The Plane That Accidentally Flew Into Space

On the sultry morning of August 22, 1963, test pilot Joe Walker was strapped into the X-15, a machine designed to shatter all speed records, preparing to blaze through the stratosphere at a jaw-dropping 4,520 miles per hour. Just a decade earlier, the F-86D Sabre, then the swiftest aircraft in the sky, had set a global record at 698 miles per hour. But today, Walker was gearing up to eclipse that record sevenfold.
Closer to a missile than an aircraft, the X-15 was notorious as one of the most perilous ventures in aviation. Armed with the colossal XLR99 liquid propellant engine, capable of delivering a devastating 57,000 pounds of thrust, every test flight teetered on the razor’s edge of disaster.
Pilots like Walker, pushing the very boundaries of speed and altitude, donned space suits to survive near-orbital flights and the fiery gauntlet of reentry. To prevent a catastrophic failure, NASA capped Walker’s ascent at 400,000 feet-a ceiling meant to save his life.
A mere 1,500 pounds of excess thrust could hurl him into the void of space, turning his high-speed reentry into a lethal inferno.
Catapulted skyward at speeds rivaling an intercontinental ballistic missile, Walker was oblivious to the historic threshold he was about to cross. Then, in a heartbeat, the awe-inspiring curve of Earth and the unfathomable darkness of space sprawled before him.
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Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, top-secret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between.
As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible.
All content on Dark Skies is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas.

[@roykliffen9674]

12:29 "tragically, Joe Walker's illustrious career was cut short in 1966" ... no explanation? He was the pilot of the F-104N "Starfighter" that collided with one of the prototypes of the XB-70 "Valkyrie" while flying in formation during a General Electric promotional shoot, bringing down both aircraft. I would assume that his death was to be as impactful an event in his career as any of his achievements while alive and worth mentioning.

[@charlesharper2357]

This site is bad for stuff like that...

[@truthhurts9241]

Thanks for that mate, I've seen the videos of the XB 70's flights and demise but never knew who the poor pilot was. It was an interesting situation, one of the most dangerous experimental aircraft ever, shadowed by one they called "The Widowmaker".

[@roykliffen9674]

@@truthhurts9241 Ironically Joe Walker objected to that flight beforehand as he considered it dangerous and useless as a PR stunt. He still went up as ordered anyway.

[@truthhurts9241]

@@roykliffen9674 Even more sad than I thought. Wonder if he would have been slated for Apollo.

[@thehark6247]

​@@truthhurts9241Apollo???? there was no apollo. laughable, they steal your cash and give you a fake movie, and fony plot. haaahahaaa, you bought that shit , haaahaaahaa

[@bloozswami]

In 1954 I lived in a little community (Lake Telemark) in Northern N.J. near a military installation called Picatinny Arsenal. A family friend worked on those engines from Reaction Motors. ALL of the X-Plane engines were tested up there. All that separated our home and that place was two miles of woods. For over twenty years daily roars that would crack windows and stop conversations took place. As kids we sneaked up there many times to check it out. We once ran into spy taking photos up in the woods Fedora hat, long overcoat. That was 1962. We chased after that fella, but, we actually had our bikes with us. He lost us. Great fun. Great history.

[@TheJaymon1962]

These guys, Armstrong, White, Walker, were my childhood heroes. Crossfield too

[@jamesmorss9940]

You forgot about Kubrick, none of it could happen without him ;)

[@benhudman7911]

We were treated to a visit from Scott Crossfield in the 8th grade, 1978.

[@rpbajb]

Joe Kittinger, too.

[@MarinCipollina]

@@jamesmorss9940 Don't be absurd.

[@phantom0456]

What about Yhuck Cheager?! I’m pretty sure my 2nd grade teacher was giving it up to him…

[@Mainsail333]

The 60'was just an awesome time for aviation

[@bobbyb.1743]

….and automobiles, that began incorporating jet-age sheet metal designs😊

[@growalnuts9880]

The 50s, also. All the great aircraft started in then. Wonderful times.

