Detailed tour around the only X-15 on display in the world.

Join me in this guided tour around the MACH 6.7 North American X-15A-2 on display at the National Museum of the USAF in Dayton, Ohio. Includes the cockpit and the Reaction Motors XLR-99. X-15 documentary.
Thumbnail photo credit: National Museum of the US Air Force
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0:00 intro
0:32 background
2:25 nose and q ball
3:20 reaction control system
3:50 nose landing gear
4:20 cockpit and ejection seat
6:45 windows and shutters
7:45 multiple storage tanks
8:40 aeroynamic heating and inconel x
9:20 wing
9:50 tail and ventral fin
10:42 horizontal stabiliser
11:35 tail end and engine
12:40 rear landing gear
13:12 Reaction Motors XLR-99 rocket engine
14:25 testing for space and military equipment
14:55 records

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Correction: the First flight was on 8 June 1959

[@notinmyUSMC]

I thought that 1949 sounded way too early!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

@@notinmyUSMC yep I had 1959 written down so unfortunately I blame a brainfart 😂

[@lordleonusa]

@PaulStewartAviation same age as me

[@GlutenEruption]

@@PaulStewartAviation pretty sure the Smithsonian air and space museum also has another x-15 on display (hanging by the escalator between frontiers of flight and the rockets)

[@dougcastleman9518]

First flight was unpowered. I was honored to depict it in an oil painting for the Flight Test Historical Foundation.

[@jim5870]

The pilots joked that it was the only airplane that you were happy when the engine quit!

[@Tomyironmane]

I think the poor pilot who first flew the thunderscreech might disagree there. "You aren't big enough and there aren't enough of you to get me back in that aircraft.":

[@jfan4reva]

Reentry was a bitch too. On reentry, the aircraft generated the same amount of g-forces as it did under power,,, except in the opposite direction, "eyeballs out" negative Gs.

[@williambrasher1320]

​@@jfan4revaI'm

[@jj4791]

It re-entered at positive angle of attack.

[@ivangottapseudonym8849]

Authenticity is why I prefer Paul, to any sort of AI text reader. I don't need perfection, I do want humanity.

[@Panigale67]

I.E. Dronescape videos!

[@barneymiller6204]

I too really hate those AI text readers. I won't listen to any of them anymore, no matter what the subject.

[@camdix3250]

@@barneymiller6204 Excellent comment. I totally agree.

[@camdix3250]

Well put. I agree totally.

[@NKBobcat]

I don't care if the content is brilliant, I would never subscribe to a digitally narrated channel. I just subscribed here.

[@stevearnold100]

My father was one of the countless 1000's of people that worked on the X-15. He was an employee of North American and went on to work on the gyroscope system used in the first spacewalks in the Gemini program. While I was estranged from him for many years before reconciling our differences, I was always proud of his contributions to the space program! He passed away many years ago and I regret not having had more knowledge of his work.

[@ExUSSailor]

They did this at a time when a computer the size of your living room was about as powerful as a pocket calculator. That groundbreaking aircraft was designed at drafting tables, on paper, with sliderules, pencils, and, sheer brilliance. And, then, it was flown by men who had balls of solid rock!

[@ailijic]

Don't forget about the analog computer that powered the simulator so the pilots could practice their missions and procedures.

[@user-iw2jx5kr9y]

Ten Thousand Thumbs Up Paul. This is by miles and miles the best in-depth video I’ve seen on the X 15. I’m almost seventy and can still remember building the Revell model kit of the futuristic machine with my Dad! Good memories. Thanks Paul

[@BlakeAStoffel]

It also makes sense that left window was chosen because I believe the arrival turn was generally left so they could see the landing area and judge the approach.

[@randymoffatt5634]

Thank you for this in depth video. The X15, as well as the entire X plane program, does not get the respect it deserves. I saw the Smithsonian’s X-15 on display several years ago and it brought back great memories of when I was growing up in the high desert. My uncle Jack Moise was on the X-15 crew when Crossfield was flying it for North American. The one at the Smithsonian is the one Crossfield slammed down on the lake bed and broke it in half. My Dad also worked on the X plane program and was Armstrong’s crew chief on the X-1E before he was hired away by GE and put to work on the space program. What an amazing time that was.

