CoolPix: X-15 Pilots... Does This Spacesuit Make My Butt Look Big?

(click pic for hi-res)   NASA X-15 pilots showing some early space humor in 1966

 I was 5 years old in 1966 when this NASA picture was taken. I definitely remember the North American X-15 being part of my culture growing up from about age 7 on - what an amazing time in aviation and aerospace history! In all, three X-15's were built, with the first of the programs 199 flights taking place in 1959. The program officially ended in December 1970. This high altitude rocket plane, which was launched into flight from a B-52 mothership, was an essential part of the research and development that put Americans into space. Can you even imagine that at its maximum, the X-15 flew up to 354,200 feet (67.08 miles) and at a speed of 4,520 mph (Mach 6.7) - Wow!

 This CoolPix is a whole lot more about the pilots tho than the airplane. Given how much these guys were pushing the envelope of flight, it's no surprise that they also knew how to ham it up a bit. It's also interesting that this group of guys represents exactly half of the total number of X-15 pilots. One of them not in this picture was Neil Armstrong. You might have seen the CoolPix of Neil with the X-15 that I posted in February 2010. These are some amazing historical images to be sure!

 Of the three X-15's built, one was tragically lost along with pilot Michael J. Adams in 1967, one is on display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, and the one pictured here with the playful pilots is on display at the Air Force Museum in Dayton Ohio. That's my cue to mention that a second annual AirPigz meetup at the Air Force Museum is now in the works... it'll most likely take place in late January 2012, and I'd like to encourage some of you to consider meeting up with 10 or 15 of us avgeeks to experience the amazing aviation history on display there.

 I'll be posting more info as we move into December, but if you're interested in being on an email list for more details, send me a quick note at mcc@airpigz.com to let me know. Museum admission is free, and of course there's no charge for the AirPigz meetup on Saturday and/or Sunday. I'll also be planning to take in the behind-the-scenes tour on Friday again (the only day they offer the tour), and I highly recommend you join that experience too, it's amazing. And seeing this X-15 is another example of a piece of aviation history on display there that's worth the trip : )