[@JoesPalace]

I miss all those sonic booms I grew up with!

[@j-rocsk]

Then we stalled out. Nothing new has been created in 50 years…

[@jolaynemichaud4377]

Just my opinion but I find the music horribly distracting. I'd much rather just hear your narration.

[@josephboyce4522]

I kinda like it.

[@notaskirt7210]

I like it Otherwise I would fall asleep lol

[@RRSmurf]

Can't stand the music.

[@Istandby666]

I would rather listen to just the narrator

[@chrisbentleywalkingandrambling]

I thought it period correct but I do agree that I come here for the narration, not the music.

[@jimparker7778]

I was a boy in the late 1950s and the X15 was a black plastic model sitting on my desk. I was so proud. My dad worked in aeronautics and space was a family affair. The X15 had its moment in the sun before the Mercury program.

[@lexmedved]

ME TOO, I LIVED IN CANADA THEN, LOVED THAT MODEL...

[@Mynipplesmychoice]

@@lexmedved if it didn’t happen in America, it doesn’t matter. USA! USA! USA!

[@kenhnsy]

I am sure Elon Musk was in diapers laughing at the fools.

[@THOMMGB]

I had one of those black plastic X-15 models as well. For whatever reason, I thought the X-15 was sooo cool. I have no earthly idea what happened to my model. As what happens so often in life is that my Mom probably threw it out when cleaning. Sigh....

[@mottthehoople693]

@@kenhnsy not likely..but certainly laughing like a fool..the jabbering idiot..

[@TyroneBrown-mz9qi]

Im glad you have subtitles, you ccant be understood with background noise\music

[@christno2]

After seeing the X-15 as a 9 year old in the BBC documentary series "Reaching for the Skies" here in the UK, it was a dream to finally see one at the Smithsonian Museum in D.C a few years ago. Joe Walker, Scott Crossfield, Bill Dana and the rest of the test pilots were absolute pioneers!

[@Mynipplesmychoice]

I’m not enchanted by this story Harry Potter!

[@slavaukraini404]

Neil Armstrong also.

[@lynnabel258]

I worked with an engineer in the 1970's who was on the X-15 program in the 1950's. He told me that they were designing it to go into space until Sputnik was sent into orbit and the project was scrapped in favor of the 'Roman candle' approach that put Echo into space.

[@GregWampler-xm8hv]

Actually they were going to design and develop the X-20 Dino-Soar (?) which was a clear outgrowth of the X-15.

[@x15galmichelleevans]

I need to set the record straight here. The very first sentence in your narration is incorrect. On 22 August 1963, Joe Walker set the official altitude record for the X-15 program at 354,200 feet (67.1 miles). The altitude record was the purpose of the flight that day. However the speed you mentioned is completely wrong. On that flight Walker topped out his speed at Mach 5.58 or 3,794 mph, 726 mph slower than what you have stated. The speed record of Mach 6.70 or 4,520 mph was set on 3 October 1967 by Pete Knight, and remains the fastest speed a manned aircraft has ever flown. These are two different flights, by two different pilots, and accomplished on two different aircraft. Walker's flight was done using X-15 no. 3, while Knight's flight was using the X-15A-2.

[@x15galmichelleevans]

