Chronology
Reading edition
DATE PLANE PILOT COMMENT
1946
Sept. NACA contingent arrives at Edwards
Oct. X-1 Goodlin First powered flight
1947
Mar. D-558-I May First flight
Aug. D-558-I Caldwell 640.7 mph
Aug. D-558-I Carl 651 mph
Oct. X-1 Yeager Mach 1.0
1948
Feb. D-558-II Martin First flight; Ground take-off
Mar. X-1 Hoover First civilian; Mach 1.0
Sept. XF-92A Yeager First flight
Dec. X-4 Tucker First flight
1949
Aug. X-1 Everest 73,000 ft.
1950
June D-558-II Bridgeman First air-launch
1951
June X-5 Ziegler First flight
Aug. D-558-II Bridgeman 79,000 ft.; Mach 1.89
Nov. X-1 (#3) Cannon Blew up—destroyed
Fall X-1-D Everest Blew up—mother plane
1952
June X-2 (#1) Ziegler Ballast—at Edwards; Glide
Oct. X-3 Bridgeman First flight
1953
Feb. X-1-A Ziegler First powered flight
May X-2 (#2) Ziegler Captive—Buffalo; Blew up—Ziegler killed
Aug. D-558-II Carl 83,235 ft.
Oct. XF-92A Crossfield Wheel collapsed; Plane retired
Nov. D-558-II Crossfield Mach 2.0
Dec. X-1-A Yeager Mach 2.5; Tumble
1954
Apr. (X-15) NACA Summary Report; Plane born
June X-1-A Murray 90,000 ft.; Tumble
Aug. X-2 (#1) Everest First glide flight; Ballast; Damaged
Oct. (X-15) Recommended by NACA
Oct. X-1-B Murray First flight
Dec. (X-15) Competition announced
1955
Aug. X-1-A Walker Fire—jettison plane
Nov. X-2 Everest First powered flight
Dec. X-1-E Walker First powered flight
Dec. (X-15) Contract awarded to North American
1956
May X-2 (#2) Kincheloe First flight
July X-2 Everest Mach 2.93
Sept. X-2 Kincheloe 126,200 ft.
Sept. X-2 Apt First flight 2,094 mph; Crashed—killed
Dec. (X-15) Mock-up complete
1958
July F-104 Kincheloe Killed
Oct. (X-15 #1) Completed, shipped to Edwards
1959
Mar. X-15 #1 Crossfield First captive flight
June X-15 #1 Crossfield First glide flight
Sept. X-15 #2 Crossfield First powered flight
1960
Feb. (X-15 #1) Delivered to Air Force and NASA
June X-15 #3 Crossfield Explosion during XLR-99 engine ground test
Aug. X-15 #1 Walker 2,196 mph
Aug. X-15 #1 White 136,500 ft.