21 April 1961. USAF Major Robert Michael “Bob” White piloted the X-15-2, 56-6671 research aeroplane from Edwards Air Force Base in California on its first flight at full throttle, reaching a speed of 3,074 mph at an altitude of 79,000 feet, before climbing to 105,100 feet.
That's almost 20 miles up.
ReplyDeleteand in so doing later recognized as an astronaut .... and still made it home for supper.
ReplyDeleteKind of blurring the line, it was more rocket than airplane.
ReplyDeleteHe went to the Danger Zone.
ReplyDeleteThis was supposed to be the basis of our space program. Not the Mercs or Gemini, sort of fly into space. Supposedly, and I caint confirm, but one of them took off into space/orbit and never came back. They changed direction after that.
ReplyDeleteNot possible with that tiny fuel tank.
DeleteThey did fit external tanks as the program developed.
DeleteThe guys flying those things must have been bowlegged due to the size of their big brass balls.
ReplyDeleteyou mean titanium testicles?
DeleteI read recently that the whole space program was just a giant money scam, like modern global warming stuff. USSR and “us” propagated it for each other for huge amounts of money. The beginning of grift??
ReplyDelete