There are so many things wrong on this video, that it is hard to watch, but I watched it all anyway, just see how bad it got. The idea that every flight could end in a fireball, that Walker didn't know what he was in for that day, the "fact" that NASA was trying to save his life by keeping the altitude below 400,000 feet, the statement that the X-15 might inadvertently fly into orbit, and on and on. Every one of these comments is laughable. Even the number of flights accomplished by Walker is incorrect. This mission was Walker's 25th in the X-15, not his 23rd. It was also Walker's final flight in the program. Let's go on with more: Walker did not fly the first mission with the XLR-99 rocket engine on 15 November 1960. That mission was flown by Scott Crossfield. Walker didn't fly with the LR-99 engine until 30 March 1961. The 3rd X-15 flight was not flown by Neil Armstrong in December 1961. Neil's first flight was on 30 November 1960, and was the 29th flight in the X-15 program. Neil did fly the first mission on X-15 no. 3 on 20 December 1961. The recognized altitude in the United States for spaceflight is 50 miles, not 62 miles. Eight of the twelve X-15 pilots achieved spaceflights (not the 6 you mention in your video), and were all awarded astronaut wings for their accomplishments. There were 13 astronaut qualification flights in total out of the 199 X-15 flights. There were only 2 flights above the arbitrary Karman line, and those were both accomplished by Joe Walker, so you saying that six X-15 pilots became astronauts is against your earlier narrative about the need to cross the 100 kilometer mark. Walker did not fear for his life on the 22 August 1963 mission. He was well within mission parameters, and there was nothing that precluded the X-15 from making a safe reentry from 400,00 feet. Estimates placed the ultimate ceiling on the X-15 at approximately 430K feet. Lots of other quibbles about what you state in the video, but these are the major points that needed to be highlighted, and should be corrected.

[@shaunwalker813]

Bet you're fun at parties.

[@x15galmichelleevans]

@@shaunwalker813 Yep, sure am. Most people I know like to know the truth about things. I would hope that would be the same with most everyone.

[@djmastergroove946]

​@@x15galmichelleevans I always thought it was Neil Armstrong who was the first one to cross into space in the X15. And had trouble coming back through the atmosphere? Is this completely wrong?

[@x15galmichelleevans]

@@djmastergroove946 Neil actually did not fly into space at all when he was piloting the X-15. His highest altitude was 207,500 feet (39.3 miles), well below the 264.000 feet (50 miles) needed to receive his astronaut wings. That flight occurred on 20 April 1962, and was also the mission where he had trouble on reentry as he skipped back up out of the atmosphere. He did that because he was only paying attention to his g-meter and not anything else that was happening in the cockpit. Paul Bikle nearly fired him after that flight, and led to Neil's departure from the program. This was the flight depicted in the opening sequence of the movie "First Man." In that movie they got so many things wrong about this flight, and pretty much everything else as well, that I won't even get started. And I say that even though I was a technical consultant on the film. I was extremely disappointed in how that movie turned out. The first pilot to enter space on the X-15 program was Robert White. His flight on 17 July 1962 achieved an altitude of 314,750 feet (59.6 miles). Not only was this the first astronaut qualification flight, but was also the first time a manned aircraft exceeded 300,000 feet in altitude. The following day, White, along with fellow X-15 pilots Scott Crossfield, Joe Walker, and Forrest Petersen, received the Collier Trophy in Washington DC from President Kennedy for their achievements on the X-15.

[@zchris87v80]

As an engineer, this would have been a dream to be a part of.

[@k_dawg7475]

as an aviation enthusiast, this would have been a dream to witness with my own eyes

[@Istandby666]

I agree. Imagine the challenges one has to overcome by trial and error. To me, anyone who ever made it to Edwards Air Force Base in their career. Is above the rest. These are the people in the top 1% of their career.

[@zchris87v80]

@@k_dawg7475 I saw the last successful mission of the Columbia launch (STS-109) when I was 15. Shortly before that, an F16 pilot moved in the house behind me. Aviation always piqued my interest. My now-wife and I drove over an hour from a vacation with her family just to view the B17 City of Savannah (along with a B47 trainer), I was able to peek inside "Skunky" (B25) at Owens Field in Columbia, SC, met some surviving Doolittle raiders in 2001, and am finally taking a ride, weather permitting, on B17 "Sentimental Journey" a week from today. Unfortunately Boeing is the only manufacturing opportunity in aviation in my area.

[@brj_han]

@@k_dawg7475 Well, if you're ever on I-70 near Dayton, Ohio, stop in at the National Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson. They have an X-15. And an SR-71, a B1B, a Valkyrie, a B-2... And a Trabant. And they're all real, lol. Probably the best you can do...

