NASA X-15 rocket plane, number 56-6671, is being towed by a tractor, after landing on a Rogers Dry Lake runway at Edwards Air Force Base. A set of wheels is installed at the rear of the aircraft. A van with meteorological instruments on top, drives alongside. Several other vehicles follow in a line, including one with an auxiliary power unit.
NASA NB-52A aircraft, tail number 52-003, parked at Edwards Air Force Base, with an X-15 rocket plane cradled under its right wing. Two men run across the ramp to the aircraft. One carries a ladder. The B-52 taxis out. View through windshield of a vehicle following the B-52 as it taxis.
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.
Test of XLR-99 engine. XLR-99 engine at test area. Fire comes out of XLR-99 engine exhaust. Blaze dies down from X-15 exhaust as vapor or smoke rises up from bottom of engine stand. XLR-99 exhaust cone. Smoke comes pouring out under the cone. Engine fires flame shoot out of the cone and dies out. As engine runs the flame varies its distance at different thrust. Flame is thrown way out and then dies out. Later the smoke comes rolling from counter frame. A puff of smoke pours out of exhaust cone.
Mating of X-15 with B-52 Stratofortress. B-52 at Edwards Air Force Base. X-15 under the right wing of B-52 is parked on flight line. A checkout van is parked in front of the aircraft. Ground Crew and checkout equipment around the aircraft. X-15 on flight line under the wing of B-52. North American technicians check the research aircraft. A man operates the hydraulic lift hand control unit. X-15 on hydraulic lift is mated to pylon under the right wing of B-52 carrier aircraft. Technicians work on X-15 to be attached with pylon. Two men on ladder stand and work on the top of X-15. Technician works on the wheel of B-52. Scott Crossfield talks to North American official. The nose wheel of X-15 is on hoist and technician on ladder attach X-15 with the pylon. A technician stands next to the hoist. Three men work on stand and adjust X-15 according to pylon. X-15 under the right wing of B-52 and technicians work. X-15 pilot Scott Crossfield and North American test engineers in conference prior to first flight. An engineer on radio. Nose of X-15. North American test pilot Scott Crossfield wearing special pressure suit climbs up a maintenance stand ladder into cockpit of X-15. Technicians close X-15 canopy.
B-52 Stratofortress with X-15 gets ready for the flight. Ground crewmen position auxiliary power units beside B-52 on flight line. Two ground crewmen connect an auxiliary power unit hose in bomb bay of B-52. Several men speak to Scott Crossfield who is seated in X-15 under wing of B-52. X-15 attached to pylon under wing of B-52 on flight line. Several auxiliary power units under left wing engine of B-52. Group of North American technicians' stands and talks on flight line. North American technicians help Scott Crossfield who is seated in the cockpit of X-15 to put on his high altitude helmet. Number of North American technician stands in front of guidance vehicle. Fire truck in the background. Three motion picture cameramen on flight line. One uses a tripod and others have their cameras mounted on platforms on top of station wagons.
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