List of X-15 flights explained

The flights of the North American X-15, an experimental American spaceplane built by North American Aviation and operated by the United States Air Force and NASA, were conducted from 1959-1968. Twelve pilots flew three X-15 spaceplanes, flying record high-altitude flights, high-speed flights, and sub-orbital spaceflights. Collectively, pilots and craft performed a total of 199 free flights after being carried aloft and then air launched from one of two modified B-52 mother ships. The pilots and craft also performed twelve scheduled captive carry test flights and 125 aborted flights (frequently due either to technical problems or poor weather) in which the X-15 did not uncouple from its B-52 mother ship, for a grand total of 336 flights.^{[1] [2]} The X-15 program's flights generated data and flight experience which supported future development of aircraft, spacecraft, and human spaceflight.

Five principal aircraft were used during the X-15 program: three X-15 spaceplanes and two modified "nonstandard" NB-52 bomber carriers:

• 56-6670,
• 56-6671,
• 56-6672,
• 52-003 nicknamed The High and Mighty One,
• 52-008 nicknamed The Challenger, later Balls 8.

Additionally, F-100, F-104 and F5D chase aircraft and C-130 and C-47 transports supported the program.^[3]

Pilots

Twelve pilots flew the X-15 over the course of its career. Scott Crossfield and William Dana flew the X-15 on its first and last free flights, respectively. Joseph Walker set the program's top two altitude records on its 90th and 91st free flights (347,800 and 354,200 feet, respectively), becoming the only pilot to fly past the Kármán line, the 100 kilometer, FAI-recognized boundary of outer space, during the program. William Knight set the program's Mach (6.70) and speed (4,520 mph) records on its 188th free flight. Neil Armstrong was the first pilot to fly the program's third plane, the X-15-3. Following his participation in the program, Joe Engle commanded a future spaceplane, the Space Shuttle, on two missions. Robert Rushworth flew 34 free flights, the most in the program. Forrest Petersen flew five, the fewest. Robert White was the first person to fly the X-15 above 100,000 feet. Milton Thompson piloted a series of typical flights during the middle of the program. John McKay was injured in (and recovered from, returning to active flight status) a landing accident which damaged the X-15-2, leading to its refurbishment as the modified X-15A-2. Michael Adams was killed in the program's 191st free flight. Five pilots were Air Force personnel, five were NASA personnel, one (Crossfield) was employed by manufacturer North American, and one (Petersen) was a Navy pilot.

Over thirteen flights, eight pilots flew above 264,000 feet or 50 miles, thereby qualifying as astronauts according to the United States definition of the space border. All five Air Force pilots flew above 50 miles and were awarded military astronaut wings contemporaneously with their achievements, including Adams, who received the distinction posthumously following the flight 191 disaster.^[4] However the other three were NASA employees, and did not receive a comparable decoration at the time. In 2004, the Federal Aviation Administration conferred its first-ever commercial astronaut wings on Mike Melvill and Brian Binnie, pilots of the commercial SpaceShipOne, another spaceplane with a flight profile comparable to the X-15's. Following this in 2005, NASA retroactively awarded its civilian astronaut wings to Dana (then living), and to McKay and Walker (posthumously).^{[5] [6]} Eleven flights above 50 miles were made in the X-15-3, and two were made in the X-15-1.

Every X-15 pilot also flew as a program chase pilot at least once, supporting missions in which they were not flying as lead pilots. Other chase pilots included future astronauts Michael Collins, Fred Haise and Jim McDivitt.^[7]

The two NB-52 mother ships were most frequently piloted by Fitz Fulton.^[8] On one occasion Chuck Yeager, former pilot of the X-15's predecessor X-plane the X-1, the first crewed craft to break the sound barrier, assisted as NB-52 co-pilot for an aborted flight.^[9]

X-15 pilots !! colspan="6"

Pilot flights by individual plane !	Flight totals by pilot
X-15-1				X-15-2		X-15-3
data-sort-type=text colspan="2"	Pilot	data-sort-type=text	Agency	data-sort-type=number	FF	data-sort-type=number	CAF	data-sort-type=number	FF	data-sort-type=number	CAF	data-sort-type=number	FF	data-sort-type=number	CAF	data-sort-type=number	PTFF	data-sort-type=number	PTCAF	data-sort-type=number	PGTF
data-sort-value="Adams"		Michael Adams	USAF	4	8	—	—	3	2	7	10	17
data-sort-value="Armstrong"		Neil Armstrong	NASA	3	—	—	—	4	4	7	4	11
data-sort-value="Crossfield"		Scott Crossfield	NAA	2	5	12	11	—	—	14	16	30
data-sort-value="Dana"		William Dana	NASA	6	7	—	—	10	6	16	13	29
data-sort-value="Engle"		Joe Engle	USAF	7	3	—	—	9	3	16	6	22
data-sort-value="Knight"		William Knight	USAF	6	2	8	8	2	—	16	10	26
data-sort-value="McKay"		John McKay	NASA	12	10	11	8	6	2	29	20	49
data-sort-value="Petersen"		Forrest Petersen	USN	4	2	1	—	—	—	5	2	7
data-sort-value="Rushworth"		Robert Rushworth	USAF	13	5	12	8	9	4	34	17	51
data-sort-value="Thompson"		Milton Thompson	NASA	5	7	—	—	9	2	14	9	23
data-sort-value="Walker"		Joseph Walker	NASA	13	7	3	2	9	5	25	14	39
data-sort-value="White"		Robert White	USAF	6	5	6	7	4	4	16	16	32
Flight totals by plane			81	61	53	44	65	32	199	137	336

Flight numbering

Two conventions have been used to number the X-15's flights. In one, the numbers 1 through 199 were used to chronologically denote the free flights made by any of the three spaceplanes. For example, flight 1 (8 June 1959) was made by the X-15-1, flight 34 (7 March 1961) was made by the X-15-2, and flight 49 (5 April 1962) was made by the X-15-3. This convention ignores captive and aborted flights.

