Hypersonic x 15 book

Professionally converted for accurate flowingtext e book format reproduction, this is an excellent history of the famous x15 rocket plane, called by neil armstrong the most successful research airplane in history. The story of the north american x 15 ebook written by dennis r. The north american x 15 was a hypersonic rocketpowered aircraft operated by the united states air force and the national. National aeronautics and space administration langley research center. It had a conventional fuselage, but an unusual wedgeshaped vertical tail, thin stubby wings and unique side fairings that extended along the fuselage. A project by north american and nasa to construct a prototype to reach a top speed of mach 6 or 4,520 mph 7,274 kmh at an altitude of almost 100,000 feet. Mar 18, 2014 the x 15 was born on october 5, 1954, when the national advisory committee for aeronautics decided on the need for a manned hypersonic research airplane. The fastest xplane mach 7 north american x15 youtube. Actually, there were too many pictures for one book and the authors published a second book, with 400 more pictures and illustrations titled x15 photo scrapbook. It was expected to get to a blisteringly fast 17,000 feet per second about mach 15, but it doubtless would not have much of a burn time.

In the joint x 15 hypersonic research program that nasa conducted with the air force, the navy, and north american aviation, inc. The flights did not go without some troubles, including a cracked airframe after a hard, overweight landing after an emergency, and the loss of x 15 3 and the tragic death of usaf pilot michael adams in november, 1967 when his x 15 entered a hypersonic spin, breaking. In november 1961, air force major robert white flew the x 15 research airplane at speeds over mach 6. The story of americas first space ship tregaskis, richard, crossfield, a. The us air force x 15 is the worlds fastest aircraft in history. The x15s main objective was that it was made for short hypersonic. Specialty presss bestseller, hypersonic, has been rereleased in a softbound format at a reduced price. The x15s main objective was that it was made for short hypersonic flight at speeds of mach 5 and above and the information that was learned would eventually help with the design of the space shuttle decades later. Aug, 2016 a project by north american and nasa to construct a prototype to reach a top speed of mach 6 or 4,520 mph 7,274 kmh at an altitude of almost 100,000 feet. Research project x15 nasa film about the hypersonic. The north american x15 was a hypersonic rocketpowered aircraft operated by the united.

Hypersonics is the study of flight at speeds where. It was rolled out on october 15, 1958, 15 days after its original sponsor, the national advisory committee for aeronautics, became nasa. The story of the north american x15 hardcover ebay. It dovetails nicely with milton thompsons, at the edge of space. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read hypersonic. The story of the north american x15 revised edition. The courageous pilots of the air forces x 15 program are determined to take an experimental rocket 100 miles above the earth at four times the speed of.

The experimental x51a waverider is an unmanned, autonomous supersonic combustion ramjetpowered hypersonic flight test demonstrator for the u. This book is the most extensively researched history of the x 15 program yet published. Aug 29, 2019 the x15 was a research aircraft developed in the late 1950s to study the effects of hypersonic speed roughly five times the speed of sound and highaltitude flying. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read x 15. Nasa releases first free e book, on history of x 15 rocket plane in addition to its many popular twitter streams, iphone apps and opportunities for citizens to participate in scientific programs. This book contains lots of information and has some great pictures and illustrations from cover to cover. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Flight to high altitude represented about twothirds of the 199 x15 flights. With the soviet unions launch of the first sputnik satellite in 1957, the cold war soared to new heights as americans feared losing the race into space. Jul 10, 2017 new ceramic plane coating could be used in hypersonic flight. The x15 was also challenged by the physical constraints of hypersonic flight. Mar 21, 2018 the answer would then be a supersonic combustion ramjet scramjet, which can operate between mach 5 and mach 15. The story of the north american x 15 by jenkins and.

The x 15 rocket plane tells the story of the hypersonic x 15, the. This book is without a doubt one of the best i have read about the hypersonic flights of the x15. The story of the north american x15 has 2 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. It was nasas premier hypersonic research craft and the agencys name. Six weeks later, on november 15, the inflight breakup of the third x 15 claimed the life of pilot mike adams. Flying the first wings into space, is an extraordinarily fine account of the x 15 hypersonic research program and the individuals involved. Nineteen years before space shuttle, the small, black, rocketpowered, bulletshaped x 15 showed it was possible to fly into and out of space. An indepth history of the x 15 program may be found in hypersonic. Theyre just great books, wellresearched and engaging. She also interviewed x15 pilots joe engle who wrote the books. Osprey is one, baen sf is another, and specialty press is also in that rank. This book gives an in depth look into why the x15 was made. The x 15 was also challenged by the physical constraints of hypersonic flight.

