The Insane Engineering of the X-15

Sign up to Nebula here: go.nebula.tv/realengineering
Watch this video on Nebula: watchnebula.com/videos/real-e...
Links to everything I do:
beacons.ai/brianmcmanus
Get your Real Engineering shirts at: standard.tv/collections/real-...
Thank you to Charlie Garcia for his invaluable advice and expertise during the scripting process of this video:
/ astro_chuck
3D Model provided by Clément Moreau:
sketchfab.com/3d-models/north...
Credits:
Writer/Narrator: Brian McManus
Editor: Dylan Hennessy
Animator: Mike Ridolfi (www.moboxgraphics.com/)
Sound: Graham Haerther (haerther.net/)
Thumbnail: Simon Buckmaster / forgottentowel
Fact Checker: Charlie Garcia
The research for this video took about 4 weeks with the help of the reports, books, research papers, and nasa communications below. Charlie Garcia also kindly lent his expertise in rocket propulsion as a fact checker and advisor for the project. We normally show numbers on screen, but numbers got mixed up during the convoluted writing process and it’s now 12 pm the night before upload and I just can’t bring myself to link them all appropriately, but rest assured that all information in the video comes from one of the fantastic resources linked below.
References
[1] www.nasa.gov/centers/armstron...
[2] www.amazon.com/North-American...
[3] hackaday.com/2019/02/13/the-i...
[4] amzn.to/31AG1y0
[5] www.braeunig.us/space/comb-OH.htm
[6] www.braeunig.us/space/propel.h....
[7] www.sciencedirect.com/topics/...
[8] Page 247 amzn.to/31AG1y0
[9] amzn.to/3we33sN
[10] www.researchgate.net/profile/...
[11] history.nasa.gov/SP-4230.pdf
[12] www.engineeringtoolbox.com/sp...
[13] digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/...
[14] www.nasa.gov/pdf/470842main_X...
[15] Page 23 www.nasa.gov/pdf/470842main_X...
[16] Page 440 www.nasa.gov/pdf/470842main_X...
[17] Page 16 apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltex...
[18] page 74 www.nasa.gov/pdf/470842main_X...
[19] history.nasa.gov/x15lect/stru...
[20] www.researchgate.net/publicat...
[21] Haynes 117
[22] Page 440 www.nasa.gov/pdf/470842main_X...
[23] Page 444
[24] appel.nasa.gov/2014/10/16/thi....
Thank you to AP Archive for access to their archival footage.
Music by Epidemic Sound: epidemicsound.com/creator
Thank you to my patreon supporters: Adam Flohr, Henning Basma, Hank Green, William Leu, Tristan Edwards, Ian Dundore, John & Becki Johnston. Nevin Spoljaric, Jason Clark, Thomas Barth, Johnny MacDonald, Stephen Foland, Alfred Holzheu, Abdulrahman Abdulaziz Binghaith, Brent Higgins, Dexter Appleberry, Alex Pavek, Marko Hirsch, Mikkel Johansen, Hibiyi Mori. Viktor Józsa, Ron Hochsprung

[@Durianpieenthusiast]

This man's making whole documentaries at this point. Fantastic work.

[@kizvy]

yeah 30 minutes pretty long mate

[@sabarishr381]

@@kizvy yaaaaaaaaaaaa

[@buttersquids]

No kidding - these videos have come so far in the last few years!

[@Selfimprovementkingyoutube]

I know it’s great

[@harshadagorey]

Heck yeah

[@stay_on_ground2351]

Bro, this is not a video, is a INCREDIBLE documentary... Thx a lot.

[@soyey]

an*

[@mysecondaccount7887]

@@soyey That wad not very poggers of you kind sir

[@idontcare7961]

documentary that is brainwashing you

[@nate8652]

@@mysecondaccount7887 Ik grammar corrections are annoying at but when it’s an “a or an” thing it causes me physical pain reading out the sentence in my head

[@ChristopherBong]

Indeeeedddd!!

[@TakeawayBark537]

Just to give you an idea of how fast this thing is, it is DOUBLE the speed of the sr71, and three times the speed of a modern jet, of which is dozens of times faster than our cars, which seem really fast to us, plus this thing was made 70 FREAKING YEARS AGO! Absolutely insane.

[@Cmarf2]

@@BrentLeVasseur No it's slightly over Mach 3 lol..

[@Cmarf2]

@@BrentLeVasseur You can call it "misinformation" all you want but there is no evidence/proof of the sr-71 being capable of going Mach 7, it's just an assumption from you. I'm sure it could go slightly faster than Mach 3.2, but to say it could go over double that speed is a little outrageous...

[@Cmarf2]

@@BrentLeVasseur Lol I can say a reliable source told me that Santa Claus exists... That doesn't make it true? Until actual evidence of the sr-71 traveling Mach 7 is released then it is just hearsay.

[@Cmarf2]

@@BrentLeVasseur We have much faster and overall better aircraft than the sr-71 today, why would they keep the top speed of a 60 year old aircraft (that isn't even used anymore) classified?

[@Cmarf2]

@@BrentLeVasseur an engineer who worked on the sr-71 spoke about what you're referring to saying, "The difference was that by 1986 missile capability had significantly improved. And Libya had them. As the Blackbird crossed the “Line of Death” into Libyan territory, Shul’s co-pilot warned of ground-based missile launches, Russian SAMs they guessed, capable of Mach 5 flight. Those scary little f***ers were probably the only thing a Blackbird pilot feared. Still, flying at Mach 3.2 at 80,000 feet is a significant head-start." In that same interview he said the pilots went slighly over Mach 3.5 after "pushing the throttles full forward against the stops."

[@danl3445]

It is slightly unfair to compare the SR-71 to the X-15. After takeoff, and a refueling , the SR-71 could cross a continent at sustained speed. The X-15 was a valuable science experiment, but largely a guided rocket, not a plane. Apples and Oranges.

[@DuRoehre90210]

That's exactly what I was about to write. X-15 is not a plane, i.e. not one for any kind of regular use as such. It's a rocket building experiment, which somehow carried a human inside.