The other convention was an official three-part flight designation number, described in a 1960 letter by NASA flight research director Paul Bikle, and split into three columns below. The first part, a number—1, 2 or 3—would denote the involved X-15 plane. The second part—a number, or "A", or "C"—would denote that individual X-15's chronological free flights; aborted flights were coded as "A", and scheduled captive carry test flights were coded as "C". The third part, a number, would denote the total number of times to-date that the individual X-15 had been taken aloft by a carrier, whether resulting in a free flight or not. For example, the X-15-1 was first taken aloft on scheduled captive test flight 1-C-1, next performed three aborted missions (1-A-2, 1-A-3, and 1-A-4), and then performed its first successful free flight on its fifth time taken aloft (1-1-5).

On 9 November 1962, flight 74 (2-31-52), the X-15-2 suffered a landing accident which damaged the craft and also injured its pilot, John McKay, who suffered crushed vertebrae and later returned to active flight status.^[10] This presented North American with an opportunity not only to repair the plane, but to modify it—an idea which the Air Force and NASA were uninterested in while all three spaceplanes were in operational service, but agreed to once repairs were made necessary.^[11] The result was a new, distinct airframe known as the X-15A-2 which returned to flight in June 1964, first on a scheduled captive check-out flight (15 June, 2-C-53) and an abort (23 June, 2-A-54) before finally making its return free flight on 25 June (flight 109, 2-32-55), all piloted by Robert Rushworth. The flight numbering conventions made no distinction between the original craft and its modified iteration; it continued to be designated "2".

Neither convention accounted for which of the two NB-52 carriers took an X-15 aloft, given in a separate column below. On free flights, the NB-52A carried the X-15 aloft 93 times, while the NB-52B carried it aloft 106 times.

List of flights

!! colspan="3"

