North American X-15

E19434

The North American X-15 was a rocket-powered experimental research aircraft that set speed and altitude records in the 1960s and significantly advanced knowledge of hypersonic flight and spaceflight.

All labels observed (7)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (53)

Predicate Object
instanceOf X-plane
experimental aircraft
hypersonic research aircraft
rocket-powered aircraft
astronautWingsAwardedToPilots 8
carrierAircraft Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
countryOfOrigin United States
crew 1
designedFor hypersonic flight research
pilot physiological research
reentry heating studies
engineModel Reaction Motors XLR99
engineThrust 254000 newtons
57000 pounds-force
firstFlightDate 1959-06-08
flightsAbove50Miles 13
fuelType anhydrous ammonia
fuselageMaterial Inconel X nickel-chromium alloy
influenced Space Shuttle design studies
lifting body research
introductionYear 1959
landingGearType skid landing gear
launchMethod air launch from carrier aircraft
manufacturer North American Aviation
maximumAltitude_ft 354200
maximumAltitude_m 107960
maximumSpeed Mach 6.7
maximumSpeed_kmh 7274
museumDisplayLocation National Air and Space Museum
National Museum of the United States Air Force
notablePilot Joe Walker
Neil Armstrong
linked to: Neil A. Armstrong

Pete Knight
Scott Crossfield
William J. Knight
numberBuilt 3
operator National Aeronautics and Space Administration
linked to: NASA

United States Air Force
oxidizerType liquid oxygen
primaryRole aeronautical research
spaceflight research
programName X-15 program
linked to: North American X-15
programOutcome significant advances in high-altitude flight operations
significant advances in hypersonic aerodynamics
programStartYear 1954
propulsionType liquid-fueled rocket engine
recordType altitude record for winged aircraft
speed record for manned powered aircraft
retirementYear 1968
spaceflightDefinitionUsedBy United States Air Force
tailConfiguration large wedge-shaped vertical tail
totalFlights 199
wingConfiguration mid-wing monoplane

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (20)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

North American X-15 programName X-15 program
linked to: North American X-15
Joe Engle spaceProgram X-15 program
linked to: North American X-15
Bell X-15 program X-15 program
linked to: North American X-15
Reaction Motors XLR99 usedOn North American X-15
Reaction Motors XLR99 firstFlightUse X-15 flight program
linked to: North American X-15
Reaction Motors XLR99 program X-15 program
linked to: North American X-15
Pete Knight participantIn X-15 program
linked to: North American X-15
Pete Knight aircraftFlown North American X-15
NASA X-plane series includes North American X-15
North American Aviation notableProduct North American X-15
North American Aviation designed X-15 rocket plane
linked to: North American X-15
Scott Crossfield aircraftTested North American X-15
Collier Trophy notableRecipient X-15 research airplane program
linked to: North American X-15
Joe Walker notableWork X-15 flight program
linked to: North American X-15
Joe Walker participantIn North American X-15 program
linked to: North American X-15
Joe Walker notableAircraftFlown North American X-15
William J. Knight notableWork North American X-15 flight 188
linked to: North American X-15
William J. Knight aircraftFlown North American X-15
William J. Knight memberOf X-15 program
linked to: North American X-15