[@louisrobitaille5810]

It's like comparing Usain Bolt to Eliud Kipchoge. Usain Bolt is the fastest man in the world, but he can only sustain his top speed for a few seconds. Eliud Kipchoge might not be the fastest man, but last time I checked he was the only man who completed a whole marathon (42km) in less than 2h. That's 350m/minute. (In imperial: 26.098 miles in less than 2h, ~19ft/s.) If Usain Bolt is the X-15 of running, Eliud Kipchoge is the SR-71.

[@GoHARD99]

ELIUD WHO? LIKE THAT COMPARISON vs Bolt

[@zoltanfarkas3880]

but they all use rockets so what's the difference

[@davidosaje4100]

Also,it is not even the sr-71 In 1:38, the aircraft featured is the yf-12 Apart from that, this was a very interesting and informative video

[@SeanHodgins]

Truly deserves the "Insane Engineering" title.

[@Selfimprovementkingyoutube]

Defiantly 😀😀😀

[@bastscho]

It's Sean Hodgins!

[@pereraddison932]

... in-sanity, we thrust=?

[@nythawkfpv]

it doesn’t, it deserves the legendary engineering title

[@nythawkfpv]

@Austen Lee he is presenting an insane plane

[@flipride001]

10-15 years ago this is the kind of video or documentary (both in duration and quality) that you would only see in educational cable channels in the Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel, or History Channel. Now, we have KZbin videos like this who have absolutely great production value and can be done entirely at home. If you showed this to me randomly without saying where it came from I would honestly have thought that a major tv network produced this. You guys are awesome! Keep it up!

[@BlunderDownUnder]

Agreed, I would have assumed it involved a large production company!

[@markdavidson1900]

I don't think those cable channels would go as deep into the fuel chemistry and metallurgical engineering as this channel. I love that these videos doesn't have to dumb down the science and engineering of the topic

[@Realitygetreal]

And Now discovery channel (aka the chopper channel) only shows motorcycle building...

[@officer_baitlyn]

stock video clips make the visual part a lot easier when compared to 15 years ago there is also the fact that many programs used to make the drawings for example came down in price or got easier to use the only thing that hasn't changed is the research part

[@notyaavridge2660]

@@markdavidson1900 cable channels have technicians not engineers . Good observation.

[@daveheath3728]

My Dad worked for North American Aviation from 1958 -1968 and I remember him bringing home the company newsletters which often featured photos and articles of the developements in the X-15 program . I'm proud of the part my Dad could play in a company that produced so many outstanding aircraft .

[@Jackwick23]

that is rad! i have always wanted to work for a company and to be apart of a team like this that will launch us to or at least get a great deal closer to the next generation in aviation and space craft.

[@d4nd31o]

Your dad works here

[@jag1720]

Brilliant! Seriously one of the best short documentaries on the X-15 available. I was a child raised under the thunder of the X-15 and other X Planes in So Cal back in the early 60"s, went on to spend a career in aviation partly because of the fascination with extreme flight. I am an admitted X-15 nut and I'll say again this is a terrific video. Cheers to all involved in its production!

[@d.dementedengineerc99isurf26]

Make me jealous! Did you ever see the A-12 or the SR-71?

[@MarkShinnick]

They are sitting outside static display the Palmdale plant.​@@d.dementedengineerc99isurf26

[@andrewschwartz_]

My great grandpa was Harrison Storms, chief engineer of the X-15 and XB-70. He later lead NA through the apollo program. Never got to meet him, but my grandma has amazing stories of her father and the projects and people he would take home. Really wish I got to know him, but I know he would have absolutely loved this video and the recognition of the x-15!

[@erichooligan9329]

thats pretty dang neat!

[@AAAAAA-yn9rw]

What a legend he was ❤️

[@irrelevant9023]

My dad was abraham lincoln

[@user-pb3jj5vw6e]

@@irrelevant9023 so ur over 135 years old?

[@irrelevant9023]

@@user-pb3jj5vw6e you were stupid enough to actually believe it?.. what we can expect of a channel called "roblox developing" 🤣

[@cbasmadjian]

The production value of these videos has set a high standard for other KZbin creators. Love your content and the effort!

[@xyers9757]

1k likes and no comments, well that has to change

[@xyers9757]

@vladimir putin is andrei panin jfk is jimmy carter Bot!

[@outerrealm]

Especially since he ditched all the asinine and obnoxious youtube commercials in favor of one sponsor he promotes respectably only at the end.

[@bc-guy852]

That graphic of the turbo pump at 4:22 is one of the nicest representations of a complex design I have ever seen. Well done. Great job on this.

[@AJLaRocque54]

In the early 60s I lived two houses down from John Bratt. I was 8 years old at the time when he told me about how he designed the cockpit windows for the X-15. His fascinating stories about this craft was the motivating factor in my becoming a computer scientist.

[@genericscottishchannel1603]

Co-pilot: Are you sure these speeds are OK? Pilot: T(h)rust me. *_GOES EVEN FASTER_*

[@thesmuggest6680]

Good pun.

[@dwyaneingente2899]

Pog

[@xyzpdq1122]

Racy!

[@WhiteThunder121]

In Thrust we trust.

[@larrysmith6797]

No Scot said that, ever. Scottish interest in speed evaporated once they figured out how to be faster than sheep.

[@thesarariman]

X-15: See u later BlackBird! 20 seconds later x-15: Can I get a ride back home?

[@Maraien]

LOL

[@densleycunningham7208]

Over 8tonns of fuel dump in less than a minute, interesting!🤔

[@TheTallMan50]

This plane could cross the United States in less than an hour if it didn't run out of fuel.

[@densleycunningham7208]

@TheTallMan35 if it had taken off Independently like other aircrafts I doubted it would make Mach 3 or 4, pretty Flawed if you asked me!!🤦

[@LordGingerBerry]

The X 15 is the more reckless older brother of the blackbird xD

[@WhiteDragon689]

The X-15 was the first plane that reached space. Some even earned astonaut wings by doing so. Basically a rocket with a cockpit and tiny wings. When out of the atmosphere it used reactive motors to maneuver. Also the only breathable gas was in the helmet.

