Originally Posted by
RhinoPherret
Since I was a major guru back in the day of the X-15 program (one also aimed during that time to fly in century series aircraft like the F-104, F-105, and even further into the MOL program and Gemini), it is great to know your friend was so involved with these aircraft and programs.
Two very special folks that thrived and lived during a very fascinating era of aviation.
Tell us your story.
The X-15 program was amazing, but, what was even more amazing was that Kelly Johnson was telling them in three years operational fighters would exceed the performance of the X-15. Everyone thought Johnson was nuts. Of course, only Johnson and a few others knew about the then secret A-12 / SR-71. (not that the A-12 got close to the X-15's absolute altitude and speed, but from 70,000 to 85,000 it operated at a higher IAS)
My favorite X-15 stories had to be the flights where they lost their APUs and lost telemetry at Mach 3+ ... the pilots sometimes diverted ... but to where? The Air Force could only fly around looking for their pilot and aircraft.
The thermodynamisist who worked for Johnson has been out in Reno for the last 15 to 20 years making those things the fastest prop driven aircraft on the planet by removing cooling drag.
Again, these people tend to be explorers, not historians. I hope someone gets that guy's life's story down while it is possible.