The x 15 s main objective was that it was made for short hypersonic flight at speeds of mach 5 and above and the information that was learned would eventually help with the design of the space shuttle decades later. The x 15 used a rocket propulsion system to achieve sustained mach 6 flight. A truly fascinating read, this is one of very few books concerning the fastest powered manned aircraft program, the hypersonic x15, which ultimately reached an. The x 15 set speed and altitude records in the 1960s, reaching the edge of outer space and returning with valuable data used in aircraft and spacecraft design. Composed of an internal structure of titanium and a skin surface of a chromenickel alloy known as inconel x, the x15 had its first, unpowered glide flight on june 8, 1959, while the first powered flight took place on september 17, 1959. The book picks up the story of the xplanes at the transition from the x1 and x2 to the next big thing, a manned aircraft built to go hypersonic. After winning an industrywide competition, north american aviation designed and built the x 15. Hypersonic aerodynamic characteristics of delta wing x 15 airplane configurations. For the most part this is related to a new generation of. Hypersonic models 148 x15 full meal deal set first look.

Hypersonic by dennis jenkins picks up all of the remaining and vital pieces of x15 program information, and the author crafts it all together into one fine read. This book is the most extensively researched history of the x15 program yet published. Jun 30, 2019 since the rocket motor of the x15 ejection seat had to be powerful to propel the pilot clear of the x15s hypersonic shockwave, a novel means was used to transfer loads from the pilots rear. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. X 15, worlds first hypersonic research aircraft the x 15 was a small rocketpowered aircraft, 50 feet long with a wingspan of 22 feet. Thompson, along with scott crossfield and neil armstron.

The x 15 program investigated piloted hypersonic flight in the areas of aerodynamic performance and heating rates, structural behavior during high heating and high flight loads, hypersonic stability and control during exit from and reentry of the atmosphere, and pilot performance and physiology. During the 20th century, airplane design was driven by the mantra of flying. The worlds fastest rocket plane and the pilots who. The worlds fastest rocket plane and the pilots who ushered in the space age. New ceramic plane coating could be used in hypersonic flight. The x 15 that hangs in the smithsonian institutions national air space museum is the first of three built by north american aviation.

I went with the hardcover edition and am quite pleased. The x15, however, did not reflect the supersonic aerodynamics seen in. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Recently, an unmanned x 43a used a scramjet, or supersonic combustion ramjet, to make two hypersonic flights. Indeed, the x 15 design was so much like that of a space vehicle that during the formative days of project mercury, americas first attempt to put a man in orbit, north american and national air. A page from a 1962 north american presentation on the x 15, showing a preliminary design 0f an underslung rocketboosted scramjet test vehicle. Nasa releases first free ebook, on history of x15 rocket. Jenkins 2008, paperback, revised at the best online prices at ebay. The x 15 completed 199 missions between 1959 and 1968.

The worlds fastest rocket plane and the pilots who ushered in the space age ebook written by john anderson, richard passman. Scrapbook presents photos of engineers and technicians performing their mundane but vital tasks, as well as the heroic pilots in lighter moments. The story of the north american x15 ebook written by dennis r. This is the most extensively researched history of the. Jenkins 2003 specialtypress can be ordered now from this web page or search from the specialtypress home page x 15 photo scrapbook. There are pictures of all phases and configurations with gems like the x15 on flatbed trailers with california license plates on the plane. Specialty press hypersonic is the most extensively researched history of the x 15 program yet produced. This book is without a doubt one of the best i have read about the hypersonic flights of the x 15. Lockheed l301 sometimes called the x 24c, though this designation was never officially assigned was an experimental airbreathing hypersonic aircraft project.

A truly fascinating read, this is one of very few books concerning the fastest powered manned aircraft program, the hypersonic x15, which ultimately reached an unofficial record of mach 6. Ive read nearly every book about the x 15 program that i could get my hands on. This book gives an in depth look into why the x 15 was made. The x15 flight program kindle edition by thompson, milton o. This official nasa film from the national archives covers the x 15 rocket research aircraft program of the 1960s. Cover has no visible wear, and the dust jacket if applicable is included for hard covers. It was the first aircraft to attain velocities of mach 4, 5 and 6. This is a truly authoritative work covering all aspects of the historic.