[@timgosling6189]

There is another allocated to the National Air and Space Museum in DC but it is currently off being restored.

[@stevepreskitt283]

Yup, 56-6670 is at the Udvar-Hazy Center right now. There's a part of the museum where you can see what the restoration shop is currently working on. Got to see it a few weeks ago, and it was kinda cool seeing it there with a bunch of toolboxes, safety cones, and other stuff around it.

[@sward13x]

Wasn’t that one hanging from the ceiling in DC? Haven’t been down there in probably 30 years.

[@adamwishneusky]

“Only one on display in the world” 🙄 there are only two and one is being restored. So “only one x15 in the world is not on display right now” 🤪

[@juliausnope9475]

@@sward13xIt was, but the museum is being renovated. So some stuff was moved for the time being. X-1 for example as well.

[@samspade7522]

I got to see the X-15 at Wright-Patterson AFB around 1996. They had it in a hanger located away from the museum and it took a bus ride to get to it . They also had the last XB-70 in the same hanger. They were the most beautiful planes I can imagine. We didn't get any info about either but it was great. Your article really filled in a lot of details; thank you so much.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Check out my xb-70 video for more details on that :)

[@drraybenedetto2064]

The aircraft that were in the old “Museum Annex” of the USAF Museum in Area B of Wright-Pat AFB were moved to the expanded Museum about 20 years ago when the third and fourth hangars were added.

[@samspade7522]

@@drraybenedetto2064 thanks for the update. I knew it had been a while but retirement warps my time sense more than I realized. Guess I need to get back there this summer.

[@MichaelRoy-hc3lz]

I was a young boy when this was going on, l read everything l could get my hands on, built models of it etc. Thank you for this tour it's still one of my favorite chapters in aviation

[@randysollars5350]

When I was a child I remember running around the yards with our arms out playing X-15. We were so excited to hear of a launch. What amazing times.

[@ItsKing32]

The national air and space museum in va has one in the restoration hanger and back in December for the tenth anniversary of the center. they let everyone walk through the hanger and I got to see the X-15 relatively up close. Its so impressive because we were going 6.7 times the speed of sound in 1967 who knows what they are doing now.

[@sblack48]

Is the one in VA the one that was hung up in the main hall at the NASM?

[@HaddaClu]

When did the NAaSM take it off display? I have a lot of memories (a few pictures as well) of it hanging from the ceiling in the main DC building.

[@ItsKing32]

@@sblack48yes bc there were only 3 one is in the museum of the usaf in dayton oh one was lost in a crash and the final one is currently in the restoration hanger

[@mlehky]

@@HaddaCluremoved a few years ago when they started the museum restoration. It’s supposed to go back this year. The NASM on the mall is doing a huge facility restoration and many of the exhibits are also being redone. Huge sections have been closed and last year the entire building was even closed for awhile. The building itself is 50 years ago and was suffering leaks and other problems.

[@stevepreskitt283]

@@mlehky 56-6670 was in Udvar-Hazy's shop being worked on when I was there this past February.

[@Lalo-fv2ne]

When I was 10 in 1963, our family went on a long vacation to Santa Anna in Orange County. On the trip back home I actually saw one the X-15s being hauled on a flatbed trailer with it's wings detached and standing upright on each of it's sides and that was after I had seen the movie.

[@porticojunction]

I have touched both of the remaining X15s. The one in Dayton used to be displayed so you could walk up and lean right into the cockpit, super cool!

[@Hyposonic]

My dad brought that one to the museum from California decades ago when the museum was much smaller and in a different area of the base. That trip was an interesting story in its own right.

[@PsRohrbaugh]

Any details you can share?

[@Hyposonic]

@@PsRohrbaugh He said they were towing it up the side of a mountain out west and the clutch went out in the truck, launching the flywheel through the truck's firewall. The convoy was stuck there until another truck could get there almost a day later. I guess they drew a lot of unwanted attention. I'm sure there's more to it. He told me when I was a little kid.

