admired him for many years. use to go to every lecture. he always gave credit to yeager/hoover as 'the best sticks', he took pride in his ability to 'test fly and design' an airplane. when he got back on the ground he not only told them what was wrong, but what they needed to do to correct the problems. the x -15 was his baby. look at what happened to all the other x planes. few were ever brought to completion or provided much flight data. not so with the x15. more rocket flights than all combin
I have watched in several programs over many years about airplanes and the space program and I have always admired Scott Crossfield and Bill Knight's X-15 achievements !!
Crossfield is a handsome guy, there at 3:44. I guess we all are when young. It's interesting reading Yeagers opinion of Scotty in his book, probably somewhat biased. He appears to be a straight forward guy. It was sad & ironic that he was taken out by a plane crash he was piloting. But on the other hand, it was a fitting way to go. We should all live so long.
My father worked at Edwards. I remember those days living in Lancaster also. I went to Mariposa School. Sonic booms were as common as riding in a car. I went to an air show and saw an X-15 up close. Years later I actually got the chance to sit in the cockpit of a Blackbird.
Scott Crossfield was my neighbor in the 50's in Lancaster during the X 15 and earlier days. My father was hired to build all the new houses out at Edwards for the test pilots, who lived all around us, until the houses were complete.
I had to buy the entire Rocet Science DVD set that this clip comes from. It's an excellent and gripping tale of the beginning of our space age. Glad to find some clips on youtube now.
Oddly enough, I remember that very forgettable movie too, though this footage had far greater impact on me
when I saw it a few years later in its proper context. I also recall that when we first assembled this sequence, some folks at the network were somewhat concerned that we hadn't adequately telegraphed or otherwise set up what was coming - which was, of course, the point.
What an amazing guy he was...definitely a pioneer of aviation. The guts those guys had. Wonder when Hollywood will make a top-notch production about the X-15 and the people involved in the program? it's a long time overdue.
It's amazing that the aircraft was repaired and returned to service. If the same thing happened nowadays they would have lost their nerve and canceled the program.
Thanks for commenting. Scott Crossfield was a lifelong hero of mine, and one of the key inspirations for the Discovery Channel series this clip hails from. He was incredibly kind and generous to us throughout the project, and the two-hour interview he granted remains a highlight of my life.
Scott hated The Right Stuff, but man was he the fastest man alive or what? I actually had the chance to talk to him on the phone when I was about 10 and I was all fascinated with aviation, space history and astronomy, I was a young one. It was a really nice experience having a convo with him! I'll never forget it, rest in paradise Mr. Scott Crossfield<3
Thankyou Mr. Crossfield, for your service to the United States !
dannie2061 1 week ago
I'm related to him (:
spanodancer 2 months ago
admired him for many years. use to go to every lecture. he always gave credit to yeager/hoover as 'the best sticks', he took pride in his ability to 'test fly and design' an airplane. when he got back on the ground he not only told them what was wrong, but what they needed to do to correct the problems. the x -15 was his baby. look at what happened to all the other x planes. few were ever brought to completion or provided much flight data. not so with the x15. more rocket flights than all combin
paledin3 8 months ago
I have this taped on vhs it was then on the discovery channel called The Rocket Pilots.
megashegem 1 year ago
balls, pure steel balls.
HuasoPodrido 1 year ago
I have watched in several programs over many years about airplanes and the space program and I have always admired Scott Crossfield and Bill Knight's X-15 achievements !!
1MtnBoy 1 year ago
Crossfield is a handsome guy, there at 3:44. I guess we all are when young. It's interesting reading Yeagers opinion of Scotty in his book, probably somewhat biased. He appears to be a straight forward guy. It was sad & ironic that he was taken out by a plane crash he was piloting. But on the other hand, it was a fitting way to go. We should all live so long.
kolbpilot 1 year ago
And the issues was not even with the engine, it was some sort of pressure system issue with the LOX tank, it got over pressed and just went boom
Zoomer30 1 year ago
One thing to note:
1. Plane gone
2. Engine still in one piece in the stand.
Zoomer30 1 year ago
@Zoomer30 One more thing..the other guys walked into the blockhouse..and Mr. Crossfield sitting on a bomb!
fernfeyes 1 year ago
Pilot Scott is a baddass and im sure he is showing the Angels how to have fun with their wings!
yumyumsashimi 1 year ago
My father worked at Edwards. I remember those days living in Lancaster also. I went to Mariposa School. Sonic booms were as common as riding in a car. I went to an air show and saw an X-15 up close. Years later I actually got the chance to sit in the cockpit of a Blackbird.
Rockit8 2 years ago
Scott Crossfield was my neighbor in the 50's in Lancaster during the X 15 and earlier days. My father was hired to build all the new houses out at Edwards for the test pilots, who lived all around us, until the houses were complete.
ABOSS302 2 years ago
Yea, Im related to Scott Crossfield. My names Jaymi Crossfield, I think he was my Dads Uncle, or somehow related to him.
JAYMIBOB255 2 years ago
My dad. I miss him so.
Farcross24 2 years ago
i always enjoyed listening to his stories at Oshkosh, real neat fella, smart too.
He is missed.
cabaniss00 2 years ago
I had to buy the entire Rocet Science DVD set that this clip comes from. It's an excellent and gripping tale of the beginning of our space age. Glad to find some clips on youtube now.
MesFavoris 2 years ago
Remarkable. I've seen that explosion sequence before in the very forgettable 1960's movie X-15 with Charles Bronson and Mary Tyler Moore.
kristov29 2 years ago
Oddly enough, I remember that very forgettable movie too, though this footage had far greater impact on me
when I saw it a few years later in its proper context. I also recall that when we first assembled this sequence, some folks at the network were somewhat concerned that we hadn't adequately telegraphed or otherwise set up what was coming - which was, of course, the point.
sciencehighway 2 years ago
What an amazing guy he was...definitely a pioneer of aviation. The guts those guys had. Wonder when Hollywood will make a top-notch production about the X-15 and the people involved in the program? it's a long time overdue.
CropDusterMan 2 years ago
It's amazing that the aircraft was repaired and returned to service. If the same thing happened nowadays they would have lost their nerve and canceled the program.
ignoblius 3 years ago
One of a kind. Thanks for the video.
WillyMcCoy50 3 years ago
Thanks for commenting. Scott Crossfield was a lifelong hero of mine, and one of the key inspirations for the Discovery Channel series this clip hails from. He was incredibly kind and generous to us throughout the project, and the two-hour interview he granted remains a highlight of my life.
Michael Lennick / Foolish Earthling Productions
sciencehighway 3 years ago 3
Scott hated The Right Stuff, but man was he the fastest man alive or what? I actually had the chance to talk to him on the phone when I was about 10 and I was all fascinated with aviation, space history and astronomy, I was a young one. It was a really nice experience having a convo with him! I'll never forget it, rest in paradise Mr. Scott Crossfield<3
chellyiscool 3 years ago
And one of the finest human beings I have ever known!
Alliesthebest 3 years ago
Awesome , he sure was one of the boldest test pilot
stenic2 3 years ago
One of the best.
betyerdid 4 years ago
RIP Scott
bluedog1976 4 years ago
A very sad loss for the aviation community.
cerberus1981 2 years ago