3 Pt. FID !
data-sort-type=number	GTF	data-sort-type=number	FF	data-sort-type=number	Pl	data-sort-type=number	FF(I)	data-sort-type=number	TF(I)	data-sort-type=number	Carr	data-sort-type=date	Date	data-sort-type=text	Pilot	data-sort-type=number	MM	data-sort-type=number	MV	data-sort-type=number	MA	data-sort-type=text	Notes
1	—	1	data-sort-value="0"	C	1	—	10 March 1959	Crossfield	—	—	—	data-sort-value="AAO"	The X-15-1's first time aloft. Crossfield's first time aloft. First time aloft of program.
2	—	1	A	2	—	1 April 1959	Crossfield	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
3	—	1	A	3	—	10 April 1959	Crossfield	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
4	—	1	A	4	—	21 May 1959	Crossfield	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
5	1	1	1	5	3	8 June 1959	Crossfield	0.79	522	37,550	data-sort-value="AAP"	The X-15-1's first free flight. Crossfield's first free flight. Glide flight, only one scheduled during program.
6	—	2	data-sort-value="0"	C	1	—	24 July 1959	Crossfield	—	—	—	data-sort-value="AAS"	The X-15-2's first time aloft.
7	—	2	A	2	—	4 September 1959	Crossfield	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
8	2	2	1	3	3	17 September 1959	Crossfield	2.11	1,393	52,341	data-sort-value="AAT"	The X-15-2's first free flight. First powered flight of program.
9	—	2	A	4	—	10 October 1959	Crossfield	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
10	—	2	A	5	—	14 October 1959	Crossfield	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
11	3	2	2	6	3	17 October 1959	Crossfield	2.15	1,419	61,781	data-sort-value="Z"
12	—	2	A	7	—	22 October 1959	Crossfield	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
13	—	2	A	8	—	31 October 1959	Crossfield	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
14	4	2	3	9	3	5 November 1959	Crossfield	1.00	660	45,462	data-sort-value="X"	XLR-11 engine explodes after ignition and the fuselage breaks during landing.
15	—	1	A	6	—	16 December 1959	Crossfield	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
16	5	1	2	7	8	23 January 1960	Crossfield	2.53	1,669	66,844	data-sort-value="Z"
17	—	2	A	10	—	4 February 1960	Crossfield	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
18	6	2	4	11	8	11 February 1960	Crossfield	2.22	1,466	88,116	data-sort-value="Z"
19	7	2	5	12	8	17 February 1960	Crossfield	1.57	1,036	52,640	data-sort-value="Z"
20	8	2	6	13	8	17 March 1960	Crossfield	2.15	1,419	52,640	data-sort-value="Z"
21	—	2	A	14	—	18 March 1960	Crossfield	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
22	9	1	3	8	8	25 March 1960	Walker	2.00	1,320	48,630	data-sort-value="ABT"	Walker's first free flight.
23	10	2	7	15	8	29 March 1960	Crossfield	1.96	1,293	49,982	data-sort-value="Z"
24	11	2	8	16	8	31 March 1960	Crossfield	2.03	1,340	51,356	data-sort-value="Z"
25	12	1	4	9	3	13 April 1960	White	1.90	1,254	48,000	data-sort-value="ABU"	White's first free flight.
26	13	1	5	10	3	19 April 1960	Walker	2.56	1,689	59,496	data-sort-value="Z"
27	—	2	A	17	—	5 May 1960	Crossfield	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
28	14	1	6	11	3	6 May 1960	White	2.20	1,452	60,938	data-sort-value="Z"
29	15	1	7	12	3	12 May 1960	Walker	3.19	2,111	77,882	data-sort-value="Z"
30	16	1	8	13	3	19 May 1960	White	2.31	1,590	108,997	data-sort-value="Z"
31	17	2	9	18	8	26 May 1960	Crossfield	2.20	1,452	51,282	data-sort-value="Z"
32	—	1	A	14	—	27 May 1960	Walker	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
33	—	1	A	15	—	3 June 1960	Walker	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
34	—	1	A	16	—	8 June 1960	Walker	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
35	18	1	9	17	3	4 August 1960	Walker	3.31	2,196	78,112	data-sort-value="Z"
36	—	1	A	18	—	11 August 1960	White	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
37	19	1	10	19	3	12 August 1960	White	2.52	1,772	136,500	data-sort-value="Z"
38	—	1	A	20	—	18 August 1960	Walker	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
39	20	1	11	21	3	19 August 1960	Walker	3.13	1,986	75,982	data-sort-value="Z"
40	—	1	A	22	—	2 September 1960	White	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
41	21	1	12	23	8	10 September 1960	White	3.23	2,182	79,864	data-sort-value="Z"
42	—	1	A	24	—	20 September 1960	Petersen	—	—	—	data-sort-value="ABM"	Petersen's first time aloft.
43	22	1	13	25	8	23 September 1960	Petersen	1.68	1,108	53,043	data-sort-value="ABN"	Petersen's first free flight.
44	—	1	A	26	—	11 October 1960	Petersen	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
45	—	2	A	19	—	13 October 1960	Crossfield	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
46	23	1	14	27	8	20 October 1960	Petersen	1.94	1,280	53,800	data-sort-value="Z"
47	24	1	15	28	8	28 October 1960	McKay	2.02	1,333	50,700	data-sort-value="ABK"	McKay's first free flight.
48	—	2	A	20	—	4 November 1960	Crossfield	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
49	25	1	16	29	8	4 November 1960	Rushworth	1.95	1,287	48,900	data-sort-value="ABP"	Rushworth's first free flight.
50	26	2	10	21	3	15 November 1960	Crossfield	2.97	1,960	81,200	data-sort-value="Y"	The X-15-2's first flight with the XLR-99 engine.
51	27	1	17	30	3	17 November 1960	Rushworth	1.90	1,254	54,750	data-sort-value="Z"
52	28	2	11	22	3	22 November 1960	Crossfield	2.51	1,656	61,900	data-sort-value="Z"
53	29	1	18	31	8	30 November 1960	Armstrong	1.75	1,155	48,840	data-sort-value="ABB"	Armstrong's first free flight.
54	30	2	12	23	3	6 December 1960	Crossfield	2.85	1,881	53,374	data-sort-value="ABD"	Crossfield's last free flight.
55	31	1	19	32	8	9 December 1960	Armstrong	1.80	1,188	50,095	data-sort-value="Z"
56	—	1	A	33	—	15 December 1960	McKay	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
57	—	1	A	34	—	11 January 1961	McKay	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
58	32	1	20	35	8	1 February 1961	McKay	1.88	1,211	49,780	data-sort-value="Z"
59	33	1	21	36	8	7 February 1961	White	3.50	2,275	78,150	data-sort-value="Z"
60	—	2	A	24	—	21 February 1961	White	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
61	—	2	A	25	—	24 February 1961	White	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