[@Rotorhead1651]

​@@Istandby666 By your definition I guess that would include my father, who use to work for Long Island based, defense avionics manufacturer Airborne Instruments Laboratories (A.I.L.). He spent a lot of time at Edwards and Vandenberg, working on projects like the the defensive avionics for the B-1A.

[@Jones607]

Thank you DS. The X-15 is one of my all time favourite aircraft. It can travel at over 6,629 ft. per second. That’s truly astonishing. Too avoid melting under high temperatures, the canopy glass had to be manufactured from quartz and gold. Manufactured by North America Aviation the X-15, and the General Dynamics F-16 imo share similarities (single engine/fuselage shape/short stubby wings) in their design. Neil Armstrong flew the X-15, he pitched the nose of his X-15 too high bouncing it off the edge of the atmosphere, as a result he overshot the runway at Edwards AF base, landing short. He was fortunate to walk away alive as the flight of an X-15 released from a B-52 to landing, lasted a mere 6 minutes. After fuel’s expended an X-15 is manually glided back to Earth. Tricky, as without propulsion the X-15s flight characteristics resemble that of a rock.🤭

[@darkzeus851]

Music is incredibly annoying

[@Rotorhead1651]

Here's what everyone else is hearing: "WAAAAAAAHHHH!!"

[@nicmainville9954]

Cope

[@phantom0456]

HATE! HATE! HATE! HATE!

[@stevedunch581]

His voice isn’t all that great either

[@revel8r413]

The X 15 has always been an unsung hero in my book. I built a model of it when I was in high school and that was my favorite model. Is wonder why we never got back to that program in order to have flying spaceships.

[@Mr.SharkTooth-zc8rm]

My good sir, your videos do NOT need a music background. Otherwise this was very good. All of these men had The Right Stuff!

[@sharedsailing4787]

What a coincidence, I saw this very aircraft yesterday at the Air Force Museum in Dayton OH. There is another one at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington DC

[@55Ramius]

Love that museum in Dayton, Ohio. I live about 180 miles from it. My Aunt and Uncle lived in Dayton. I have been to the museum maybe 5 times. Be ready for a long day if you go unless you just skim thorugh the place fast. Several hangers with very cool stuff in it. Even a gift shop of cool things. I remember touching the SR71- Blackbird they had on display and looking into one of those big engines on it. Last I went was about 10 yearsa ago and it was free then, not sure about now. Want to take my 2 grown sons there asap because I am 69 and it is hard to walk much.

[@sharedsailing4787]

@@55Ramius it is still free although they accept voluntary donations which gives you a few benefits. They have added a few things over the past few years from what I was told. You should visit again when you get the chance.

[@sam1812seal]

I love how easy it is to tell manufacturers apart at that time from their design preferences. Lockheed’s all look like F104s just with different wings and engines, and McDonnell Douglas all have tails that significantly overhang their exhausts

[@StarSurfer55]

I always thought the Boeing DNA ran strong.

[@RedBud315]

These guys were feeling the speed long before the Top Gunners felt the need for it. You can tell by the smiles on the pilots face every time they got out of the aircraft shows how much fun they were having even though this was serious biz.

[@christopherblack3102]

It’s interesting that these flights lasted less than 15 minutes and covered about 300 miles after being launched from the B-52. So think about launching from a B-52, accelerating to Mach 6 and climbing to the edge of space, than landing at Edwards AFB 11 minutes later. It all happened very quickly.

[@user-sd3ik9rt6d]

You really need that pressure suit? Oh, yes.

[@brucec2635]

I loved finding out every bit of information I could about the X15 in the early to mid sixties. Simply amazing to a teenage boy.

[@daystatesniper01]

Dark at last producing videos that we come to expect thank you

[@agronopoulus]

Thank you for the great video! Outstanding!

[@BionicRusty]

Awesome video and a great story. 👍

[@chrisholds1]

Good video & very nice selection of flight footage.

[@brettscott7770]

Great vid!

[@benhudman7911]

Outstanding work on this film.

[@x15galmichelleevans]

Just be aware that many of the things said in this video are misleading or simply wrong.

