by Nigel Blackwell | Planes
The X-15 was designed to smash existing aerospace records. Jets had reached mach 2, manned rocket planes had reached mach 3, and missiles and rockets (X-7 thru 12) had reached into space. The X-15 was designed to double the mach number and reach 250,000ft (space)...
by Nigel Blackwell | Planes
The facts, fiction, and body of knowledge the X-15 generated is enormous. School kids should be taught about it as one of the great things the US should be proud of. In fact, I do bring it up with them, but (contrary to what you may have heard) I do have some sympathy...
by Nigel Blackwell | Planes
Between the first and second world wars, aircraft development was moving apace in Europe. One of the many people pushing aircraft technology was Alexander Lippisch, the designer of the rocket powered Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet. Lippisch proposed a triangular delta...
by Nigel Blackwell | Planes
The years immediately following the end of World War II must have been a heady time to be in aviation. The “sound barrier” had gained its own reputation and the mysteries of flight were being pulled back further and further. Though some of the science...
by Nigel Blackwell | Planes
The X-1 program wasn’t just about reaching Mach 1. Supersonic was only one of numerous areas of flight and flying that the craft explored. The X-1’s speed was achieved by the thrust of a Reaction Motors XLR11 rocket (more of which later), and the duration...