62	34	2	13	26	8	7 March 1961	White	4.43	2,905	77,450	data-sort-value="Z"
63	—	2	A	27	—	21 March 1961	Walker	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
64	35	2	14	28	8	30 March 1961	Walker	3.95	2,760	169,600	data-sort-value="Z"
65	36	2	15	29	3	21 April 1961	White	4.62	3,074	105,000	data-sort-value="Z"
66	—	2	A	30	—	19 May 1961	Walker	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
67	37	2	16	31	3	25 May 1961	Walker	4.95	3,307	107,500	data-sort-value="Z"
68	—	2	A	32	—	20 June 1961	White	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
69	38	2	17	33	3	23 June 1961	White	5.27	3,603	107,700	data-sort-value="Z"
70	39	1	22	37	3	10 August 1961	Petersen	4.11	2,735	78,200	data-sort-value="Y"	The X-15-1's first flight with the XLR-99 engine.
71	40	2	18	34	8	12 September 1961	Walker	5.21	3,618	114,300	data-sort-value="Z"
72	41	2	19	35	8	28 September 1961	Petersen	5.30	3,600	101,800	data-sort-value="Z"
73	—	1	A	38	—	29 September 1961	Rushworth	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
74	42	1	23	39	3	4 October 1961	Rushworth	4.30	2,830	78,000	data-sort-value="Z"
75	43	2	20	36	3	11 October 1961	White	5.21	3,647	217,000	data-sort-value="Z"
76	44	1	24	40	3	17 October 1961	Walker	5.74	3,900	108,600	data-sort-value="Z"
77	—	1	A	41	—	27 October 1961	White	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
78	—	1	A	42	—	2 November 1961	White	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
79	—	1	A	43	—	3 November 1961	White	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
80	45	2	21	37	8	9 November 1961	White	6.04	4,093	101,600	data-sort-value="Z"
81	—	3	A	1	—	19 December 1961	Armstrong	—	—	—	data-sort-value="AAX"	The X-15-3's first time aloft.
82	46	3	1	2	3	20 December 1961	Armstrong	3.76	2,502	81,000	data-sort-value="AAY"	The X-15-3's first free flight.
83	47	1	25	44	3	10 January 1962	Petersen	0.97	645	44,750	data-sort-value="ABO"	Petersen's last free flight.
84	48	3	2	3	3	17 January 1962	Armstrong	5.51	3,765	133,500	data-sort-value="Z"
85	—	3	A	4	—	29 March 1962	Armstrong	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
86	—	3	A	5	—	30 March 1962	Armstrong	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
87	—	3	A	6	—	31 March 1962	Armstrong	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
88	49	3	3	7	3	5 April 1962	Armstrong	4.12	2,850	180,000	data-sort-value="Z"
89	—	1	A	45	—	18 April 1962	Walker	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
90	50	1	26	46	3	19 April 1962	Walker	5.69	3,866	154,000	data-sort-value="Z"
91	51	3	4	8	8	20 April 1962	Armstrong	5.31	3,789	207,500	data-sort-value="Z"
92	—	2	A	38	—	25 April 1962	White	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
93	—	2	A	39	—	26 April 1962	White	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
94	—	1	A	47	—	27 April 1962	Walker	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
95	52	1	27	48	8	30 April 1962	Walker	4.94	3,489	246,700	data-sort-value="Z"
96	53	2	22	40	8	8 May 1962	Rushworth	5.34	3,524	70,400	data-sort-value="Z"
97	54	1	28	49	3	22 May 1962	Rushworth	5.03	3,450	100,400	data-sort-value="Z"
98	—	2	A	41	—	25 May 1962	White	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
99	—	2	A	42	—	29 May 1962	White	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
100	55	2	23	43	8	1 June 1962	White	5.42	3,675	132,600	data-sort-value="Z"
101	56	1	29	50	3	7 June 1962	Walker	5.39	3,672	103,600	data-sort-value="Z"
102	57	3	5	9	8	12 June 1962	White	5.02	3,517	184,600	data-sort-value="Z"
103	58	3	6	10	8	21 June 1962	White	5.08	3,641	246,700	data-sort-value="Z"
104	59	1	30	51	3	27 June 1962	Walker	5.92	4,104	123,700	data-sort-value="Z"
105	60	2	24	44	8	29 June 1962	McKay	4.95	3,280	83,200	data-sort-value="Z"
106	—	3	A	11	—	10 July 1962	White	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
107	—	3	A	12	—	11 July 1962	White	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
108	—	3	A	13	—	16 July 1962	White	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
109	61	1	31	52	8	16 July 1962	Walker	5.37	3,674	107,200	data-sort-value="Z"
110	62	3	7	14	3	17 July 1962	White	5.45	3,832	314,750	data-sort-value="AAC"	U.S. spaceflight.
111	63	2	25	45	8	19 July 1962	McKay	5.18	3,474	85,250	data-sort-value="Z"
112	64	1	32	53	3	26 July 1962	Armstrong	5.74	3,989	98,900	data-sort-value="ABC"	Armstrong's last free flight.
113	—	3	A	15	—	1 August 1962	Walker	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
114	65	3	8	16	3	2 August 1962	Walker	5.07	3,438	144,500	data-sort-value="Z"
115	66	2	26	46	8	8 August 1962	Rushworth	4.40	2,943	90,877	data-sort-value="Z"
116	—	3	A	17	—	10 August 1962	Walker	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
117	67	3	9	18	3	14 August 1962	Walker	5.25	3,747	193,600	data-sort-value="Z"
118	68	2	27	47	8	20 August 1962	Rushworth	5.24	3,534	88,900	data-sort-value="Z"
119	69	2	28	48	8	29 August 1962	Rushworth	5.12	3,447	97,200	data-sort-value="Z"
120	—	2	A	49	—	27 September 1962	McKay	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
121	70	2	29	50	8	28 September 1962	McKay	4.22	2,765	68,200	data-sort-value="Z"
122	71	3	10	19	8	4 October 1962	Rushworth	5.17	3,493	112,200	data-sort-value="Z"
123	72	2	30	51	3	9 October 1962	McKay	5.46	3,716	130,200	data-sort-value="Z"
124	73	3	11	20	8	23 October 1962	Rushworth	5.47	3,764	134,500	data-sort-value="Z"
125	74	2	31	52	8	9 November 1962	McKay	1.49	1,019	53,950	data-sort-value="AAU"	The X-15-2's last free flight. Landing accident damaged craft and injured pilot, leading to modification.
126	—	3	A	21	—	13 December 1962	White	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
127	75	3	12	22	8	14 December 1962	White	5.65	3,742	141,400	data-sort-value="ABV"	White's last free flight.
128	76	3	13	23	8	20 December 1962	Walker	5.73	3,793	160,400	data-sort-value="Z"
129	77	3	14	24	8	17 January 1963	Walker	5.47	3,677	271,700	data-sort-value="AAD"	U.S. spaceflight.
130	78	1	33	54	8	11 April 1963	Rushworth	4.25	2,864	74,400	data-sort-value="Z"
131	79	3	15	25	8	18 April 1963	Walker	5.51	3,770	92,500	data-sort-value="Z"
132	80	1	34	55	8	25 April 1963	McKay	5.32	3,654	105,500	data-sort-value="Z"