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

50 mile or 100 km wings?

[@WhiteDragon689]

@@HappyBeezerStudios Yes, think so. One flight got into space but not in orbit with poilot Michael Adams who died when it broke up in reentry. But it could maneuver outside the atmosphere. 3 were built. One broke up another one crashed and broke in 2. The Smithsonian has the last remaining one. It is one beautiful machine.

[@Doggeslife]

And the only POWERED manned aircraft to reach space. The Shuttle was technically an unpowered glider.

[@mikehutchinson2191]

CDEDBD wings?

[@WhiteDragon689]

@@mikehutchinson2191 In the 80's they had a simposium and I ordered a thick book on the x-15. I made a model rocket of it and it flew great. The cockpit was all nitrogen and if you breathed that, you have minutes to live not reversiblle. So the oxygen was only in the helmet. The wings had tiny rocket motors that reacted like if there was an atmosphere outside and moved the ship that way. You could throtle the main engine which was unique. Incredible for pre computer flight days. Those pilots were Gods of sorts.

[@Jin-Ro]

I learnt about this in Primary school in the 70's. UK. It's totally made me in awe, and I was a huge fan of the X-15. It's sad that today you seen very little of these daring pushes to go way beyond the limits. America's Golden age for sure.

[@loveforthegame3]

Look at the James Webb Telescope and the F35. America hasnt reached its golden age yet, Not even close. The United States will be the nation that puts Humans on another Planet permanatley.

[@jerseywalcott6408]

Thing are being tested in a closed environment today. Out of our eyes.

[@aceapache4914]

Holy heck, you might as well start making an entire Documentary show and then put it on television, nice job

[@janmelantu7490]

Pssst…The Logistics of D-Day is on Nebula

[@princehbk2200]

Yeah he just a genice I love his channel

[@MicrophonicFool]

TV is long dead. He can get way more exposure on KZbin and also Nebula of course.

[@Rationalific]

I agree with MicrophonicFool. You're nice for saying that, but the fact is, I'm glad he's on here and Nebula instead of TV. TV doesn't deserve him.

[@badam9656]

Holy I'm 11 how am I gonna watch whole documentarys

[@sangitapol7119]

Brian you're a genius man, the efforts you've put into researching and explaining them so simply are commendable. Wouldn't be surprised if you've a TV show someday

[@kizvy]

he should be, maybe one of those discovery or pbs shows

[@RealEngineering]

I did present a TV show on Irish television. Will probably be on Amazon Prime at some stage, but I actually ended up paying them more than they paid me when I licensed their footage for the pumped hydro video. KZbin is where it's at!

[@alexanderphilip1809]

@@RealEngineering wpuld be wonderful if you could do an analysis on something like the Iron Dome or S400 systems.

[@Moses_VII]

@@alexanderphilip1809 he is not military channel though he could cover the engineering than Covert Cabal can

[@jhonnythejeccer6022]

He basically is already. Or what do you think youtube has become?

[@iamatlantis1]

This is hands down my favorite channel that I've found in a long time. Thank you. I wish my Dad were still here so we could watch these together. I used to rely a lot on him to learn about this type of stuff because before the days of the modern internet super information highway, you had to read things like Popular Mechanics, Popular Science, Smithsonian mag, to get information like this.

[@Darth_Sai]

The animation of the X-15 fly by the SR-71 hits on the whole other level when one knows how legendary the Blackbird was.

[@baldbutton1983]

These engineers make me feel like I haven't accomplished shit with my life.

[@fireballxl5328]

I'm with you on that. They wore ties and carried slide rules in their pockets and went to the moon to walk around ! I can build a good chicken coop. Not much moon landing technology developed in that process though

[@wakawaka5131]

Wait ! We are supposed to achieve something other than rent money??

[@kevinbaird7277]

Don't be silly, you picked up the crisp packet at the bus stop and put it in the bucket, that crisp packet could have blown onto the road, stuck to a windscreen causing a major accident, you might have saved many lives picking up the crisp packet, you deserve a pizza slice.🍕

[@TheAnimeist]

What they have and you don't, is government funding at cost, as a minimum.

[@johnpodo]

American K-12 education system in late 1950s to early 1970s were considered the international "standard" Best in the world. Today, its all gone to shit.

[@Kanamit.]

*When I was a young boy living in Albuquerque New Mexico, I was outside playing in my front yard when a B-52 with the X-15 attached came in for a landing at Kirtland A.F.B. I was amazed to see this so close in real life. I was 7 or 8 and I almost remember it like yesterday.*

[@andrewdoesyt7787]

That so cool! That’s my favourite plane

[@dwyaneingente2899]

:0 damnnnnnnnn

[@ecurb10]

Lucky guy!!

[@Oxalis54]

@@andrewdoesyt7787 mine too-have been trying to find a scale model but no luck yet PS it is Kirtland AFB

[@larrysmith6797]

Why would an X-15 show up at Kirkland Air Force Base? First, the base has no infrastructure to support or attach/detach the x-15 to the B-52 mother ship. Second, North American Aviation, the manufacturer was located in Southern California. I think you made this up.

[@christno2]

Seeing a X-15 in the Smithsonian Museum a couple of years ago was a dream come true after being fascinated by it for over 30 years. To think this came about 50 years after the first manned flight is outstanding!

[@josephpacchetti5997]

I had no idea there was so much involved in the X15, I'm glad I found this channel, Thanks to all involved in the production of this excellent video. 👍

[@SomeTallGuy203]

Man, the production quality of this channel has grown exponentially! Also, love the 3D renders, live charts, and text style, they really help keep retention.

[@jojoAW101]

I'm studying aerospace engineering in Germany and I can only remark that you are doing an amazing job in breaking down all the complex formulas and ideas that were used during the design phase so every viewer can get a good understanding of the plane.