[@tomdarco2223]

Right On Great Video

[@RandallSoong-pp7ih]

Beautiful Beast

[@Twobarpsi]

Unbelievable!! Excellent video!

[@christophermarshall5765]

Awesome!!

[@dutchman7216]

Very cool, wonderful aircraft.

[@deanbuss1678]

This is sooo cool!

[@tashuntka]

Man...... you have to listen to a lot of complaining... Thanks... I like all your work 👍🏻😁👍🏻🫶

[@kalebj7001]

Well it pioneered its way into new horizons

[@armadillotoe]

News about the X15 was inspiring for a young boy who built model airplanes.

[@daviddalby9699]

Fascinating

[@larrymondello8475]

Thank you 😮😮

[@Edgyshortsguy]

Turn of the music

[@donwilson1307]

The X-51 was actually the 1st shuttle. While it didn't go into orbit, it rocketed( in this case), into space and every time it came back for landing, it landed dead stick( no running engine).

[@James-zp5po]

This craft did not go to space sry

[@michaelzivanovich2061]

I believe that this gentleman was the F-104 pilot killed in the infamous collision with the B-70 during a General Electric promo video..

[@TheInstructor66]

Funny to think that the car’s we see in this video had not envolved much technically since the Wright brothers first fligth. But the X-15 on the other hand… Great video. 👌🏻

[@bbb8182]

As a boy I was fascinated by and proud of this American venture. I wish you had covered the fastest flight here. Photos afterwards showed burned off and melted titanium parts. Much of the surfaces were burned a bright chalky white. The pilot was lucky to be alive.

[@JuricksEnterprise]

I really don't agree with the title of this clip. The X-15 was intended to fly up to the ends of the atmosphere into near outer space, which is why it utilized react thrusters at the top of it's flight for stabilization, because conventional flaps would be useless. Also, I believe that all X-15 pilots were eventually granted the rating of "Astronaut" on their records for their flights in the aircraft because of the altitudes achieved. Please correct if I am wrong, this is my understanding from the documentaries I have seen.

[@williamrae9954]

Just 15yrs after WW2...Germans have to be some credit here,without them,it wouldn't have happened!

[@robderich8533]

Like the line in that movie named 'Ice Station Zebra' from 1968 : "The Russians put our camera made by *our* German scientists and your film made by *your* German scientists into their satellite made by *their* German scientists."

[@GregWampler-xm8hv]

Von Braun stole 100's of Robert Goddard's patents. FYI little Miss clean and starched skirts von Braun turned out to be far more of an evil NAZI than we were led to believe.

[@mikekannely2286]

I built a model of the X-15 when I was a kid in the early 1970's. My dad told me that this was the first vehicle in which an American touched space. The model was horrible (I was about 8 yo), but the memory of it is priceless...

[@sardaukerlegion]

Skills, nerves and °° of Steel.

[@dongorney2533]

I grew up in Palmdale California, near Air Force Plant 42. I remember seeing the first unpowered flight from my driveway.

[@STR8L8CED]

Love the music. Ignore the haters.

[@robertgantry2118]

Joe Walker, I just learned, was the one flying the F-104 Starfighter that struck the wingtip of the XB-70 Valkyrie. He cut his OWN career short.

[@andrewlindop2606]

Nice

[@rmx4087]

I had no clue the X-15 had attitude control rockets like a spacecraft.

[@Istandby666]

From 1984 to 1992, I grew up in the Mojave desert near Edwards Air Force Base. Thanks to our biological father being part of the Above Top Secret programs back then. When one looks at the history of Edwards Air Force Base. Who wouldn't be proud to grow up around some of the greatest people on earth?

[@RedBud315]

I grew up in the L.A. area but, raced my motorcycle at Willow Springs the opposite direction from Hwy 14 than the base in the 80's. Also back then whenever they had to do an alternate Space Shuttle landing at the base we would head out there to hopefully see it. We never did see it though so it ended up being a long road trip, lol. We used to also go shooting at one of the ranges on Angeles Forest Hwy and one time an Air Force cargo plane surprised the hell out of us by flying low through the canyon right over our heads. We joked about immediately pointing the rifles down so they don't send the bombers next. We figured that plane came from Edwards. I have some friends who live across the highway from Saddleback Butte State park just south of the base now.