133	81	3	16	26	8	2 May 1963	Walker	4.73	3,488	209,400	data-sort-value="Z"
134	—	3	A	27	—	10 May 1963	Rushworth	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
135	82	3	17	28	8	14 May 1963	Rushworth	5.20	3,600	95,600	data-sort-value="Z"
136	83	1	35	56	3	15 May 1963	McKay	5.57	3,856	124,200	data-sort-value="Z"
137	84	3	18	29	8	29 May 1963	Walker	5.52	3,858	92,000	data-sort-value="Z"
138	85	3	19	30	8	18 June 1963	Rushworth	4.97	3,539	223,700	data-sort-value="Z"
139	86	1	36	57	3	25 June 1963	Walker	5.51	3,911	111,800	data-sort-value="Z"
140	87	3	20	31	8	27 June 1963	Rushworth	4.89	3,425	285,000	data-sort-value="AAE"	U.S. spaceflight.
141	—	1	A	58	—	3 July 1963	Walker	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
142	88	1	37	59	8	9 July 1963	Walker	5.07	3,631	226,400	data-sort-value="Z"
143	—	1	A	60	—	17 July 1963	Rushworth	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
144	89	1	38	61	3	18 July 1963	Rushworth	5.63	3,925	104,800	data-sort-value="Z"
145	90	3	21	32	8	19 July 1963	Walker	5.50	3,710	347,800	data-sort-value="AAB"	FAI spaceflight. Second highest altitude of program.
146	—	3	A	33	—	6 August 1963	Walker	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
147	—	3	A	34	—	13 August 1963	Walker	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
148	—	3	A	35	—	15 August 1963	Walker	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
149	91	3	22	36	3	22 August 1963	Walker	5.58	3,794	354,200	data-sort-value="AAA"	FAI spaceflight. Walker's last free flight. Highest altitude of program.
150	—	1	A	62	—	4 October 1963	Engle	—	—	—	data-sort-value="ABG"	Engle's first time aloft.
151	92	1	39	63	8	7 October 1963	Engle	4.21	2,834	77,800	data-sort-value="ABH"	Engle's first free flight.
152	—	3	A	37	—	14 October 1963	Rushworth	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
153	—	3	A	38	—	25 October 1963	Rushworth	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
154	93	1	40	64	8	29 October 1963	Thompson	4.10	2,712	74,400	data-sort-value="ABR"	Thompson's first free flight.
155	94	3	23	39	8	7 November 1963	Rushworth	4.40	2,925	82,300	data-sort-value="Z"
156	95	1	41	65	8	14 November 1963	Engle	4.75	3,286	90,800	data-sort-value="Z"
157	—	3	A	40	—	19 November 1963	Thompson	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
158	96	3	24	41	8	27 November 1963	Thompson	4.94	3,310	89,800	data-sort-value="Z"
159	—	1	A	66	—	3 December 1963	Rushworth	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
160	97	1	42	67	8	5 December 1963	Rushworth	6.06	4,018	101,000	data-sort-value="Z"
161	—	1	A	68	—	18 December 1963	Rushworth	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
162	98	1	43	69	8	8 January 1964	Engle	5.32	3,616	139,900	data-sort-value="Z"
163	99	3	25	42	8	16 January 1964	Thompson	4.92	3,242	71,000	data-sort-value="Z"
164	100	1	44	70	8	28 January 1964	Rushworth	5.34	3,618	107,400	data-sort-value="Z"
165	101	3	26	43	3	19 February 1964	Thompson	5.29	3,519	78,600	data-sort-value="Z"
166	102	3	27	44	3	13 March 1964	McKay	5.11	3,392	76,000	data-sort-value="Z"
167	—	1	A	71	—	17 March 1964	Rushworth	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
168	103	1	45	72	3	27 March 1964	Rushworth	5.63	3,827	101,500	data-sort-value="Z"
169	—	3	A	45	—	31 March 1964	McKay	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
170	104	1	46	73	3	8 April 1964	Engle	5.01	3,468	175,000	data-sort-value="Z"
171	105	1	47	74	3	29 April 1964	Rushworth	5.72	3,906	101,600	data-sort-value="Z"
172	—	3	A	46	—	11 May 1964	McKay	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
173	106	3	28	47	3	12 May 1964	McKay	4.66	3,084	72,800	data-sort-value="Z"
174	107	1	48	75	3	19 May 1964	Engle	5.02	3,494	195,800	data-sort-value="Z"
175	108	3	29	48	3	21 May 1964	Thompson	2.90	1,865	64,200	data-sort-value="Z"
176	—	1	A	76	—	11 June 1964	Thompson	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
177	—	2	data-sort-value="0"	C	53	—	15 June 1964	Rushworth	—	—	—	data-sort-value="AAV"	The X-15A-2's first time aloft. Return to service of modified craft.
178	—	2	A	54	—	23 June 1964	Rushworth	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
179	109	2	32	55	3	25 June 1964	Rushworth	4.59	3,104	83,300	data-sort-value="AAW"	The X-15A-2's first free flight. Return flight of modified craft.
180	110	1	49	77	3	30 June 1964	McKay	4.96	3,334	99,600	data-sort-value="Z"
181	—	3	A	49	—	2 July 1964	Engle	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
182	111	3	30	50	3	8 July 1964	Engle	5.05	3,520	170,400	data-sort-value="Z"
183	—	3	A	51	—	28 July 1964	Engle	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
184	112	3	31	52	3	29 July 1964	Engle	5.38	3,623	78,000	data-sort-value="Z"
185	113	3	32	53	3	12 August 1964	Thompson	5.24	3,535	81,200	data-sort-value="Z"
186	114	2	33	56	3	14 August 1964	Rushworth	5.23	3,590	103,300	data-sort-value="Z"
187	115	3	33	54	3	26 August 1964	McKay	5.65	3,863	91,000	data-sort-value="Z"
188	116	3	34	55	3	3 September 1964	Thompson	5.35	3,615	78,600	data-sort-value="Z"
189	—	3	A	56	—	23 September 1964	Engle	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
190	117	3	35	57	3	28 September 1964	Engle	5.59	3,888	97,000	data-sort-value="Z"
191	118	2	34	57	8	29 September 1964	Rushworth	5.20	3,542	97,800	data-sort-value="Z"
192	—	1	A	78	—	2 October 1964	McKay	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
193	119	1	50	79	8	15 October 1964	McKay	4.56	3,048	84,900	data-sort-value="Z"
194	—	3	data-sort-value="0"	C	58	—	29 October 1964	Thompson	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
195	120	3	36	59	8	30 October 1964	Thompson	4.66	3,113	84,600	data-sort-value="Z"
196	—	2	data-sort-value="0"	C	58	—	6 November 1964	McKay	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
197	—	2	data-sort-value="0"	C	59	—	16 November 1964	McKay	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
198	121	2	35	60	8	30 November 1964	McKay	4.66	3,089	87,200	data-sort-value="Z"
199	—	1	A	80	—	4 December 1964	Engle	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
200	122	3	37	60	8	9 December 1964	Thompson	5.42	3,723	92,400	data-sort-value="Z"
