The X-15 Story

A brief history of the X-15 research aricraft is told with three "archival" films created (just yesterday) with Orbiter Space Flight Simulator.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Orbiter
• ProjectX-15
• X-15

[AirpowerAirforce]

hey the x-15 didnt have the xlr-99 rocket moter untill the mid 60's that moter is what gave it suborbital performance

[Usonian20]

The black and white video shows the X-15-1 with two XLR-11 engines (each having four exhaust nozzles). The X-15-2 first flew with the XLR-99 on November 15, 1960. The record altitude flight, using the XLR-99, took place August 22, 1963.

[ignoblius]

The X-15's cockpit visibility wasn't nearly as good as portrayed here. The cockpit windows were tiny, thick-paned slits that became fouled by burnt-off ablative material during re-entry unless they were shielded until landing.

[Usonian20]

"The visibility out of the X-15 was surprisingly good" according to "Hypersonic: The X-15 Story" by Jenkins & Landis, SpecialtyPress, 2002, page 201 - very much as depicted in this video, and not at all "slits."

Only the X-15A-2 had the white ablative coating, which progressively obscured the right windshield during flight as it "burned" off. The left windshield had a metal cover to protect the glass during flight. It was opened when the aircraft slowed to mach 2, well before landing.

[ignoblius]

This would have been better without the fade in/outs between sequences.

Also, there's an annoying background noise, like this is playing on an 8mm projector.

[Usonian20]

Well, we are beginning this little show in 1959. It's meant to look and "feel" old: the picture quaility, the old-fashion production values and the chattering movie projector.

If I had the voice for it I would have done the melodramatic baritone newsreel naration: "The rocket engine blasts to life and America's first spaceship leaps for the heavens above the hot desert sands..."

[apollolover45]

Screw you, you are a fake, the Apollo astronaut and the X-15 ones were the bravest men I've ever known..

So back off idiot.

[StanleyKu]

Conspiracy theorists have to live with their own mental illness. They annoy me too, but in the long run they should be pittied. Btw, this video is very tastefully done! Great job!

[Laurboc]

Thumbs up if x-plane bought you here

[Laurboc]

Thumbs up if x-plane bought you here

[1MtnBoy]

@Usonian20 lol, you did a good job. I like the video. glad to see another X-15 junkie out there !!

[1MtnBoy]

@Usonian20 not true at all. read Milt Thompson's " at the edge of space" the X-15 was unique in that there was no part of the aircraft visible from the cockpit to use as a reference, also the pilot could not see "under" the nose at all ! MIlt and Niel's account of under-shooting EAFB mentions this several times not being able to see under the aircraft. Pilots routinely viewed only the Pacific ocean from the cockpit windows while still well over EAFB. telemetry was vital, vision was horrible !

[Jimbob8971]

@Usonian20 lol only if it happen just 3 years earlier the USAF would have only beaten the soviets but NASA to space lol.

[xq914]

i fail to believe that we had this kind of technology back in the 60s and now the best we got is a space shuttle what cool stuff are u hiding from us NASA?

[c90r39]

what a load of animated WANK.

[mewlett]

Check out this cool blog that discusses the history of the X-15. Google "Vintage Space X-15". Enjoy!!

[lst1195]

Cool. I saw it hanging in the Smithsonian. Thanks for posting.

[goodbyeash]

How do I use the projectX-15? Whats the button to undock the X-15 from the B-52? Help plz