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The X-15 Rocket Plane: Flying the First Wings into Space
With the Soviet Union’s launch of the first Sputnik satellite in 1957, the Cold War soared to new heights as Americans feared losing the race into space. The X-15 Rocket Plane tells the enthralling yet little-known story of the hypersonic X-15, the winged rocket ship that met this challenge and opened the way into human-controlled spaceflight.
Drawing on interviews with those who were there, Michelle Evans captures the drama and excitement of, yes, rocket science: how to handle the heat generated at speeds up to Mach 7, how to make a rocket propulsion system that could throttle, and how to safely reenter the atmosphere from space and make a precision landing.
This book puts a human face on the feats of science and engineering that went into the X-15 program, many of them critical to the development of the Space Shuttle. And, finally, it introduces us to the largely unsung pilots of the X-15. By the time of the Apollo 11 moon landing, thirty-one American astronauts had flown into space—eight of them astronaut-pilots of the X-15. The X-15 Rocket Plane restores these pioneers, and the others who made it happen, to their rightful place in the history of spaceflight.
Drawing on interviews with those who were there, Michelle Evans captures the drama and excitement of, yes, rocket science: how to handle the heat generated at speeds up to Mach 7, how to make a rocket propulsion system that could throttle, and how to safely reenter the atmosphere from space and make a precision landing.
This book puts a human face on the feats of science and engineering that went into the X-15 program, many of them critical to the development of the Space Shuttle. And, finally, it introduces us to the largely unsung pilots of the X-15. By the time of the Apollo 11 moon landing, thirty-one American astronauts had flown into space—eight of them astronaut-pilots of the X-15. The X-15 Rocket Plane restores these pioneers, and the others who made it happen, to their rightful place in the history of spaceflight.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2013
About the author
Michelle Evans
2 books2 followersMichelle Evans is the founder of Mach 25 Media and is an aerospace writer, photographer, and education specialist. She served in the U.S. Air Force working on nuclear missiles, is the producer of several documentaries about space exploration, and is a contributor to Space Daily, space.com, and Ad Astra.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 19, 2017
Michelle Evans book is a tour de force! I can't imagine any other book that could qualify as the definitive story of the men who flew the X-15. The research is meticulous and her interviews with the X-15 pilots themselves flesh out the story in unexpected ways. I certainly expected to hear their side of the story but I did not expect to end up feeling like I had actually met them myself--a tribute to Evans' interviewing skills.
The book is superbly organized and includes just enough technical detail to appreciate the challenges, achivements, and risks.
The only criticism I have is that Evans occasionally strays off on a personal tangent that I didn't find relevant. The main one for me was the speculation about how much further the space program would have progressed had Kennedy lived.
On the other hand, it's Evans' personal interactions with and personal observations of so many of the people involved in the X-15 that adds to the richness of this impressive work.
The book is superbly organized and includes just enough technical detail to appreciate the challenges, achivements, and risks.
The only criticism I have is that Evans occasionally strays off on a personal tangent that I didn't find relevant. The main one for me was the speculation about how much further the space program would have progressed had Kennedy lived.
On the other hand, it's Evans' personal interactions with and personal observations of so many of the people involved in the X-15 that adds to the richness of this impressive work.
September 16, 2015
Like the other volumes in this series, this is a very human history of the X-15 program, with only a minimum of technical detail, and an emphasis on anecdote and emotion over programs. After a brief introductory chapter, Evans organizes her narrative around the twelve X-15 pilots. Along the way, she draws in the stories of the engineers, maintainers, other pilots, and computers (the all-female data coordinators) who made the X-15 possible and successful. Sometimes, the organization around pilots makes the chronology of the overall program difficult to follow, but the wealth of personal detail makes this drawback tolerable. Well worth reading.
October 17, 2014
Enjoyed producing this book for audiobook release!
There were many interesting stories about the pilots that flew the X-15, some humorous, some tragic.
A name you would be most familiar with, Neil Armstrong. There is an entire chapter discussing his role as an X-15 pilot. Other names include: Bill Dana, Joe Engle (flew space shuttle), Jack McKay and several more.
This audiobook was just released on Audible.com on July 4, 2014.
Thank you for making this audiobook a GREAT success!
There were many interesting stories about the pilots that flew the X-15, some humorous, some tragic.
A name you would be most familiar with, Neil Armstrong. There is an entire chapter discussing his role as an X-15 pilot. Other names include: Bill Dana, Joe Engle (flew space shuttle), Jack McKay and several more.