[@derekcoaker6579]

My Son and I are traveling to Ohio for the Eclipse in three weeks, I think we are going to spend that weekend at this Museum again. I feel like I missed a lot on our first visit there about 6 years ago. Great Channel, Thank You.

[@gulicny3999]

My Dad & I spent two days at VA. And wasn't enough.

[@frisk151]

The things these great men created and flew (now a very long time ago) is just incredible! Thanks for sharing this!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Couldn't agree more!

[@nickashton3584]

as a child of the sixties and lived at Woomera I loved the space race and especially the x 15 and the star fighter , many thanks

[@larrymead151]

Excellent. Never seen the inside of the combustion chamber before.

[@markthibault8579]

Just finished Scott Crossfield's very interesting book, "Always another dawn" where he talks about the X-15's early development at North American. Great read.

[@seanh2390]

thanks for the book recommendation

[@huh4233]

I met him at the National Aviation Hall of Fame induction Ceremony one year. He and his wife were standing in the lobby of the hotel we were all staying at in Dayton. I walked up to him and chatted him up. What a nice man.

[@x15galmichelleevans]

@@seanh2390 Scott wrote an excellent book, and there were several others written near the beginning of the program. My own book on the X-15 is the only one written that covers the entire program, and is based on 30 years of research, along with interviews with the pilots, family members, managers, flight planners, mechanics, rocket shop techs, engineers, etc.

[@SergioHidalgoAero]

Man, no words, fantastic

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Glad you like it!

[@brycenew]

Incredible aircraft and program. So pleased Hermeus have picked up the hypersonic aircraft baton. Fascinating / crazy area of aerospace design!

[@coolhand6669]

One of my favorite aircraft! My father work for North American Aviation from 1954 till 1988. my father worked on the X-15 he was head of electronic systems for the aircraft. Also he did the electronic systems and the defensive systems for the xb70 Valkyrie. During that time frame. He worked with Scott Crossfield and the other boys Building the three flying aircraft that they were contract the build for the Air Force. I keep telling people that most of the great aircraft that was built up until probably the last 20 years. Penciled out on a cocktail napkin at a bar someplace. And it's really a real thing that's really happened the funny thing when engineers get together they can really making really design some wonderful aircraft half drunk.

[@mike30534]

As a kid, I was already a space and jet nerd. My parents and I were on one of several trips to DC and the Smithsonian museums. I should add that we were dirt-poor folks from the N. Georgia Mountains. My father would borrow money every year for an educational trip. My "Internet" was a set of 1963 World Book Encyclopedias. I read to the last page on my internet several times. While I can't be sure of the exact date, we entered the Air and Space Museum used at that time and there sat their new X-15. It must have just been rolled in since it was near the entrance and surrounded only by a temporary rope barrier inches from the X-15. It took me less than 2 seconds to decide I would touch that piece of space history. Being around 12 years old, I easily popped under the barrier, took one step, and touched the cueball first, then the side where the paint began. No one, including my parents, said a word. Later, I regretted not walking all the way, hands on the fuselage, to its tail. The next time I saw it they had suspended it well out of reach. Paul, thanks for a trip down Memory Lane.

[@alext8828]

Is it still there or did they remove it?

[@Melior_Traiano]

Haha I did the same thing when seeing the SR-71 at IWM Duxford, but I must have been 25 years old at the time. An English gentleman saw me and jokingly said "You are brave enough to do that". I was amazed at the sheer size of the B-52 which is also on exhibit at the museum. And I can highly recommend the classic book "The Right Stuff" for anyone interested in the space program. Cheers from Germany!

[@mike30534]

@@Melior_Traiano Funny you mention the SR-71. Not that I troll museums to catch them off guard so I can touch the great planes of the world; however, when my son was about 10 we were at Robbins AFB in GA. They had an SR-71 on display and were moving exhibits around to set up for a dinner. There were no ropes at all, so we were able to go under its wings, fuselage and from back to front. Having a love of history and historical objects, I tried to set a good example by not fondling the SR-71 too blatantly and we got some wonderful pics from angles most never see. Once again, no one said a word. Then there was the time we sat in Apollo 11's capsule..... Naaaah, just kidding. Besides we couldn't have pried off the Lexan bubble it was in anyway 😅

[@mike30534]

@@alext8828 It's being restored at their museum near Dulles International. I assume it will go back to the museum on the National Mall when it's completed.