[@peterpurpose]

Speak for yourself. I've barely mastered arithmetic!

[@shadowkillz9606]

@@peterpurpose Those who fall behinds serve as the stepping stones for those who excel forward. Which one are you?

[@utuberme1]

@@shadowkillz9606 I don't know about him, but I'm the one that fell behind.

[@jasperdecastro5215]

@@utuberme1 same

[@nomadMik]

A lot of this stuff does go over my head, but I've still learnt a lot from this video. That's what's so good about it.

[@KangoV]

This is just brilliant! Fun fact: In the cockpit of Concorde, a gap was created when going Mach 2.0. A new pilot put his hat in this gap. Once the plane landed his hat was squashed and he could only get it out again on the return trip :)

[@jakkakasunset5485]

I saw the X-15 at the Dayton Air Force Museum thing. It is very cool and have a 13 minute video about the plane and what it accomplished. I really recommend to everyone that if they have an opportunity to check out the museum, please take it. It is so large that it took us 2 days to see everything

[@brianthurow614]

Pp p

[@tcransandman]

the pilot in the pressurized astronaut suit getting into that 50s era pickup is such a great perspective

[@icantthinkofaname4265]

It really demonstrates the idea of the military always being years ahead of civilian tech.

[@ponraul1221]

@@icantthinkofaname4265 Not really. One guy was in a space suit and another guy had a truck, so it’s basically impossible to compare the two. Also, many (or even vast majority) of the most advanced technology the military used and uses were entirely developed by private corporations paid via contracts and tax payers. Ironically, things like civilian rifles and combat equipment are also more advanced than government developed equipment. This is especially evident by special forces mostly using commercially available equipment instead of standard issue.

[@fivemeomedia]

there's a photo of the Indian space program wheeling a satellite with a ox back in the 80s

[@idontcare7961]

you idiots still believe astronauts went to space, while they are just hollywood actors.

[@pr-9]

@@fivemeomedia also a satellite/rocket head carried on the back of a cycle

[@michaelrouleau4422]

This is a more concise and easier to understand explanation of rocket engine design than what I was able to get in 6 years of engineering school. You have an incredible talent for science communication.

[@carlosandleon]

I guess I'm a qualified rocket scientifist now.

[@johngrisham3784]

I think one of the most amazing parts about the x-15 project were all the problems that arose that the engineers successfully overcame to make this possible. Human ingenuity truly astonishes me at times.

[@tbone1212]

And all with slide rulers and drafting boards. Maybe the old ways are the best ways. True ingenuity..

[@johngrisham3784]

@@tbone1212 Yep definitely.

[@bjenkins803]

We used to live next to a retired NASA engineer who helped develop this aircraft. Amazing conversations with him. He passed away not too long ago and lived into his 90s. RIP Jack!

[@chopperhead2012]

Those CG skills are getting absurd and I love it. That X-15 overtaking the Blackbird was GORGEOUS

[@greenbanana311]

It's awfully cute that you'd think he'd be doing that himself.

[@velbythorngage]

@@greenbanana311 isn't he though? Where did he get that footage otherwise ?

[@beep813]

@@velbythorngage @Tony Perri Read the description every now and again

[@greenbanana311]

@@velbythorngage Aw, bless your heart.

[@_Rockok]

@@greenbanana311 redditor spotted

[@gabrielbennett5162]

My late grandfather, Victor Horton, was one of the engineers on the X-15 program. He was on a first name basis with the men who flew it, especially William Dana, who had the desk next to his in the Edwards pilot's office for 25 years. When Michael Adams had his fatal crash in the #3 ship (66672) in Nov. 1967, Grandpa organized and led the search and recovery efforts. He was also the one who had the idea for the ground-based 8-ball attitude indicator that was installed in the control room at Edwards to prevent future reentry accidents. Before he signed-on with NASA in 1958, he worked for Reaction Motors and was involved in testing the big XLR-99 engine; old press releases specifically list him as one of the personnel present during its first test firings and throttling demos at the old South Base rocket test site. I believe he also flew as launch panel operator aboard the B-52 mothership on some flights, as he did with the heavyweight lifting bodies, like the M2-F2 and HL-10.

[@qmac9966]

pog

[@trumptookthevaccine1679]

Are you half the man he used to be?

[@trumptookthevaccine1679]

@@qmac9966 small pp

[@gabrielbennett5162]

@Dick Johnson no skin off my nose if you don't believe me. Google "Victor Horton NASA" and you'll see a bunch of stuff about him.

[@barbapappaowns]

@@gabrielbennett5162 It's not that I don't believe you. Problem is that people can't verify many claims on the internet. There's no doubt Victor Horton existed and contributed a lot. But to verify his kinship to you is a hard challenge without any more information.

[@snev7545]

The longer I watched this video the more admired how well it was put together. Great video. Really enjoyed watching

[@user-op7ib4ye6v]

Ive watched your videos for years now. One thing that keeps repeating is an effect of the start of the videos. I usually start by thinking something like "Ok, i know this thing the video will discuss, Ive seen it before, i know something about it" and that creates the very short lasting sensation of "not expecting anything actually interesting" - which lasts about up to the first words of introduction start and by the end of that usually simple and direct introduction, i get the chills, the hair starts to raise on my arms and a new sensation washes over me. The sensation of "This is going to be amazing" (even for a sarcastic, ironic bastard like me). And it never fails. I am blown away in ways of understanding i would never know, if it wasn't for your videos.

[@BuildingCenter]

“What? No, it’s *totally* an airplane. I mean, it _uses_ a rocket, but it’s NOT a rocket. It’s a plane. See the wings and stuff?”

[@karagothshlomidabush3727]

saying this thing had wings is the same as saying the t - rex had hands lol

[@haryredneck]

@@karagothshlomidabush3727 and it does have hands. Just cause their tiny doesn't eliminate the fact it has hands. Invalid analogy.

