August 2018
This ultimate X-plane hangs in the Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall at the National Air & Space Museum. Drop launched from a B-52, the X-15 flew faster and higher than any other airplane. After completing its initial test flights in 1959, the X-15 became the first winged aircraft to attain velocities of Mach 4, 5, and 6 (four, five, and six times the speed of sound). Three X-15 research aircraft were built and flown, completing a total of 199 research flights. Eight X-15 pilots flew higher than 50 miles above the Earth and earned their astronaut wings. The National Air and Space Museum has the historic X-15 #1, Air Force serial 56-6670. Fuji X-E2s w/18-135mm.