[@alext8828]

@@mike30534 Excellent to hear. Thank you.

[@brycenew]

Thanks Paul, after seeing what Hermeus is up to, I really enjoyed watching this. All the best to Hermeus, who have picked up the hypersonic aircraft baton.

[@saltyboo]

The close up shots of the nose cone makes the X-15 look like the world's fastest ballpoint pen. Great walkthrough of the aircraft and your voice over is exactly what I wanted; clear, calm and concise. Great video, thank you for posting!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Thanks. More videos coming :)

[@sjion]

I visited DC to see the SR-71 Black Bird. But l was blown away by the X-15. It seemed so raw & functional.

[@babyboomer9560]

Robert Hoey was in charge of flight testing X15 at Edwards. Very sharp, dedicated and godly man. Met him a number of times. I worked with his wife who also was top notch person.

[@user-bz7xx2jn1x]

My mother was the librarian in the classified document center at Edwards Air Force Base during the X-15 project. She has pictures of her and the pilots, including Armstrong.

[@flyonbyya]

The longer the review….the better! Great Work !!

[@sannyassi73]

I got to go visit the Cosmosphere Museum (In Kansas, US) a couple Years ago. They've got a Bell X-1, it's one of the first things you see. Even got to touch an old SR-72 while there. It was a really neat experience that I won't forget! Nice video, I didn't know any of these planes were on display anywhere. Never knew these had 2 different engine setups. Didn't know the bottom stabilizer popped off before landing. Never noticed the half sphere for Ammonia pressurization. Never knew a lot of stuff before this video, thanks for it! I imagine the lost history that we wouldn't even have space for if we kept everything sometimes- we probably know about %0.1 of what ever actually happened in the past and it all probably went differently than we think.

[@FreedomGundamX10A]

I found this video by accident! But I loved it. Interesting fact - the 1998 anime, 'Outlaw Star', used the X-15 as inspiration for the main space ship, the XGP-15A2 'Outlaw Star'. Very cool to see in-depth what inspired a cartoon space ship that lived rent-free in my mind for DECADES.

[@mpojr]

im 76 now but still have all the newspaper articles from way back when they would fly the X15.As teenager l was interested in space flight;back in the early 60s people were caught up in the mercury and gemini programs ,l would remind them that the X15 was flying into space and coming back and landing alot of data from X15 program went into the space shuttle program.The X15 was truly an iconic aircraft.

[@usaturnuranus]

You were describing the midsection of the vehicle and how it was relatively empty and light in construction - which is a big reason as to why one of the X planes buckled and folded during landing on one flight. Those test pilots were seriously cool heads.

[@olsonspeed]

"Above and beyond,"', a true beast, tip of the technology spear, research craft. Thanks very much for the tour of this historic aircraft.

[@lancerSF]

Awesome video of an awesome aircraft! One small correction, the first flight is on 8th June 1959 and not in 1949.

[@johndornoff]

Thanks for another fascinating tour, Paul.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

My pleasure!

[@zoperxplex]

Though they were built by two different manufacturers the X-15 always reminds me of a rocket powered F-104 Starfighter.

[@moaslimes3674]

I was just at this museum last week. Great place to visit

[@PaulStewartAviation]

It really is!

[@slothFPV]

so many new (at the time) design concepts packed into one amazing aircraft. a truly remarkable feat of engineering and humanity, especially considering the time.

[@historyinfullcolor4279]

When I was a teenager in the 70's we visited the museum. They had the X-15 in a room with a ladder that let you look in the cockpit. It was not out in the open like it is today. This was pre closed circuit cameras, etc. I was able to climb in the cockpit and sit in the seat. My Dad was an Air Force pilot, so I was very respectful, did not take any souvenir's, just enjoyed my time alone in the aircraft. Also got to do the same with the B-29 "Bockscar" (dropped the 2nd atomic bomb). At that time they only had the cockpit area on display and it was not fully assembled. These days I would have been tossed out for security footage, but I would have some cell phone video to show.

[@user-uv6dj9vq9s]

Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.