[@karagothshlomidabush3727]

@@haryredneck no it isn"t an invalid analogy !! because while it had wings .. and i am not disputing that ...nor am i disputing that the t- rex had hands ... they were not there to serve the x15 as wings ... only stablizers as well as the hands on the t-rex where not there to serve as hands to a full extent but they were there simply a by-product of it"s path throgh evolution

[@Finchman63]

@@karagothshlomidabush3727 They were wings, not fins or "stabilizers". Did you notice how the aircraft was recovered after its mission? Just like the space shuttle, it glided back to base. Sure, it was a lifting body with small wings, but the two are not mutually exclusive, thus the SR-71. Rockets, on the other hand, have the same glide ratio as a hammer and need to have a means of reducing vertical velocity before contacting the ground. Parachutes were pretty much the only technology available at that time. Finally, don't forget the four forces involved in heavier than air flight: Lift, Drag, Thrust and Weight, particularly lift and drag. The creation of lift causes drag; Drag causes friction, Friction causes the upper surface of the wings (as well as other areas) to heat up, and that was clearly demonstrated with the temperature sensitive paint that was used by the designers of the airplane. Not just the leading edges and joints between the skin panels, but the color change aft of there shows that the wing was generating lift. A fin does not. They are wings.

[@karagothshlomidabush3727]

@@Finchman63 CAN YOU READ ENGLISH MAN ???? READ MY COMMENT AGAIN

[@Pluh88]

My family really doesn't have only but one hero and that was my grandfather John Everett. He was part of this project every time I see things about the x-15 it makes me grin. Thank you for the video

[@josevilasvigo6057]

I’m going

[@aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa1261]

@@josevilasvigo6057 where

[@Acheron2010]

Mine too. Dad was on the Reaction Motors team in New Jersey that developed the XLR-99 engine and thrust boosters.

[@Anonymous-nj6of]

@@aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa1261 ik

[@aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa1261]

@@Anonymous-nj6of where he goin

[@stultuses]

I had an aeroplane book as a kid and it featured the X15 Ever since reading that book some 50 years ago, the X15 had been my favorite plane ever since A full salute goes to the amazing pilots and engineers of that era 🎩🎩

[@marcp.1752]

Thanks for the video. I had known little about the X-15 before, but much more about the SR-71 aka "Blackbird" via the Net. It's really insane, given the fact the X-15 was being designed into the 50's, whereas there was usually a typical Tube Radio was standard for the ordinary masses....that kind of tech from the military/NASA was really well ahead of their time back then...

[@gregengland5178]

Since around 1989 when I was 14. I’ve seen more documentaries than I can remember, many covering the X-15. None, not one ever mentioned jettisoning a part of the lower tail. I’m impressed! Thank You Sir!

[@john-paulsilke893]

Agreed. I was a kid when I first read about this rocket plane and not once was this mentioned.

[@jcavilia1]

@@john-paulsilke893 Well, I was an airplane-obsessed kid in the 1960's when it was flying, and I read lots of things about it, and I remember this as a significant point. And you can deduce it from looking at film of the plane in flight and landing. It's obvious that the the lower fin is too tall for the landing skids.

[@gbrdh]

If they had this tech in the 60s and 70s it really makes you wonder what they are testing now.

[@arthas640]

the 60s and 70s saw alot of raw power output but now they're focusing on make it more sophisticated. Some of the top speed records were set in the 60s and 70s whereas now they focus on making things stealthier, quieter, and giving them better sensors instead. This is more complicated but less impressive.

[@uschurch]

Today social justice trumps everything. If you aren't LGBTQ, black or at least female whatever you say is irrelevant. "Scientific" effort goes into obscure social theory finding, to prove a point that men, especially if white, are bad. Other than that: Crystals, horoscopes, religion, anti-vaccination "skepticism", homeopathy. Real engineers lay low and all the (positive) media attention is not on great engineering/science achievements but on petty social reforms.

[@partyparrot570]

What?

[@brownerjerry174]

@@uschurch you need to get out of the internet man, I agree with what you are saying but it's a bit of an exaggeration I believe, and I am anything but someone who supports this mass-media tropes of these days.

[@susanmaggiora4800]

Urs Schuerch Omg. Dude, stop. Just stop🤦‍♂️

[@Dra741]

During the X-15 program I realize the significance of the stressing and using, titanium and I also realize that if we could build the aircraft stand the speed of 15000 mph, this was the most significant development and we did at an early time Hypersonic technology

[@DrBIeed]

Its amazing feat, yes, but I still always liked the SR-71 because to me it could take off and land on its own. It was the whole package. The X-15 was basically a manned missle.

[@corysonnier3248]

The x-15 was just fast. Thats all it could do. The sr-71 is and will always be the best ever.

[@jj4791]

@@corysonnier3248 um, fast, and could exit the atmosphere. It was an X-Plane. The SR was a practical operational aircraft. But it relied on data obtained from earlier X plane programs, and also NACAs supersonic wind tunnels and their scientists knowledge were also utilized in the program. There are photos of prototype A-12 models in the NACA wind tunnel.

[@Atlantis.Reborn]

The X-15 is a rocket not an airplane. When it reached the edge of space it needed thrusters to maneuver in the near absence of air. The wings were needed simply for flight control to reach its desired altitude, reentry and landing. If we consider rocket powered craft as airplanes, the fastest aircraft to be considered must be the space shuttle, many times faster than the X-15!

[@Nexsoxs]

​@@Atlantis.Reborn bullshit I've seen this argument before the X15 is a plane although it borders on rocket it is still definitively a plane it has the capability to maneuver in atmosphere and has always been referred to by the Pentagon as a plane not a rocket. Early models were also capable of taking off by itself but this was a study craft so that was deemed non essential. It also requires analog control unlike rockets which do not feature that kind of interface, do you know what does though a plane.

[@Atlantis.Reborn]

@@Nexsoxs if you placed large enough wings on a Saturn V rocket it would have the same characteristics of the X-15. Would you consider the Saturn V a plane?

