X-15

The SR-71 was so fast that when fired upon with a surface-to-air missile, the SR-71 could simply accelerate and outrun it. Perhaps no aspect of human flight captivates the public’s...

Summary and Key Points: Before NASA led U.S. space exploration, there was debate over whether the U.S. Air Force or the newly formed NASA should shuttle astronauts to space and...

Summary: The Lockheed L-301, or X-24C, represents a captivating chapter in aviation history that exemplifies the ambition and technological foresight but also the fiscal constraints of aerospace innovation. Envisioned as...

Meet the X-15: Before Mercury astronauts rode Redstones into orbit, before Gemini astronauts rendezvoused and docked, and before Apollo astronauts drove around the lunar surface, the aerospace community wrangled over...

Last month marked the 65th anniversary of the arrival of the X-15 hypersonic spaceplane, which was developed as a joint project among NASA, the United States Air Force, and U.S....

In 1967, William “Pete” Knight made history at the stick of his North American X-15A-2 rocket-powered aircraft when he reached a speed of Mach 6.7, or around 5,140 miles per...

The fastest plane ever to fly is the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. The world’s official airspeed record was set by an SR-71 crew on July 28, 1976, clocking in at an...

The world remembers Neil Armstrong as a towering figure in the United States space program and popular culture at large, mostly as the first man to walk on the moon. Armstrong...

Experimental aircraft – also referred to as X-planes or X-vehicles – have a long and storied history among the United States’ aeronautics and aerospace communities. The United States Air Force,...

Here’s What You Need to Know: The X-15’s Mach 6.7 flight record has remained unbeaten for over half a century. The date was October 3rd, 1967. U.S. Air Force test pilot William Knight...

Here’s What You Need to Remember: The X-15 was designed to break speed records, and still remains unbeaten to this day. The date was October 3rd, 1967. U.S. Air Force test pilot William...

Here’s What You Need to Remember: William Knight’s manned flight record has stood for over half a century. It is unlikely to be beaten anytime soon. The date was October 3rd,...