X15_v_bw_o_n (unnumbered, 66670 aft view, wing pylon mounted)
Circa 1958 - 1960(?) aft view of X-15 number 66670 mounted to the pylon of its B-52 carrier aircraft. The interim configuration of two XLR-11 rocket engines, each with four chambers, instead of the single XLR-99 rocket engine confirms the 1959/60 time period. The pristine appearance of the overall aft area of the air/spacecraft makes 1958 a possibility also. Possibly shortly after initial rollout? Who knows.
8.5" x 11".
A very similar photograph, most likely taken the same day, has the following description associated with it:
“The X-15 first flew on June 8, 1959, on a glide flight. It was dropped from under the wing of a specially modified B-52 "Mothership." The first powered flight took place on September 17. Once the X-15 fell clear of the B-52, pilot Scott Crossfield ignited the rocket engine and flew to a relatively pokey Mach .79.”
Said photo is date stamped 1 December 1958, six months before that first glide flight. Awesome.
www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/Features/X-15_firstflight.html
A must watch. Serious “Right Stuff” skills in action. Look at the oscillations...and that hard landing...damn!
www.criticalpast.com/video/65675021399_X-15_Edwards-Air-F...
“Credit”: criticalpast.com website
Lastly, there doesn’t appear to be any definitive identification of the NB-52, and the above footage is inconclusive (for me). Possibly “The High and Mighty One” before being named/christened such?
Excellent reading, as always:
www.drewexmachina.com/2019/03/10/the-first-reusable-space...
Credit: Drew Ex Machina website/Andrew LePage
X15_v_bw_o_n (unnumbered, 66670 aft view, wing pylon mounted)
Circa 1958 - 1960(?) aft view of X-15 number 66670 mounted to the pylon of its B-52 carrier aircraft. The interim configuration of two XLR-11 rocket engines, each with four chambers, instead of the single XLR-99 rocket engine confirms the 1959/60 time period. The pristine appearance of the overall aft area of the air/spacecraft makes 1958 a possibility also. Possibly shortly after initial rollout? Who knows.
8.5" x 11".
A very similar photograph, most likely taken the same day, has the following description associated with it:
“The X-15 first flew on June 8, 1959, on a glide flight. It was dropped from under the wing of a specially modified B-52 "Mothership." The first powered flight took place on September 17. Once the X-15 fell clear of the B-52, pilot Scott Crossfield ignited the rocket engine and flew to a relatively pokey Mach .79.”
Said photo is date stamped 1 December 1958, six months before that first glide flight. Awesome.
www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/Features/X-15_firstflight.html
A must watch. Serious “Right Stuff” skills in action. Look at the oscillations...and that hard landing...damn!
www.criticalpast.com/video/65675021399_X-15_Edwards-Air-F...
“Credit”: criticalpast.com website
Lastly, there doesn’t appear to be any definitive identification of the NB-52, and the above footage is inconclusive (for me). Possibly “The High and Mighty One” before being named/christened such?
Excellent reading, as always:
www.drewexmachina.com/2019/03/10/the-first-reusable-space...
Credit: Drew Ex Machina website/Andrew LePage