[@NiquidFox]

Imagine being the guy presenting the idea of this for the first time "Okay listen hear me out...we attach a big ass rocket to a big plane...but we put a seat at the front! I swear it would totally work!"

[@matthewyabsley]

It plays into human logic. At a certain point everyone who knows what they are talking about would say "it won't work", 50 levels of stupid above that and everyone goes "fuck it, let's have a go".

[@cadetsparklez3300]

hypersonics were not a good idea to create since scramjets are perfect for missles but pretty useless on planes. sooner or later there whoever pefects them first could nuke every country and shoot down all the nukes headed back at them.

[@marcopohl4875]

"A plane and a rocket? Is it going to fly through the air or space?" "Yes"

[@gerhardlemmer5356]

It was an already proven concept. The Nazis used rocket-powered airplanes in WW2. Although their max speed and altitude were ... a tad lower than the X-15's. ;-) By the end of the war, Britain already had similarly fast jets to the Nazi's rocket planes. The real revolutionary and daring part of the X-15 is simply its speed and the developments to enable flying at that speed without destroying itself and without the pilot losing control.

[@vikingsoftomorrow4038]

"OOH OHH, Lets give it a minigun, Bombs, Rockets and all that stuff as well. I'm sure nothing can go wrong."

[@Michael_Michaels]

I must congratulate you for the very impressive animations used in this video! At last, my two favourite airplanes are together and the best of all, with an animation of them flying in their max regime 1:40! Can we please have more??

[@wayneyadams]

I have always loved the X-15 ever since the first time I read about it. I had a plastic model of it on my bookshelf.

[@SkyAIChannel]

I just admire what these people where able to do...they whent from passing the sound barrier in rocket powered x planes to building the biggest plane at the time that could also go Mach 3 in less than 15 years ... and all of that without real computers....just wow

[@surajponnanna2125]

Can we just take a moment to appreciate the INSANE amount of work he's put into this superb video

[@official_skirt6440]

@Dick Johnson Wierd answer

[@ronjeremy5826]

@@official_skirt6440 “weird”, clown

[@hayleyxyz]

yeah did he make those 3d models? if yes then yikes the work that went into this is insane. also @Dick Johnson I get that being a contrarian makes you feel edgy, but just stop with the cringe.

[@brentsrx7]

Appreciated.

[@fernandoiturbide9109]

@Dick Johnson duche

[@SocratesAth]

"Temperatures will be very high." "We'll use our best heat-resistant material!" "That won't be enough." "We'll cover the plane in a highly explosive ablative material!" "... explosive?" "Don't worry, we'll paint it over!" I like how they have a simple solution for every problem.

[@a-drewg1716]

engineering is all about making highly complex systems..... realizing it doesn't work..... slapping an extremely "primitive" solution over the problem (god bless ducktape) and just forcing it to work

[@drboze6781]

@@a-drewg1716 - Sort of like the wag who said a bumblebee couldn't fly - something to do with wing area to body size, or something - but the bumblebee, being ignorant, flies anyway.

[@timrburnham]

notice how every solution feels like a last resort? I'm curious what they tried *before* coming to the end of their rope

[@grlt23]

I like how they used the term "slow - Mach5 flights" unironically. It is probably the only plane about which you can say it XD

[@aymonfoxc1442]

I can't help but notice some of the experimental aerodynamic shapes of the 1950s / 1960s have begun returning with modern material and flight computer / control systems emerging. It's incredible how visionary these amazing engineers were in a time before computer assisted design (CAD).

[@Bepis13]

What an incredibly well put together video. Sources and all, just amazing to see

[@screamingnighthog7155]

Back sometime in the mid 60's when I was in elementary school the Air Force brought an x-15 on a flatbed truck to our school for the kids to see. It was the coolest thing in life that I had seen up to that point.

[@NoSTs123]

Incredible

[@MrFescue]

Best school to be a student. Where was that?

[@shadowkillz9606]

@@MrFescue United States

[@5000rgb]

"coolest thing in life that I had seen up to that point" What topped that?

[@davidjones-vx9ju]

i lived on an airforce base in washington state at 1-7 years old i remember hearing sonic booms from x-15

[@kassimbabika]

Two days ago, I hear a random fact that the X-15 is still record holder for highest speed achieved in a manned flight and make a mental note to root through YT at some point for a vid about it. Then along came Real Engineering...

[@FIREBRAND38]

Actually that's for powered, manned flight in a rocket plane. During the Space Shuttle's return as a glider it would hit Mach 28,

[@MikePasqqsaPekiM]

This was such a joy to watch! Thanks for all the research and effort to explain this to folks like me.

[@drwite28]

Amazing documentary . well done sir ! Great content, great editing and archive footage.

[@CyclonicTuna023]

Dude, your 3D animations are getting seriously impressive. I love it. This is Discovery channel level quality you're achieving. Amazing work once again.

[@nathanlee6654]

Is it a coincidence that Half As Interesting, Real Engineering, and Real Life Lore, all published videos within about an hour...

[@erblinbeqa6550]

a lot of the channels I have subscribed have published videos today. I thought that was strange too

[@RealEngineering]

@@erblinbeqa6550 Sponsors often require you to upload within the month. That's why I uploaded today, last day of the month, otherwise I would have waited until Saturday.

[@mr.sunmeadow]

@@RealEngineering is signing up for curiosity stream worth it? I don’t like putting money on online subscriptions, so I’m asking to be sure.

[@jpfidalgo7]

@@mr.sunmeadow I Love it. Although I recommend if you have more than 1 area of interest. You make the most of it if you like more than 3 "subjects" (Engineering, physics, biology, antropology, economy, etc.). It has 1 downside IMO, regional restrictions, as some content is not available in some regions... (don't tell anyone but you can get around this with a vpn.... shhh) xD

[@jeffbenton6183]

@@mr.sunmeadow I haven't bought it yet, but I'll just say, it's the cheapest subscription service I've ever heard of.

[@pvtcmyers87]

My god man the amount of engineering involved for this is just nuts! Absolutely fascinating!

