North American X-15 | NASA
The X-15’s official world record for the highest speed ever recorded by a manned, powered aircraft, set in October 1967 when William J. Knight flew Mach 6.72 at 102,100 feet (31,120 m), a speed of 4,520 miles per hour (7,274 km/h; 2,021 m/s), has remained unchallenged as of May 2018.

The North American X-15 rocket-powered research aircraft bridged the gap between manned flight within the atmosphere and manned flight beyond the atmosphere into space. After completing its initial test flights in 1959, the X-15 became the first winged aircraft to attain velocities of Mach 4, 5, and 6.

Highlighted in Image#1 is the North American X-15 displayed at the National Mall Building.
Highlighted in Image#2 is the undercarriage of the North American X-15.

Learn more:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_X-15
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/news/FactSheets/FS-052-DFRC.html
https://history.nasa.gov/hyperrev-x15/ch-6.html

Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum
https://airandspace.si.edu/

Credit: Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum
Image Date: March 7, 2018

+Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
+Air & Space Magazine
+NASA Armstrong
+United States Air Force+ Community
+US Air Force Academy Association of Graduates
+AFOSR, Air Force Office of Scientific Research

#NASA #Aerospace #Aviation #Earth #Atmosphere #Hypersonic #Flight #NorthAmerican #X15 #Aircraft #XPlane #Technology #Engineering #USAF #AirForce #Dryden #Armstrong #California #UnitedStates #STEM #Education