Today marks 65 years since the first powered flight of the X-15 rocket-powered aircraft, flown by test pilot Scott Crossfield. In the 9-minute flight, Crossfield reached a speed of Mach 2.11, or 1,393 miles per hour, and an altitude of 52,341 feet. The three X-15s went on to fly a total of 199 times over nine years, setting speed and altitude records, and contributing to NASA's human spaceflight programs! 📘 More about this historic flight: https://go.nasa.gov/3XMcJdY | NASA History

Historic footage of the X-15’s fastest flight on this day, October 3, 1967. This X-15 was modified for even higher speeds including large external fuel tanks, lengthened fuselage, and white sealant as a heat shield. Even still, the X-15 nearly melted but not before Col. Pete Knight flew 4,520 MPH (Mach 6.7). To this day, no one has ever flown faster in an airplane. The X-15 program’s other mothership, NB-52A rests newly restored at Pima with a replica X-15 attached as shown by footage from @bone

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