[@Fran_SG]

Amazing!! O hope to see this wonderful museum. Thanks!!

[@getreal2977]

Excellent video. Thanks for the detailed view.

[@Bwyv55]

Was there in December. Amazing place.

[@Steve-xw3nq]

brilliant video Paul, i love the level of detail you've gone into

[@jernejfunkl8300]

I still have a model (1/72) of this extreme plane, which I assembled quite solidly almost 40 years ago... I keep it carefully in a glass case :) This video is a really good and detailed presentation from the X-15. I like !

[@SimonAmazingClarke]

A great video about an outstanding aircraft. Most people today are not aware of its achievements and why they were so big for the day.

[@brianmessemer2973]

Nice! Well done. I'm from Long Island, NY and we have a museum here called the Cradle of Aviation Museum. Lots of Grumman stuff including an Apollo LEM because Grumman was based here for most of its life. It's in Nassau County not very far from NYC. If you ever visit, please enjoy your stay here.

[@markblackman2542]

Thanks paul , love the X15 and U2 jet as well !

[@YousefAshraf-qn9je]

Since I was a kid the x-15 made my dream thank you for sharing that

[@michaelbyrnee9584]

Thanks for uploading this video, and a very special thank-you for your human narration!

[@TheAslakVind]

Absolutely epic walkthrough, you are very good at it!

[@benjiisaac1362]

absolutely fascinating video. thank you paul

[@artistnigelspencerandrew5147]

Really thorough and detailed walk around....Keep up the good work Paul....Thanks a lot

[@janetbruce2430]

Some great narration and video footage about an aircraft which was very complex and impressive. Well done Paul

[@staralliancefan1245]

Love the updated version of the video!

[@ginog5037]

Excellent video, Paul. The greatest aviation museum on earth by far! What a backdrop to see the amazing XB-70❤

[@richardhince9764]

great video, thanks for all the interesting info. When I was a kid (over 60 years ago) the X-15 was a great source of fascination for me, I had a small die cast model of it back then that I really wish I had now.

[@michaelm8754]

Very interesting and well-done video. Really enjoy watching and learning the history of these amazing aircraft and of the men who designed and built them and the pilots that fly them.

[@JG-mp5nb]

My father worked on the sheet metal (Inconel-X) on the Orbital engine shroud. As school children in Palmdale many of the North American workers were working on the XB-70, another North American project, and my Father worked on it as well. At the age of eight years our school was populated by NA and Military families. One day we had a special occasion, and we were taken out to the playground and at a certain time told to “look up”. Far above us were the many contrails of the NASA B-52, and as advertised a sudden appearance of another contrail appeared, slower at first then the mother craft, then rapidly accelerating until the contrail disappeared! To a bunch of kids used to seeing low flying and sound breaking aircraft as well as the failed launch of missiles from Vandenburg-sudden greenish clouds in the atmosphere, the X-15 departure from sight was very strange indeed.

[@mikefm4]

You keep coming out with so much banger content!!! Your videoing and narration skills are ace

[@SanoyNimbus]

Wow, cool! Thanks for this video. Slow, and no music, and very informative!!! I like that!

[@TomPauls007]

This was a excellent documentary! I lived in Ft. Irwin, next to Bicycle Lake. It was used as an emergency landing strip. We would look up and see the super fast contrail and ooh aah. But we didn't realize it was going nearly straight UP!!

[@discovernow1015]

What a great video, best look at the X15 I’ve ever seen. Thanks Paul

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@local56]

Love this plane, everything about it is extreme. I cannot imagine the rush nor the bottle to flick the motor on and pilot it. Great video.

[@thetruth1]

I actually saw the X-15 fly and land with my own eyes. It however, was launched vertically from the ground, and as I recall, it had a skid rather than a wheel on the front landing gear. It was a short flight that required a talented pilot, as immediately after launching, the craft performed what amounted to a three quarter loop at the bottom of which the plane touched down on the ground.

[@luckyguy600]

The coolest craft in the entire collection. And few ever stop and really look at it. Shameful. You did it justice. Thanks.

[@unimatrix82]

I have very fond memories of that Museum, my dad took me there back in the 90's, i want to take my son so he can enjoy it.