[@SimonAmazingClarke]

250,000 feet was classed as space by America and the US Air Force, that is why they got their Astronaut wings. The Karmen line was only acknowledged in 2005 as 100 km. The original Karman line was only 83 km.

[@larrydugan1441]

Those guys had guts.

[@maureencora1]

1960s as a Kid I Had X-15 Dress Shoes From Sears. (smile)

[@ImYourOverlord]

I like the musical selections. They are period appropriate, and I'm interested in knowing what pieces they are, by what artist(s).

[@leonardgilbreath9004]

I remember watching a movie about this with Charles Bronson they haven't shown it in a long time if it's comes out watch it's a great movie.

[@bobbybob3865]

NASA always said they didn't have a particular man picked to be first on the moon, but Gus Grissom would probably have been the one if he hadn't been killed in that space capsule fire that happened during a test on Earth.

[@iandibley8032]

Amazing, those test pilots must have had big balls!!

[@darthnihilus511]

Fun fact; You can now pick up a used X-15 for around 15k, some still have the suit with it. I have on in candy apple red, the convertible of course. You have to rent the B-52 though 😢

[@markoaks8694]

The video at 10:19 is an F-4E . It is NOT the X-15. You can plainly see the right wing fold, the twin engines, the anhedral horizontal stabilizer, the vertical stabilizer, the deployed landing gear, and the nose gun shroud. I was an F-4E crew chief in the USAF. It looks like the crew is dumping fuel. The fuel dump opening is just below the vertical stab.

[@darryldouglas6004]

2:12 Who would have thought that test pilot bod is the same as dad bod? 😃

[@growalnuts9880]

The Y12 could zoom climb to near space as could the SLOWER SR 71. Forget the mig 25.

[@tombels7159]

Orbital velocity is about 28,000 km/hr it is this velocity that causes the fiery reentry. The X-15's velocity was in the vicinity of 3000 km/hr. Heating on reentry, sure, but not actually in the same ballpark. Comments like that make the entire doco lose credibility.

[@jason60chev]

Did he apply for the Mercury program or the New Nine or any other Space group?

[@grim3897]

Walker remarkably looks like the guy in the Helldivers 2 cutscenes!

[@user-yk6hc3rz1t]

Stop with the music.

[@Mynipplesmychoice]

Stop being a Karan, Karan

[@NocturnalNews]

I usually like music and videos but this is just so cheesy and corny it sounds like background music to a 1990s sporting goods store commercial

[@Fistmele]

😂

[@donaldharrison8281]

When America was great again...🗽🇺🇸✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️

[@Mynipplesmychoice]

We build better crap now , stop looking at the past with rose colored glasses you boomer!!!!!

[@alzeNL]

Not usually a fan of music on videos, but there was some slick riffs on this very cool video. Great upload :)

[@lancraft]

How can you say his career was cut short without mentioning the specifics of the accident with the Valkyrie??? It’s only one more sentence.

[@renandavidsoriaahumada6093]

Full Analog, and Manually Controled Space Ship

[@alexbowman7582]

Planes cannot “fly” into space, there is no air to provide lift, a jet engine may propel them into space but re-entry would be extremely hazardous, the wrong entry angle and they’ll burn up.

[@DSNSGaming]

It was a rocket engine. Not a jet engine. It also had an RCS system for maneuvering when the control surfaces are less effective.

[@c-w-h]

Fuel tanker ops: No one is looking. Just a little bit more and its space time for this space cowboy. 👨‍🚀

[@kamakaziozzie3038]

Love the retro music jam! 🎶

[@SagittarA]

Let me correct the title… “The plane that accidentally flew into “space”” because the definition of where “space” begins is not very well defined since atmophere molecules can be still found like 200km above earth. And i could also go the other way and say we are all in space at all times, because we are…. You cant just go and accidentally enter space because theres no specific space border.

[@Open3Eyes]

Turn the background music down my guy

[@user-pp1ni2jy3f]

If I remember, National Geographic had an article from Joseph 'I fly the X-15' and a movie was made also.

[@x15galmichelleevans]

Yes, Joe Walker's article "I Fly the X-15" was published in the September 1962 edition of National Geographic. The movie "X-15" starred Charles Bronson and Mary Tyler-Moore, and it premiered in November 1961 in Washington D.C.

[@danicalifornia505]

5:30 anyone else wonder what this plane could do now with advanced solid rocket engines and extra heat shield panels?

[@zyme5998]

...Was the first episode of the original Quantum Leep with Scott Bakula based off of this?

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

Wait, what? Test pilots are aware and concerned about what is happening around them. Oblivious? i think not. Thanks for the video.

[@brianv1988]

The next generation of hypersonic aircraft will be ground launch like an aircraft they're able to take off and land with a turbine jet engine combined with a rocket engine all-in-one engine they are already doing tests on a vehicle like this I think the name is called quarter horse and the engine has been tested many times already and a vehicle is already in testing

[@alancoe1002]

We could have done space this way: an escalating series of acceleration vehicles, rather than large boosters. It was discussed before, 70 years ago, and should be again.

[@mcallian]

The music is REALLY annoying. Distracts from a very good narration.

[@anthonydilligaf823]

I was enjoying it, and wondered where it came from..

[@nickaalexander-bx6ec]

So true , needs a better choice of background music , and a little bit lower in volume so it not competing with narrative!

[@alexander1485]

i wanna know the real names of the host/his team.

[@philipfreeman72]

Got info on U.S. tic tac anti gravity crafts ?

[@Mynipplesmychoice]

It’s too secret bozo

[@billwendell6886]

Considering X Planes as a whole, X15 was safe. And every aspect of every flight was carefully planned and carried out by the pilots. No pilot would dare " hot dog ". They knew it would be the last time they ever saw a rocket plane from the inside. Even SR71 missions were planned to the minute. How fast could it really go? Is a question no operational crew can answer because they wouldn't dare try.

[@ToysForNoize]

Pretty sure you already made a similar video on this…

[@bkklaaw]

Yep!

[@dripmaster_mason]

There re-uploading all the old content. The channel is A.I.

[@diytwoincollege7079]

“Accidentally “ Sure

[@SelectCircle]

Yee-haw!!!

[@m783w]

“Accidentally” the pilot had a side quest

[@luckmandan]

The music is groovy man - ya dig

[@tomw6271]

How was Walker's career cut short?

[@RandyZimmerman-pp5wj]

Wish that was me

[@X01_Ty]

So what happened to Joe Walker? You said his career was cut short in 1966. What happened to him?

[@x15galmichelleevans]

Joe Walker was killed in an accident on 8 June 1966. His F-104 was flying as part of a 5 aircraft formation, centered on the XB-70. They were taking promotional photos for jet engine manufacturer General Electric, and all the aircraft in the formation had GE engines. Joe was asked to get his F-104 closer to the B-70 for the images, and it was caught in the wingtip vortex of the giant bomber. The F-104 was flipped up and over the B-70, where it rolled across the back of the bomber, taking off one of the B-70s vertical stabilizers. Joe's aircraft broke into 3 pieces and exploded, killing Joe instantly. The B-70 was also crippled and went down minutes later, killing copilot Carl Cross. The B-70 pilot, Al White from North American Aviation (and Scott Crossfield's backup pilot on the X-15), was able to eject, but he suffered serious injuries because of a malfunction in the ejection system. He did fully recover, however.

[@allybally0021]

You could fly into space in a Cessna 150 if it was capable and equipped for it.

[@lundsweden]

That aint no plane, its a rocket!

[@Candyohh]

I really enjoyed the background music.

[@bbrother92]

Where are you from and why you speak so fast

[@D0wnshift]

20 seconds in, paused video. Please re-upload with no music and I can finish it.