201	123	1	51	81	3	10 December 1964	Engle	5.35	3,675	113,200	data-sort-value="Z"
202	124	3	38	61	3	22 December 1964	Rushworth	5.55	3,593	81,200	data-sort-value="Z"
203	125	3	39	62	3	13 January 1965	Thompson	5.48	3,712	99,400	data-sort-value="Z"
204	—	1	A	82	—	26 January 1965	McKay	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
205	126	3	40	63	8	2 February 1965	Engle	5.71	3,885	98,200	data-sort-value="Z"
206	—	2	data-sort-value="0"	C	61	—	15 February 1965	Rushworth	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
207	—	2	data-sort-value="0"	C	62	—	15 February 1965	Rushworth	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
208	127	2	36	63	8	17 February 1965	Rushworth	5.27	3,511	95,100	data-sort-value="Z"
209	—	1	A	83	—	19 February 1965	McKay	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
210	—	1	A	84	—	25 February 1965	McKay	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
211	128	1	52	85	8	26 February 1965	McKay	5.40	3,750	153,600	data-sort-value="Z"
212	129	1	53	86	8	26 March 1965	Rushworth	5.17	3,580	101,900	data-sort-value="Z"
213	130	3	41	64	8	23 April 1965	Engle	5.48	3,580	79,700	data-sort-value="Z"
214	131	2	37	64	8	28 April 1965	McKay	4.80	3,273	92,600	data-sort-value="Z"
215	—	1	A	87	—	11 May 1965	Thompson	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
216	—	2	A	65	—	13 May 1965	McKay	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
217	132	2	38	66	8	18 May 1965	McKay	5.17	3,541	102,100	data-sort-value="Z"
218	133	1	54	88	8	25 May 1965	Thompson	4.87	3,418	179,800	data-sort-value="Z"
219	134	3	42	65	8	28 May 1965	Engle	5.17	3,754	209,600	data-sort-value="Z"
220	—	2	A	67	—	4 June 1965	McKay	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
221	—	2	A	68	—	8 June 1965	McKay	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
222	—	2	A	69	—	11 June 1965	McKay	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
223	135	3	43	66	3	16 June 1965	Engle	4.69	3,404	244,700	data-sort-value="Z"
224	136	1	55	89	8	17 June 1965	Thompson	5.14	3,541	108,500	data-sort-value="Z"
225	137	2	39	70	8	22 June 1965	McKay	5.64	3,938	155,900	data-sort-value="Z"
226	138	3	44	67	8	29 June 1965	Engle	4.94	3,432	280,600	data-sort-value="AAF"	U.S. spaceflight.
227	—	2	A	71	—	2 July 1965	McKay	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
228	139	2	40	72	3	8 July 1965	McKay	5.19	3,659	212,600	data-sort-value="Z"
229	—	3	A	68	—	13 July 1965	Rushworth	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
230	140	3	45	69	8	20 July 1965	Rushworth	5.40	3,760	105,400	data-sort-value="Z"
231	—	1	A	90	—	23 July 1965	Thompson	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
232	—	1	A	91	—	27 July 1965	Thompson	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
233	—	1	A	92	—	28 July 1965	Thompson	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
234	141	2	41	73	8	3 August 1965	Rushworth	5.16	3,602	208,700	data-sort-value="Z"
235	142	1	56	93	8	6 August 1965	Thompson	5.15	3,534	103,200	data-sort-value="Z"
236	143	3	46	70	3	10 August 1965	Engle	5.20	3,550	271,000	data-sort-value="AAG"	U.S. spaceflight.
237	—	1	A	94	—	20 August 1965	Thompson	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
238	—	1	A	95	—	24 August 1965	Thompson	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
239	144	1	57	96	3	25 August 1965	Thompson	5.11	3,604	214,100	data-sort-value="ABS"	Thompson's last free flight.
240	145	3	47	71	8	26 August 1965	Rushworth	4.79	3,372	239,600	data-sort-value="Z"
241	146	2	42	74	8	2 September 1965	McKay	5.16	3,570	239,800	data-sort-value="Z"
242	147	1	58	97	8	9 September 1965	Rushworth	5.25	3,534	97,200	data-sort-value="Z"
243	148	3	48	72	8	14 September 1965	McKay	5.03	3,519	239,000	data-sort-value="Z"
244	149	1	59	98	3	22 September 1965	Rushworth	5.18	3,550	100,300	data-sort-value="Z"
245	150	3	49	73	3	28 September 1965	McKay	5.33	3,732	295,600	data-sort-value="AAH"	U.S. spaceflight.
246	151	1	60	99	3	30 September 1965	Knight	4.06	2,718	76,600	data-sort-value="ABI"	Knight's first free flight.
247	—	1	A	100	—	8 October 1965	Engle	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
248	152	3	50	74	8	12 October 1965	Knight	4.62	3,108	94,400	data-sort-value="Z"
249	153	1	61	101	3	14 October 1965	Engle	5.08	3,554	266,500	data-sort-value="AAI"	U.S. spaceflight. Engle's last free flight.
250	154	3	51	75	3	27 October 1965	McKay	5.06	3,519	236,900	data-sort-value="Z"
251	—	1	A	102	—	2 November 1965	Dana	—	—	—	data-sort-value="ABF"	Dana's first time aloft.
252	155	2	43	75	3	3 November 1965	Rushworth	2.31	1,500	70,600	data-sort-value="Z"
253	156	1	62	103	8	4 November 1965	Dana	4.22	2,765	80,200	data-sort-value="ABF"	Dana's first free flight.
254	—	2	A	76	—	13 April 1966	Rushworth	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
255	—	2	A	77	—	20 April 1966	Rushworth	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
256	—	2	A	78	—	5 May 1966	Rushworth	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
257	157	1	63	104	3	6 May 1966	McKay	2.21	1,434	68,400	data-sort-value="Z"
258	158	2	44	79	3	18 May 1966	Rushworth	5.43	3,689	99,000	data-sort-value="Z"
259	—	1	A	105	—	2 June 1966	McKay	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
260	—	1	A	106	—	10 June 1966	McKay	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
261	—	3	A	76	—	20 June 1966	Dana	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
262	—	2	data-sort-value="0"	C	80	—	27 June 1966	Rushworth	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
263	159	2	45	81	8	1 July 1966	Rushworth	1.70	1,061	44,800	data-sort-value="ABQ"	Rushworth's last free flight.
264	160	1	64	107	3	12 July 1966	Knight	5.34	3,652	130,000	data-sort-value="Z"
265	—	3	A	77	—	13 July 1966	Dana	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
266	161	3	52	78	3	18 July 1966	Dana	4.71	3,217	96,100	data-sort-value="Z"
267	—	2	A	82	—	20 July 1966	Knight	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
268	162	2	46	83	3	21 July 1966	Knight	5.12	3,568	192,300	data-sort-value="Z"
269	163	1	65	108	8	28 July 1966	McKay	5.19	3,702	241,800	data-sort-value="Z"
270	164	2	47	84	8	3 August 1966	Knight	5.03	3,440	249,000	data-sort-value="Z"
