicles surround the aircraft and technicians work around it. Closeup of main gear skids and underbelly. View of auxiliary wheels to be attacked to main gear. (This is the number two X-15, tail number 56-6671.)
A speech by U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon in the United States. Vice President Richard Nixon and Mrs. Nixon arrive at a speaker stand at Edwards Air Force Base, California. They are escorted by other dignitaries. A flag of United States. People seated for the speech. Dignitaries on the stage. Vice President Nixon climbs up the steps of the stage and shakes hands with the dignitaries. Men take pictures. People seated on chairs at the base. Mr. Nixon; Mr. Kindelberger, President of North America; Mr. Horner, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Research and Development make speechs. The dignitaries stand and applaud. X-15 is towed by a tug and is rolled out of a hangar. Insignia of United States. Dignitaries on either side of the X-15.