North American X-15: The History of the World's Fastest Piloted Aircraft

The rocket-powered X-15 emerged as the fastest piloted aircraft ever flown, providing airmen with experience of flying inside and outside Earth's atmosphere. Before its first flight in 1959, the fastest man had reached three times the speed of sound. The X-15 would take flight to a new level, doubling that to speeds of more than 4,500mph, reaching the very edge of space. When it retired in 1968, following 199 flights, it left a legacy found today in unpiloted, hypersonic air vehicles. Inside this highly illustrated landscape title, the full story of the X-15's development is told, including exciting and dramatic incidents as shattered windscreens and landing gear that deployed unexpectedly at Mach 4 threatened instant death.