The X-15, 56-6670, the first of three built by North American Aviation, Inc., was carried aloft under the right wing of a Boeing NB-52A Stratofortress, 52-003, flown by John E. Allavie and Fitzhugh L. Fulton.
The rocketplane was dropped from the mothership over Rosamond Dry Lake at 15:43:23.0 local time, and Joe Walker ignited the Reaction Motors XLR-11 rocket engine. The engine burned for 272.0 seconds, accelerating Walker and the X-15 to Mach 2.0 (1,320 miles per hour/2,124.3 kilometers per hour) and a peak altitude of 48,630 feet (14,822.4 meters). Walker landed on Rogers Dry Lake at Edwards Air Force Base after a flight of 9 minutes, 8.0 seconds.
Joe Walker made 25 flights in the three X-15 rocket planes from 24 March 1960 to 22 August 1963. He achieved a maximum Mach number of 5.92, maximum speed of 4,104 miles per hour (6,605 kilometers per hour) and maximum altitude of 354,200 feet (107,960 meters).
Joe Walker was killed in a mid-air collision between his Lockheed F-104N Starfighter and a North American Aviation XB-70A Valkyrie near Barstow, California, 1 June 1966.
The number one ship, 56-6670, made 81 of the 199 flights of the X-15 Program. It was the first to fly, and also the last, 24 October 1968. Today, it is in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum.
© 2019, Bryan R. Swopes
In November of 1960 went to Edwards from George AFB with Joe Engle to check on his test pilot class date. While there that day the X-15 was being flown. We went to the roof of the ops building where you could monitor the flight. It was flown flawlessly with an F-104 chase. After the X-15 touchdown on the lakebed chase announced he was on the go with rolls. Went burner and rotated to vertical and rolled into the cons. A real flying club in those days! The pilot who flew the 15 that day – Neil Armstrong! After his graduation Joe, the only 1st Lieutenant in the class, was kept at Edwards to fly the X-15 which he did 16 times.
That must have been exciting!
It was! Quite a memory!
Love the picture of Mr. Fulton in front of the drop ship. The nose on the A models was just beautiful. To me, this is the quintessential B-52. Great article Bryan, as always.
Thanks, Pete. . . Last night I was watching an old NAA documentary on YouTube. It seemed that on the first few X-15 flights, the paint colors on the NB-52A were changing: white top behind cockpit, then black, then no paint. Also, a white rectangle on the belly behind the landing gear.
That would be a fun effort, documenting all the color schemes on The High and Mighty One and Balls 8! I’ll have to see if I can find that video Bryan. I visited Pima Air Museum a few years ago, and stood in awe next to The High and Mighty One. It was fascinating to look over all the different “Drop” symbols painted on her side. A beautiful aircraft. If you ever get the chance to visit Pima, it’s so worth the trip.
Pete, It has been about 15 years since I visited Pima. I should make an effort to visit again, soon. There have been many additions.