[@kevinbutters5964]

What an excellent video. Very informative indeed. Thank you.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@toddac61]

I have a very short 8mm film of the X15-A2 when it was on display (on a truck) at my local airport on about 1969.

[@ericberman4193]

Excellent video! Thanks for producing.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Thanks for watching!

[@christophere.herbert418]

I was 15 years old going south from Yosemite to Mt. Whitney from early August to early September 1968, for 28 days, where I remember seeing something like the X-15 thin and narrow, not like a jet, in the distance above me going left to right while hiking on the JMT. I stopped and took out my little film loaded Kodak camera, it showing a streak trail and something black in the front barely visible. I later found out that there was a flight on August 21, 1968, which makes me believe that would have been the one I saw coming in, heading for Andrews landing, while hiking high up near some JMT passes. Still in my memory. At least I hope that was near the area of its flight where I was hiking.

[@MrScrofulous]

Brilliant piece with a wealth of expert detail. It's fascinating to see the extremes of physical states that the men and material were exposed to. It makes it plain that space travel will never be easy or routine.

[@mohammadislam2652]

Great Video Paul Stewart

[@brandonhamilton833]

Very cool video!

[@Mr.Reality3000]

Thank you for this video 😁

[@user-wv5fq8di2m]

Excellent video - Thanks!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

You are welcome!

[@Peteski-0]

Fascinating. Thanks Paul 😊

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jr-a-cat]

The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Va has the other X-15 in the rebuild shop and you can watch from behind glass was just there cool , cool, cool

[@gatortim1986]

Awesome tour!!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Thank you!

[@jjmelo]

Love your music videos. Great job Paul!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Thanks so much!

[@mimetype]

That was great!

[@104thDIVTimberwolf]

When I was stationed there in the late 1980's, it sat out on the floor with the X-1A, X-3 Stilleto and a couple of lifting bodies, X-24 and M2F2, if I remember correctly. You could walk right up to it and touch it, although I don't remember it having the auxiliary tanks back then.

[@jacquesparadis6756]

Excellent reporting and commenting. Well done! 👍

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@airplanedude7105]

Great video as usual. I remember as a kid thinking the one at Pima was real only realizing when I got older it was not and made of wood.

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Yep. I think evergreen have a replica too

[@danielayers]

Superb!

[@danielversion1.035]

Those music videos are definitely Grammy ™ contenders 👌👌

[@Calebs_Aviation]

Great video mate! Loved it all! A plane I know a lot about especially when Neil Armstrong flew this jet like in the beginning scenes of the Apollo movie… 😃 🤯 AWESOME! Cheers mate 🍻 from São Paulo Brazil 🇧🇷 where I have visited a few museums and made 2 awesome trip reports coming out soon! 👏 Caleb’s Aviation

[@cdstoc]

NASA has a great book for download in several formats, "X-15: Extending the Frontiers of Flight". It's free and a great and detailed read about the X-15 program.

[@koh_ling]

Amazing video Paul!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Glad you think so!

[@richardmillhousenixon]

Minor correction. The US Armed Forces considers 50 miles, or about 80400 meters the boundary of space, a boundary passed on 13 occasions by 8 pilots. 5 of those pilots were active service in the USAF and were therefore awarded their military astronaut wings. NASA didn't have a similar thing at the time, and the other 3 astronauts weren't awarded their wings until 2005, 2 of the 3 being awarded posthumously.

[@diverguy2583]

No clue what aircraft S/N it was but my dad got a picture of me and one of my brother sitting in the cockpit of the X-15. It was sitting on the ramp out at Edwards AFB in the early 90's, we also got pictures of us kids sitting in the cockpit of the F-15 STOL.

[@cupidstunt22]

Amazing bit of kit

[@nigel900]

Fascinating. 👍🏻

[@allgood6760]

Interesting.. thanks Paul👍✈️

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@robordm]

Great video, very informative!

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Thank you!

[@Bad_Karma1968]

Paul great vlog as always

[@PaulStewartAviation]

Thanks 👍

[@beefgoat80]

I was going to watch this on my phone, but I think I'd rather watch it on my desktop so I can see the details.