Test Pilot Scott Crossfield climbs into cockpit of X-15 rocket powered aircraft, as spectators are assembled to witness its first free flight. B-52B Stratofortress aircraft taxis and takes off with the rocket powered X-15 under its wing. X-15 detaches from the B-52, and drops towards the earth as Crossfield tests its behavior in flight. View of X-15 nose wheel turning during landing. 'North American Aviation Inc' stenciled on fuselage. The X-15 exhibits an extreme high pitch angle as it comes in for a successful landing on the Rogers Dry Lake Bed in the Mojave Desert.
Annual report of X-15. Pilots stand in front of X-15. U.S. Navy Commander Peterson in front of X-15. NASA Researcher pilot Jack McKay. USAF Captain Rushworth stands in front of X-15. NASA pilot Neil Armstrong in front of X-15. All the X-15 pilots stand in front of X-15. NB-52A Stratofortress shows rear view of X-15 mounted on pylon underneath wing of aircraft and vapors come out from the tail of X-15. Nose of X-15 inscribed with 'X-15 North American Aviation'. Pilot in window of X-15 hanging underneath NB-52A while aircraft is in flight. C-104B Starfighter in flight to left. Chase plane shows NB-52A with X-15 in flight to the right and followed by F-104. Nose of X-15 under Nb-52A in flight to right. Spectators look towards the sky. Contrails of NB-52A. Several chase planes and X-15 in flight to left. Spectators and USAF officers look up in the sky. Chase plane shows NB-52A with X-15 in flight and producing large contrails. Nose of X-15 hanging beneath wing of NB-52A in flight. Pilot in helmet and mack in X-15. NB-52A looking at rear view of X-15 with XLR-99 engine hanging from wing of NB-52A in flight. F-104B in flight to left. NB-52A with X-15 in flight and makes large contrails. Scott Crossfield wearing helmet and mask. Nose of X-15 under wing of NB-52A in flight. NB-52A shows a rear view of X-15 with XLR-99 engine under wing of NB-52A. Scott Crossfield eyes and he is wearing helmet and mask in X-15. Chase plane shows NB-52A in flight, releases X-15 and X-15 drops away and in flight. Pilots helmet van be seen from the window of X-15. X-15 in flight and leaves large contrail. Spectators on ground look up. Contrail from X-15 while in flight. Scott Crossfield in helmet and mask. Scott Crossfield seated on a table and interviewed by press personnel.
Mating of rocket powered aircraft X-15 with B-52 Stratofortress. X-15 under pylon that is attached to the wing of B-52. X-15 on ground, one man stands halfway up on a step ladder and works on the side of X-15. Another man works on lower side of the X-15. Pylon attached to B-52 wing. Several technicians discuss in a group. Nose of B-52 with 'ARDC' and insignia of 'ARDC' on right side of the nose. X-15 on ground under pylon and engineers and technicians work around it. Three men on work stand work on forward end of pylon. X-15 under pylon and men work on the front part. Forward end of pylon over the X-15 with workmen silhouetted in the shadow of X-15. X-15 on hoist. Two men in front, and two men on work stand. Hoist in air with nose wheel sitting on it. Nose and nose wheel on hoist raised up in the air. Man works on control box and stands off side. Control box in operator's hand. Four support crewmen work on tail gear of X-15. People stand around X-15 and look towards it. Three men stand near the tail and look at the dolly wheels on X-15. A man stands beside the X-15 with hand in inspection panel. Two men stand by the tail of X-15. View of X-15 from bottom. Tail of X-15 after it's mating to B-52. Nose wheel on hoist raised in air, and after being mated to B-52. Space between nose wheel and hoist. Hoist in raised position. Top of hoist in raised position under nose gear. Hoist is lowered, underbelly of X-15. Covered exhaust pipe in the tail. X-15 after being mated with B-52. Jack holds up the wing of B-52. A view of the outboard engine. A man works on X-15 and stands on the wing. Upper part of X-15 tail. Two men in discussion behind the X-15.
Mating of rocket powered aircraft X-15 with B-52 Stratofortress. B-52 with pylon mounted under wing. Weather truck, engineers and technicians gather around aircraft. X-15 sits on ground underneath pylon. X-15 sits underneath pylon and man work on each side. Weather truck and tug in the background. X-15 sits under B-52. Auxiliary power unit (APU) on right side and workmen between APU and X-15. Full view of X-15 sitting under the pylon attached to the B-52 wing. Overall view of X-15 sitting under the pylon. Upper fin turns back and forth. Barking flaps on upper fin open and close. Tail of X-15 sitting under pylon. X-15 sitting under pylon and a man works on cockpit. Two men work under X-15 on landing apparatus. Men work with jack under right wing gear. X-15 under pylon and workmen all around it. Overall view of X-15 on hoist in mating place. Men work all around it. Some men work on ground, some up on the X-15 and some on work stand. Nose of X-15. Men work around cockpit. X-15 mated. Men work off stand. Three men stand in front of camera blocking a lot of good view. Inboard and outboard engines along with the nose of the B-52. Nose of X-15 sticks out between the inboard engine and nose of B-52. X-15 is mated but still on hoist. Right wing of engine and wing gear is suspended in air. B-52 with X-15 mated.
First flight of X-15 at Edwards Air Force Base in California. B-52 Stratofortress with X-15 in flight. Insignia of United States. X-15 attached under the right wing of B-52. Rear of X-15 with XLR-99 engine. Dyed water is released from X-15 Jettison line to check the spray pattern. Dyed water flows out of X-15 Jettison line. B-52 and three escort chase planes form contrails at high altitude. B-52 carrier aircraft with X-15. F-100 Super Sabre chase plane fly below and to the right of aircraft. Dyed water emits from Jettison line of X-15 under wing of B-52. X-15 under right view of B-52. B-52 right wing engine pod in the foreground. B-52 with X-15 flies at high altitude and contrails from behind the plane. B-52 banks left and right and then leaves out. X-15 under right wing of B-52 aircraft. F-100 chase plane fly below and alongside the aircraft. Landing gear extended on B-52. A terrain is visible. X-15 under right wing of B-52 carrier aircraft with landing skids extended. B-52 with X-15 under right wing descends. F-100 chase plane fly above and to the right of aircraft towards the runway at Edwards Air Force Base. B-52 with X-15 makes a final approach and lands on Edwards Air Force Base. B-52 with X-15 lands and taxis. Aircraft deploys drag chute.
Test flight of rocket powered aircraft X-15A at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Insignia of X-15A with different names like Pete, Eagle and Jack. A jet engine of NB-52B Stratofortress. Major William J Knight inside a cockpit. NASA officer and a man talk to him. X-15A attached on right wing of NB-52B. A man with headphones gives signal. NB-52B with X-15A taxis. United States insignia on NB-52B. NB-52B with X-15A takes off. A smoky trail left by the plane. NB-52B with X-15A in flight. X-15A in landing position. People in a red van. X-15A lands and leaves a smoky trail. A hospital van.