[@TheWarriorSolution]

The amount of time, attention to detail, and animations that went into this video are world class. Awesome job!!

[@n3307v]

Without a doubt the best documentary I've seen on the X-15.

[@JM800]

My father, now having passed away, worked for Gen. Robert White when dad was stationed at 4 ATAF in Ramstein in the mid seventies. He thought highly of Gen. White, not just for his X-15 flights, but as a boss. Some stories involving the dissolution of the marriage and his marriage to Christa were related by my father and mother. Hearing those tales, they remind me that he was as human as you or I.

[@TazyBaby]

Robert white was my great uncle once removed or something, the family never talks about him because of this. Ive always wanted to know more info about him but this video is more than Ive gotten from my family

[@JM800]

@@TazyBaby My father held him in high regard, professionally, how could you not?. His boss before Gen. White was Gen. Gerhard Barkhorn, second leading ace of the Germans in WW2. I asked my father about writing something down about who he worked with. As for Gen. White, my father and mother were at function with him and his secretary Crista. My father was oblivious to the affair, my mother picked up on it immediately. I believe the dissolution of the marriage was rather hard on his wife at the time. My heart goes out to the families that have to pick up the pieces.

[@TazyBaby]

@@JM800 I was always interested and impressed by his career but no one in my family talks about him, its kind of hard to learn more when everyone stays silent you know. And wow thats crazy, thank you for the information. Id love to learn more about all of this

[@JM800]

@@TazyBaby The story that was related to me was from my father and mother when we were stationed in West Germany from 73-78. What I remember was that his first wife found out about the affair with Crista. Something happened, and for whatever reason, she moved back to the states with the kids. Her reaction to this may have hastened this. My dad and mother, both died in Germany in 2019, she was German, and as well as I remember, so was Crista. As stated, dad worked with him at 4ATAF in Ramstein West Germany. My father was a bit in awe of General White, as I am while hearing about him. The obituaries are all true, but never remind that he was as human as you or I. He seemed to be cut from a different bolt of cloth. I hope my recollections clarify his humanity, not demote his amazing accomplishments.

[@skierpage]

That jezebel Crista, a Russian honeyplant engineered to distract the X-15 program!

[@rickoliveira3807]

Great video. Thank you. As a kid growing up in the SF Bay Area, I was in love with this machine. Somewhere around 1966 I was riding my motorcycle down the freeway and couldn't believe my eyes when I ran up along side a long flatbed with the fuselage of an X15 on it! I also love the story about when Neil skipped one off of the atmosphere and overshot Edwards by just a bit. :)

[@coreyandnathanielchartier3749]

The question of whether or not the X15 is a 'airplane' is still moot. Not often considered is the fact that the X15 was launched from a B52 partially because it had no conventional landing gear. They had methods in place which could have allowed development to a ground-launched plane, and fuel load was not the limiting factor. This X15 could have climbed to the B52 launch altitude in 30 seconds from rotation, and been travelling at Mach 1.5 by that point.

[@DigitalRobin04]

We don't deserve this channel for free, this is some netflix level shit 🙏❤️

[@RealEngineering]

*Nebula level shit ;)

[@ronniessebaggala362]

@@RealEngineering I see what you did there 😂

[@DigitalRobin04]

😂😂

[@idontcare7961]

@@RealEngineering deception brainwashing level shit for gullible sheep to suck on the lies.

[@sovietsheep5051]

@@idontcare7961 what do you mean?

[@alexanderl7491]

I've always loved the X-15 and so far to date this is the most thorough explanation in graphic detail of the aircraft's systems and mechanisms of thrust and control. I appreciate you taking the time to explain the inner workings of an aircraft I have loved as a child, but never seemed to get the same glory and exposure as the SR-71.

[@tonydoherty2190]

I understand why the sr71 got the glory it was used as a spy plane and was used more often so had more exposure i think there both amazing the sr71 was made with a slide rule and mans brain these days computer programmes are used probably the x15 was made by slide rule so its a truly amazing awe inspiring thing back in the fifties

[@mihailmilev9909]

@@tonydoherty2190 it really is bro, I didn't realize the fastest plane ever was still in the 50/60's. I didn't even know space planes actually existed until now!

[@mihailmilev9909]

@@tonydoherty2190 does this mean star wars air-space vehicles is a possibility?

[@tonydoherty2190]

@@mihailmilev9909 I have no idea

[@minustheone80]

The US could have attached cannons or missiles to the x 15 and called it the world's fastest fighter jet or interceptor 💀

[@seanf6724]

Great easy to understand delivery of very complex systems, thank you.

[@Whatisthisstupidfinghandle]

I read about the bell x1 the x15 over and over as a kid. They didn’t have all these details. I’m sure alot of it was still secret. Fun watching this and learning new things !

[@utah133]

Another amazing thing about the X-15.. I'm now 70, and this flew when I was in second grade. We read about it in our "Weekly Reader," a little newspaper for school. Making and flying this 60+ years ago was quite an accomplishment.

[@FillyCheesteak]

It is always nice to hear from the Older generation, as they always give the perspective of what truly happened then and how it felt for them.

[@jamesechevarria6177]

I’m 44 and read the weekly reader as a kid

[@621Tomcat]

Oh my, this is a long one. And I thought it couldn't get any better than the SR-71 video.. edit: the animations are mighty effing gorgeous

[@chrismoody1342]

I was in grade school as this was all going on. We had a presentation from a NASA spokesperson come thru our school. He talked of the X15 program and the beginning years of Apollo program. Even at grade 4, I was amazed at all the new science and materials he was demonstrating. It was heady days a coming with rapid advancements in all fields of science on our way to the moon. It was an amazing era to grown up in.

[@billyhess5263]

That fuel pump is more bad ass than you think! I work at the facility it was designed and manufactured in (company used to be called Argo-tech, than it was TRW and now it's an arm on eaton aerospace), Argo-tech was doing the most cutting edge stuff back in the day for defense, aerospace and space itself!