Russia is the first country to deploy a hypersonic nuclear missile. Forwardthinking researchers also decided to design the airplane to fly to the edge of space, long before the manned space program had begun in earnest. This book puts a human face on the feats of science and engineering that. This book is a diary by richard tregaskes, a journalist and writer having full access to the testing of the x15 x meaning experimental. The book was written with the cooperation of surviving x 15 pilots as well as many other program principals and is based on six years of research in air force, nasa, and north american archives. In order to maintain sustained hypersonic flight, a vehicle must also endure the. X15 hypersonic research at the edge of space youtube. A very important part of the history of aerospace aviation. The x15 rocket plane tells the enthralling yet littleknown story of the hypersonic x15, the winged rocket ship that met this challenge and opened the way into humancontrolled spaceflight. Nasa x15 website nasa dryden x15 photo collection x 15 hypersonic. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search.

Nasa releases first free ebook, on history of x15 rocket plane. Engineered to be the worlds fastest aircraft, the north american x15 was a hypersonic rocketpowered aircraft operated by the usaf and the national aeronautics and. The x15 rocket plane restores these pioneers, and the others who made it. This diary dates from february 1959, before the first test, to november 1960, in the early successful runs, with many failures in between these runs. Hypersonic aerodynamic characteristics of two deltawing x 15 airplane configurations.

What i took away from this experience was an admiration for the professionalism and dedication of a handful of americans who were opening new frontiers. North american x 15 rocket plane was an experimental aircraft project. At the dawn of the 21st century there seem to be a great interest in hypersonic flight. The book was written with the cooperation of surviving x15 pilots as well as many other program principals and is based on six years of research in air force, nasa, and north american archives. Hypersonic aerodynamic characteristics of two deltawing x15. This book is the most extensively researched history of the x15. Book about x15 rocket plane released general aviation news. Hypersonic available for download and read online in other formats. Specialty press hypersonic is the most extensively researched history of the x15 program yet produced. Thats what retired test pilot and astronaut joe engle said of the first real space plane and 50 years after.

The story of americas first space ship ebook written by richard tregaskis. Soon after, in may 1961, alan shepard became the first american and second person to achieve hypersonic flight when his capsule reentered the atmosphere at a speed above mach 5 at the end of his suborbital flight over the atlantic ocean. The us militarys x15s set a speed record of mach 6. Jul 01, 2003 forwardthinking researchers also decided to design the airplane to fly to the edge of space, long before the manned space program had begun in earnest. During 199 flights from 1959 through 1968, she collected data about hypersonic flight that was invaluable to aeronautics and to. Thompson, a pilot active in the x 15 program from beginning to end, tells the dramatic story of one of the most successful research aircraft ever flown. The north american x 15 was a hypersonic rocketpowered aircraft operated by the united states air force and the national aeronautics and space administration as part of the x plane series of experimental aircraft. It was developed by the nasa and united states air force usaf organization national hypersonic flight research facility nhfrf or nhrf, with skunk works as the prime contractor. Hypersonic flight is flight through the atmosphere below about 90 km at speeds above mach 5, a speed where dissociation of air begins to become significant and high heat loads exist. A peoples history of spaceflight evans, michelle, engle, joe h.

There seem to be no books from these publishers i wouldnt feel comfortable buying or winning their entire library in a lottery. The story of the north american x15 specialty press. Composed of an internal structure of titanium and a skin surface of a chromenickel alloy known as inconel x, the x 15 had its first, unpowered glide flight on june 8, 1959, while the first powered flight took place on september 17, 1959. X 15 rear fuselage i chose the long a2 rear fuselage again. Initiated in the 1950s by the national advisory committee for aeronautics later nasa, the u. Flying the first wings into space by michelle evans. Air force, and the navy, the x 15 program tested the survivability of rocketpowered aircraft at hypersonic. This book is a tribute to the program, the airplanes, and the people who designed, maintained and flew the most successful of the xplanes. X15 rocket plane tells the enthralling yet littleknown story of the hypersonic x15. Six weeks later, on november 15, the inflight breakup of the third x15 claimed the life of pilot mike adams. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading at the edge of space. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.

It was the ultimate flying machine, no airplane can live up to what the x 15 did. Smithsonian moves x15 plane to storage the washington post. It also set an altitude record of 354,200 feet 67 miles on august 22, 1963, and provided an enormous wealth of data on hypersonic air flow, aerodynamic heating, control and stability at. Features the x51a is designed to be launched from an airborne b52 stratofortress bomber.