Early Research 


On October 3, 1967, the North American X-15A-2, piloted by 
USAF Major William J. "Pete" Knight, was released from its 
NB-52 mother plane at 35,000 feet above the Mojave Desert to 
begin its dash for an absolute speed record of 4,520 miles 
per hour, a record which stood unbroken until exceeded by 
the Space Shuttle. 

Because of the lack of oxygen at the altitudes at which the 
X-15 flew, the XLR99 rocket engine used anhydrous ammonia as 
fuel and liquid oxygen as the oxidizer. Fitted with external 
fuel tanks to prolong engine burn up to 70%, the A-2 climbed 
to 102,000 feet and reached a speed of Mach 6.7. 

A-2 differed from previous Marks in that it had an ablative 
coating to protect it from the high temperatures encountered 
at the high Mach velocities. It also had a dummy scram-jet 
engine fitted to the stub ventral fin to test the 
feasibility of the engines for sustained high-Mach flight. 

The X-15 expanded the envelope of manned, winged flight to 
the very limits of the atmosphere and opened aviation to 
horizons only dreamed of previously. In all its variants, 
X-15 will be remembered as one of the most successful 
X-planes. 

As a direct result of test data obtained by early X-plane 
flights, and advances in stealth technology, super fighters 
have been developed that will carry America and her Allies 
well into the 21st Century. Using exotic fuels and 
oxidizers, these aircraft will operate at extreme altitudes 
and be capable of speeds approaching Mach 30, or 17,500 
miles per hour, which speed will allow these aircraft to be 
placed into orbit after unassisted lift-off from their 
desert bases. 

As aircraft technology advances, airplanes are beginning to 
look more and more like ovate ellipsoids, or 'Flying 
Saucers." The newest stealth fighters will most certainly be 
capable of vertical takeoff and landing and may, until the 
orbital goal is met, operate at speeds approaching Mach 8 or 
even Mach 10 with ease. 

Because of the constraints inherent in protecting the pilot 
from death during severe maneuvers, many of these aircraft 
will be capable of only straight and level flight or shallow 
dives and climbs when operating at their Mach limits. As new 
data is evaluated, this problem may be solved by designing 
the aircraft to stop in mid-air, hover, or change directions 
quickly (but not instantly), or they may be flown remotely 
from simulators on the ground thousands of miles away. 

But while we occasionally see glimpses of these new aircraft 
or hear rumors of their development, even more remarkable 
aircraft and devices are being tested in complete secrecy in 
underground facilities in the American Southwest deserts. If 
the rumors are correct (and there is no reason at this time 
to doubt them), galactic travel and even time-travel may be 
only weeks away! 

                                             C1998

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