271	165	3	53	79	8	4 August 1966	Dana	5.34	3,693	132,700	data-sort-value="Z"
272	—	1	A	109	—	9 August 1966	McKay	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
273	—	1	A	110	—	10 August 1966	McKay	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
274	166	1	66	111	3	11 August 1966	McKay	5.21	3,590	251,000	data-sort-value="Z"
275	167	2	48	85	3	12 August 1966	Knight	5.02	3,472	231,100	data-sort-value="Z"
276	168	3	54	80	3	19 August 1966	Dana	5.20	3,607	178,000	data-sort-value="Z"
277	169	1	67	112	3	25 August 1966	McKay	5.11	3,543	257,500	data-sort-value="Z"
278	170	2	49	86	8	30 August 1966	Knight	5.21	3,543	102,200	data-sort-value="Z"
279	171	1	68	113	8	8 September 1966	McKay	2.44	1,602	73,200	data-sort-value="ABL"	McKay's last free flight.
280	—	3	A	81	—	13 September 1966	Dana	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
281	172	3	55	82	3	14 September 1966	Dana	5.12	3,586	254,200	data-sort-value="Z"
282	—	1	A	114	—	28 September 1966	Adams	—	—	—	data-sort-value="AAZ"	Adams' first time aloft.
283	—	1	A	115	—	4 October 1966	Adams	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
284	173	1	69	116	3	6 October 1966	Adams	3.00	1,977	75,400	data-sort-value="ABA"	Adams' first free flight.
285	—	2	A	87	—	7 October 1966	Knight	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
286	—	2	A	88	—	19 October 1966	Knight	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
287	174	3	56	83	3	1 November 1966	Dana	5.46	3,750	306,900	data-sort-value="AAJ"	U.S. spaceflight.
288	—	3	A	84	—	18 November 1966	Dana	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
289	175	2	50	89	8	18 November 1966	Knight	6.33	4,250	98,900	data-sort-value="Z"	Second fastest flight
290	—	3	A	85	—	23 November 1966	Adams	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
291	176	3	57	86	3	29 November 1966	Adams	4.65	3,120	92,100	data-sort-value="Z"
292	—	2	data-sort-value="0"	C	90	—	22 December 1966	Knight	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
293	—	1	A	117	—	15 March 1967	Adams	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
294	—	1	A	118	—	21 March 1967	Adams	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
295	177	1	70	119	3	22 March 1967	Adams	5.59	3,822	133,100	data-sort-value="Z"
296	—	1	A	120	—	20 April 1967	Adams	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
297	178	3	58	87	8	26 April 1967	Dana	1.80	1,163	53,400	data-sort-value="Z"
298	179	1	71	121	3	28 April 1967	Adams	5.44	3,720	167,200	data-sort-value="Z"
299	—	2	A	91	—	5 May 1967	Knight	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
300	180	2	51	92	8	8 May 1967	Knight	4.75	3,193	97,600	data-sort-value="Z"
301	—	3	A	88	—	12 May 1967	Dana	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
302	181	3	59	89	3	17 May 1967	Dana	4.80	3,177	71,100	data-sort-value="Z"
303	—	1	A	122	—	26 May 1967	Adams	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
304	—	1	A	123	—	1 June 1967	Adams	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
305	—	1	A	124	—	14 June 1967	Adams	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
306	182	1	72	125	3	15 June 1967	Adams	5.14	3,606	229,300	data-sort-value="Z"
307	183	3	60	90	8	22 June 1967	Dana	5.34	3,611	82,200	data-sort-value="Z"
308	184	1	73	126	8	29 June 1967	Knight	4.23	2,870	173,000	data-sort-value="Z"
309	185	3	61	91	8	20 July 1967	Dana	5.44	3,693	84,300	data-sort-value="Z"
310	—	2	data-sort-value="0"	C	93	—	7 August 1967	Knight	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
311	—	2	A	94	—	11 August 1967	Knight	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
312	—	2	A	95	—	16 August 1967	Knight	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
313	186	2	52	96	8	21 August 1967	Knight	4.94	3,368	91,000	data-sort-value="Z"
314	187	3	62	92	3	25 August 1967	Adams	4.63	3,115	84,400	data-sort-value="Z"
315	—	3	A	93	—	22 September 1967	Dana	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
316	188	2	53	97	8	3 October 1967	Knight	6.70	4,520	102,100	data-sort-value="AAN"	Highest Mach and speed records of program. The X-15A-2's last free flight. Craft retired after setting records.
317	189	3	63	94	3	4 October 1967	Dana	5.53	3,897	251,100	data-sort-value="Z"
318	190	3	64	95	8	17 October 1967	Knight	5.53	3,856	280,500	data-sort-value="AAK"	U.S. spaceflight.
319	—	3	A	96	—	31 October 1967	Adams	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
320	191	3	65	97	8	15 November 1967	Adams	5.20	3,570	266,000	data-sort-value="AAL"	U.S. spaceflight. The X-15-3's last free flight. Adams' last free flight. Fatal disaster.
321	—	1	data-sort-value="0"	C	127	—	6 February 1968	Dana	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
322	—	1	A	128	—	7 February 1968	Dana	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
323	—	1	A	129	—	27 February 1968	Dana	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
324	192	1	74	130	8	1 March 1968	Dana	4.36	2,878	104,500	data-sort-value="Z"
325	—	1	A	131	—	28 March 1968	Dana	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
326	—	1	A	132	—	3 April 1968	Dana	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
327	193	1	75	133	8	4 April 1968	Dana	5.27	3,610	187,500	data-sort-value="Z"
328	194	1	76	134	8	26 April 1968	Knight	5.05	3,545	209,600	data-sort-value="Z"
329	—	1	A	135	—	23 May 1968	Dana	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
330	195	1	77	136	8	12 June 1968	Dana	5.15	3,563	220,100	data-sort-value="Z"
331	—	1	A	137	—	15 July 1968	Knight	—	—	—	data-sort-value="Z"
332	196	1	78	138	3	16 July 1968	Knight	4.79	3,382	221,500	data-sort-value="Z"
333	197	1	79	139	3	21 August 1968	Dana	5.01	3,443	267,500	data-sort-value="AAM"	U.S. spaceflight.
334	198	1	80	140	3	13 September 1968	Knight	5.37	3,723	254,100	data-sort-value="ABJ"	Knight's last free flight.
335	199	1	81	141	3	24 October 1968	Dana	5.38	3,716	255,000	data-sort-value="AAQ"	The X-15-1's last free flight. Dana's last free flight. Last free flight of program.
336	—	1	A	142	—	12 December 1968	Knight	—	—	—	data-sort-value="AAR"	The X-15-1's last time aloft. Knight's last time aloft. Last time aloft of program.