This audiobook was just released on Audible.com on July 4, 2014.
Thank you for making this audiobook a GREAT success!
December 17, 2015
This is a hard book to read because I got so immersed in the personal stories. I tended to forget that I needed to find data for my thesis and then move on. It is a compelling read and certainly worthwhile for those of the test pilot community or for anyone interested in America's grand adventures into space.
March 9, 2014
Wonderful! A great book even if you're not into space and rocket planes, because it keeps the excitement with the short biographies of the research plane pilots and their remarkable flights. Actually, a must-read even if you're not into rocket planes, since it opens up the doors of a fantastic world.
February 12, 2023
Excellent book about the X-15. Technical details were well explained. It was organized by pilot not an exact chronology of the program but made for a better story. Anybody interested in test pilots, early astronauts, rocket planes, Edwards AFB or the Antelope Valley in Southern California would be interested in this book. It is written in a clear and easy to understand style.
June 8, 2017
It's a magnificent piece of work. The golden age of the aerospace saga, with triumph and tragedies. Amust for every enthusiast.
June 24, 2017
There was some really good history here about the X-15 and overall it provided a decent amount of detail about the program, the aircraft, the challenges and successes. It certainly achieved the author's stated goal of helping to inspire me to be willing to take risk and take advantage of opportunities to do hard things in pursuit of breaking through barrier and frontiers.
The author took a different approach to documenting the program history than most people probably would have by writing biographies of each of the pilots rather than just providing a straight history of the program. That approach did provide a great human side to the X-15 program. I think the author chose to tackle the topic form this angle because of a desire to show the spirit and courage that the pilots, engineers, mechanics, mission planners, politicians and American citizens had at the time. Without highlighting this human element it would have been difficult to capture that spirit. At the same time I found the constant chronological shifts forward and backward through time as the author would wrap up one pilot's career and then jump to the next pilot's birth somewhat distracting. This made it harder for me to keep track of what was going on with the plane and program at any given time but overall was very interesting.
Even though the primary goal wasn't to focus on the plane and program as much as the pilots there was still plenty of good details about the program and technical challenges and I feel much more educated about the plane and this amazing piece of aerospace history than I did before I read the book.
The only part of the book I didn't care for was the author's painfully long tangent into her disagreement with one of the pilot's political stances taken later in life long after his flying career was over. Completely unnecessary and a total distraction from the topic at hand.
The author took a different approach to documenting the program history than most people probably would have by writing biographies of each of the pilots rather than just providing a straight history of the program. That approach did provide a great human side to the X-15 program. I think the author chose to tackle the topic form this angle because of a desire to show the spirit and courage that the pilots, engineers, mechanics, mission planners, politicians and American citizens had at the time. Without highlighting this human element it would have been difficult to capture that spirit. At the same time I found the constant chronological shifts forward and backward through time as the author would wrap up one pilot's career and then jump to the next pilot's birth somewhat distracting. This made it harder for me to keep track of what was going on with the plane and program at any given time but overall was very interesting.
Even though the primary goal wasn't to focus on the plane and program as much as the pilots there was still plenty of good details about the program and technical challenges and I feel much more educated about the plane and this amazing piece of aerospace history than I did before I read the book.
The only part of the book I didn't care for was the author's painfully long tangent into her disagreement with one of the pilot's political stances taken later in life long after his flying career was over. Completely unnecessary and a total distraction from the topic at hand.
January 27, 2024
There are a few volumes that deal with the USA's research aircraft programmes out there, most of which are either highly technical, 'dry' treatments or self-serving autobiographies with axes to grind. Thankfully, with one major exception, Evans' book is neither of those.
Adopting a format using each chapter to covey a different test pilot's flights in the X-15, what is presented is human-centred view, bringing out the people and personalities around the programme rather than a detailed, aviation 'buff' perspective. The book reflects what could only be described as voluminous interviews with the pilots, ground staff, and associated people, including the families of those concerned.
A different perspective emerges than the usual one portrayed in popular media; one of hard work, disappointment and frustration interspersed with moments of success and joy, together with the truth that the X-15 was, for most of those involved, merely one part of longer careers.
The only fault I could find in the book was a brief section on Pete Knight's post military career and the clash with his son over Proposition 22 and his anti gay, lesbian and trans-gender rights. Although a part of the post test flight story, the four pages devoted to it smack more of the author pushing an issue rather than something the general reader would care about.