[@TylerF]

I work at a video editing service for creators, and I've worked with dozens of well known KZbinrs. This channel though blows me away! You're among top quality in my eyes, thank you so much for the amazing work that you do!

[@velbythorngage]

The CG work on this video is absolutely insane, never seen CG this good from an edutainment youtuber. I was sure the video would end with "this great footage was from a new documentary on curiosity stream" but nope Hats off to you and your team!

[@MrConspark]

Extremely good details of technical information in this video, thank you. I just love the early X plane development and the extreme speeds and temps that they withstood in flight 🤩🤩

[@supermayan634]

Came here after learning about the X15 from that recent Red Side video of comparing speeds of different vehicles. I always regarded the SR71 Black Bird as the fastest aircraft. It's the fastest air breathing aircraft while the X15 uses rockets.

[@4rsh193]

Ohhh my lord that intro was like a god damn Oscar nominated movie

[@jakej3637]

One interesting note: during that last high speed test, they attached a dummy scramjet engine underneath the X-15 to collect data (you can see it in the vid 27:57). The reason why the aircraft was damaged was because the shocks from the dummy scramjet impinged onto the strut holding it on the main body. The shock was like a super powered blowtorch and literally severed the dummy scramjet right off the bottom! Hypersonics is so cool, but pretty scary too :D I heard about this in a class, but this NASA report talks all about it: www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/pdf/87756main_H-524.pdf

[@ASJC27]

There's an excellent summary of what happened there and the causes of it in the book "Hypersonic and high temperature gas dynamics".

[@wonjez3982]

you can see it better at 28:04, really interesting

[@fatfatviking]

That was a very smooth lead in to that sponsor My man! That's the way to do it. Your documentary was amazing! Thank you for that. You Earned a sub!

[@jerryaubert6201]

Hey appreciate the explanation of the wedge tail. Newton... who would have thought. :) It turns out a lot of engineering in the '50s went back to first principles. Remember on the sr-71, dimples on either side of the pitot tube hanging out front? I always thought it was for aerodynamic reasons. I finally got annoid enough to go down the internet rabbit hole. Ended up in a SR-71 manual. Turns out they are forward sensors.

[@tigershark2328]

I am legitimately going to write down that I watch your videos on my personal statement when I apply for university. Anyone could make a documentary about this aircraft but you have made one which has made me breathless! Your passion bleeds through and your videos (amongst other things) have inspired me to pursue Aeronautical Engineering after I complete my A-levels. I hope you stick around for a couple more years so I can buy your merch and donate to your Patreon with my own money because you have helped shape my life! Thank you for yet another wonderful documentary!!!

[@user-de4cq6uk6l]

I never clicked so fast, the X-15 was always my childhood favorite plane

[@RealEngineering]

It's become my favourite plane while making this

[@jeffbenton6183]

@@RealEngineering I'm amazed by how little I really knew about the X-15. Thanks so much for making this video!

[@cable440]

This is super fascinating!!! Great video and very well put together. Learned something new today!

[@wxx3]

Your best episode yet. A lot of new, interesting information I'd never heard before. Thanks.

[@anrmanufacturingltd4436]

The engineering during the space race was insane and developments were happening at such a fast pace. The X-15 looks like it was an incredible rocket and the engineering involved was amazing.

[@dsx7517]

And it's quite funny how they are unable to achieve the same result today. Not even close. Weird, isn't it?

[@stephencrouse6032]

I'm sure you've received many thank yous for this video. As an engineer that had an X-15 three wheeler as a boy, you did an outstanding job presenting an understandable detailing of this amazing 60's development of our United States spacecraft endeavors.

[@moneydragon831]

This video helps me understand the opening scene of “First Man” so much more. Along with the cinematography of the movie, the engineering is indeed, insane.

[@robg8203]

Great video my man, very excited to check out more of your vids!

[@Taco1011]

One of the inspirations for me pursuing a career in engineering was this channel.

[@greenbanana311]

Cool. What are you doing now?

[@chiekuen5177]

Same!! :)

[@tracylemme1375]

I was in the fourth grade when the X15 made it’s first flight. I was and still am amazed at the amount of engineering that went int the program. This documentary really taught me many new aspects of the X15 Thank you.

[@Vanerrad]

I love your series. This has been great, makes me think of my childhood when I would watch history channel with my dad.

[@reusin69]

I love this video so much! This is my 6th or 7th rewatch! Please keep covering fascinating aircraft like this

[@Bat-Man._]

I never learned this much of chemistry in my whole High school period.

[@codytran1719]

Highly doubt you even passed school if you mistake chemistry with engineering

[@ahil738]

@@codytran1719 well, im sure someone who thinks chemistry has nothing to do with engineering would have done any better

[@codytran1719]

@@ahil738 didn't say they have no correlation between each other. Also you're talking to a marine engineer.

[@BestofYouTubeHD]

@@codytran1719 you heard the subject chemical engineering?

[@jamesrobert4106]

​@@codytran1719 Is basic literacy not a requirement of marine engineering?

[@charickter]

The X-15 is such an incredible work of engineering and determination. Respect to the test pilots, especially. Thank you so much for this effort. The animations, charts and historical footage on this gem are on point and seem to mark a surge of creative growth and polish. Tremendous work!

[@jonnycash2141]

These people are truly geniuses figuring out this near impossible project, so much respect for them

[@TimBarnett-pl9kd]

My uncle an cousin both worked in southern California aviation industry and helped build X-15. Each revit hole had to be so close tolerance that only one drill bit was used to drill only one hole. So employees had thousands of these drill bits. When they came to visit, they gave me several of these drill bits. So, I've got drill bits that help make X-15.

[@bdoakes]

Wow, the amount of engineering involved in this vehicle is mind boggling.

[@djp1234]

Love your videos. Since we no longer have educational TV channels. This is even better than what Discovery channel used to be 25 years ago.

[@jimpomeroy9338]

Best X-15 doc I've ever seen. Never heard the technical breakdown before.

[@avinashkadam3716]

This intro gave me a lot of goose bumps .Very Important Information .thanks for this amazing video