See also

• List of human spaceflights, 1961–1970
• List of Space Shuttle missions
• SpaceShipOne
• SpaceShipTwo

Further reading

• The X-15 Spaceplane, (with) X-15 Flight Log . McDowell . Jonathan McDowell . Jonathan . . 3 . 1 . 4–12 . Spring 1994.

Notes and References

1. Web site: The X-15 Rocket Plane: Flying the First Wings Into Space-Flight Log . Evans . Michelle . 2013 . Mach 25 Media.
2. Web site: Hypersonics Before the Shuttle: a Concise History of the X-15 Research Airplane . Jenkins . Dennis R. . June 2000 . Monographs in Aerospace History (18) . 118–121 . NASA . Appendix 9, X-15 Program Flight Log.
3. Book: Jenkins, Dennis R. . X-15: Extending The Frontiers of Flight . NASA . 2010 . 978-1-4700-2585-4.
4. Jenkins (2000), Appendix 8, p. 117.
5. Web site: X-15 Pioneers Honored as Astronauts . Johnsen . Frederick A. . 23 August 2005 . NASA . 16 January 2019 . 21 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220921193231/https://www.nasa.gov/missions/research/X-15_wings.html . dead .
6. Web site: Former NASA X-15 Pilots Awarded Astronaut Wings . Pearlman . Robert Z. . 23 August 2005 . space.com.
7. Evans, pp. 13–14.
8. Evans, p. 13.
9. Evans, p. 26. Aborted flight 2-A-38, 25 April 1962.
10. Evans, p. 30.
11. Jenkins (2000), pp. 57–59.