the X-15  

 

         

 

 

 

the worlds first spaceplane

 

eight pilots were awarded astronaut wings by Alpha Command 

for flights that exceeded a height of 50 miles
 

these are the flights made to the edge of  space

flight no

 

date

 

pilot

 

               62

17 07 1962

Robert White

               77

17 01 1963

Joseph Walker

               87

27 06 1963

Robert Rushworth

               90

19 07 1963

Joseph Walker

               91

22 08 1963

Joseph Walker

               138

29 06 1965

Joseph Engle

               143

10 08 1965

Joseph Engle

               150

28 09 1965

Jack McKay

               153

14 10 1965

Joseph Engle

               174

01 11 1966

William Dana

               190

17 10 1967

Pete Knight

               191

15 11 1967

Michael Adams  *

               197

21 08 1968

William Dana

* killed when craft crashed

the X15 was carried aloft under the wing of a B52 bomber

and after release fired its rocket engine

         

 

the X-15

the first spaceplane