Adopting a format using each chapter to covey a different test pilot's flights in the X-15, what is presented is human-centred view, bringing out the people and personalities around the programme rather than a detailed, aviation 'buff' perspective. The book reflects what could only be described as voluminous interviews with the pilots, ground staff, and associated people, including the families of those concerned.
A different perspective emerges than the usual one portrayed in popular media; one of hard work, disappointment and frustration interspersed with moments of success and joy, together with the truth that the X-15 was, for most of those involved, merely one part of longer careers.
The only fault I could find in the book was a brief section on Pete Knight's post military career and the clash with his son over Proposition 22 and his anti gay, lesbian and trans-gender rights. Although a part of the post test flight story, the four pages devoted to it smack more of the author pushing an issue rather than something the general reader would care about.
February 23, 2018
I'd love to rate this better than five stars. This book is wonderful.
Rather than write the chronology of the X-15, Michelle Evans devotes a chapter to each pilot. There's plenty of data, and fact and figures. However, what really makes this book is the stories about the pilots and other key people involved. There were times while I was reading it that I felt as though I was sitting in the room just chatting, rather than interviewing, the people.
What a magnificent plane, and this book captures the story so well.
Rather than write the chronology of the X-15, Michelle Evans devotes a chapter to each pilot. There's plenty of data, and fact and figures. However, what really makes this book is the stories about the pilots and other key people involved. There were times while I was reading it that I felt as though I was sitting in the room just chatting, rather than interviewing, the people.
What a magnificent plane, and this book captures the story so well.
March 27, 2018
I never heard of the X15 and got this book on a whim, intrigued and wanting to learn about the project. Save yourself time and effort, the Wikipedia entry is better written than this book. The author was given amazing access to all the people and all I learned was some nonsense about hiking up mountains and fishing expeditions and wives being unhappy and then having kids and being less unhappy. What am I reading about here? After reading about the project elsewhere on the Internet I can tell you this is a fascinating bit of early space exploration history.
October 7, 2023
Loved this book. It’s basically arranged on that it gives a mini biography of each X-15 pilot and their contribution/experience with the program.
The book is full of very personal stories but also quite technical. It does a very good job of championing the X-15 program and highlighting its significant contributions to aerospace research even though it was significantly overshadowed by NASAs other space programs
The book is full of very personal stories but also quite technical. It does a very good job of championing the X-15 program and highlighting its significant contributions to aerospace research even though it was significantly overshadowed by NASAs other space programs
July 30, 2018
Very interesting read. If you are looking to read a mini-biography of each X-15 pilot and a full review of the X-15 program, this one is for you. Many conversations with pilots and their families and the life of all three planes.
August 25, 2018
Wow, this book is avgeeks dream! Personal stories and detailed information on every single X-15 flight. I really enjoyed this one.
February 14, 2021
Never knew so much about this early part if the Space Program.
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September 19, 2014A very interesting book about the pilots that flew the X-15 rocket plane. The book also reveals details about the plane throughout the book. The author interviewed a number of people involved in the program: pilots; engineers, program managers, radar operators, etc.
Each chapter highlights an X-15 pilot, discusses their experience with the plane, provides some insight into their personal lives and has commentary from those working on the program.
I would say my two favorite chapters were about Neil Armstrong and Jack McKay.
Each chapter highlights an X-15 pilot, discusses their experience with the plane, provides some insight into their personal lives and has commentary from those working on the program.
I would say my two favorite chapters were about Neil Armstrong and Jack McKay.
August 23, 2015
THE X-15 ROCKET PLANE: FLYING THE FIRST WINGS INTO SPACE, is an extraordinarily fine account of the X-15 hypersonic research program and the individuals involved. It dovetails nicely with Milton Thompson’s, AT THE EDGE OF SPACE; and is probably as close to a definitive account of the program as we are going to get.
April 29, 2017
Born at the end of the 1950s, I don't much remember the early Mercury spaceflights, but the Gemini program, the XB-70 Valkyrie supersonic bomber, and the X-15 rocket planes were front page news, featured on magazine covers, and discussed on television constantly throughout my childhood in the 1960s. By presenting the personal story of each of the X-15's pilots, from first to last, Michelle Evans communicates the complexities and realities of this groundbreaking research program in a respectful and loving, yet honest and unflinching, manner. If the history of manned spaceflight is your thing your bookcase is incomplete unless this book rests upon shelves.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews