16 Nov 2025, 12:42 [ UTC - 5; DST ]
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Username Protected
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Post subject: Re: X-15  Posted: 31 Mar 2021, 19:20 |
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Joined: 01/23/13
Posts: 9416
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Company: Kokotele Guitar Works
Location: Albany, NY
Aircraft: C-182RG, C-172, PA28
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Username Protected wrote: I have often thought that there must have been a secret follow-on program to the X-15. They wouldn't have just tossed all that great engineering, would they? But at this late date, it seems likely that they did. I think the programs you’re looking for are Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and the Space Shuttle.
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Post subject: Re: X-15 Posted: 31 Mar 2021, 19:31 |
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Joined: 06/06/12
Posts: 2469
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Company: FlightRepublic
Location: Bee Cave, TX
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Username Protected wrote: Scott Crossfield’s autobiography is a good read if you like the X-15 and the rocketplane era. 99 cents on Amazon.. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H3 ... g=btalk-20Thanks, Jesse I just bought it and look forward to reading it.
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Antoni Deighton
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Post subject: Re: X-15 Posted: 01 Apr 2021, 05:56 |
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Joined: 04/22/10
Posts: 1349
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Location: Port Moresby and sometimes Brisbane
Aircraft: A36 Bonanza
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Username Protected wrote: I have often thought that there must have been a secret follow-on program to the X-15. They wouldn't have just tossed all that great engineering, would they? But at this late date, it seems likely that they did. I think the programs you’re looking for are Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and the Space Shuttle.
I strongly suspect there is 'something' out there - maybe remote control drone type descendant.
Coming down the Gulf between BAH and Iran one evening en-route LHR-DXB we saw an arrow head shaped aircraft VERY high, going VERY fast heading into Iran. We queried the BAH controller. He then conferred with his MIL offsider sitting mere feet away.
Answer came back "You didn't see anything" - we looked at each other and just rolled our eyes.   
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Chuck Perry
A36 VH-EZU
B737-800NG
Redcliffe
QLd, Australia
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Post subject: Re: X-15 Posted: 01 Apr 2021, 10:53 |
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Joined: 08/26/15
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Company: airlines (*CRJ,A320)
Location: Florida panhandle
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That's a neat and concise explanation of the blunt nose (on the X-15 and the Space Shuttle), surface heating, and the boundary layer. I never really put that together. The wedge-shaped tail feathers always intuitively made sense because, well, that's what an airplane is supposed to look like if it's supposed to go 4,000mph... everybody knows that!
The part about the engine (including the turbopumps which IIRC the Shuttle main engines also used), and managing all that heat is a reminder of the technical issues the SpaceX people deal with with just like the V-2 propulsion people had to do too.
All these things are a lot easier for us fifty years later now that the textbooks have been written, but I think there are as yet even more textbooks to write!
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Post subject: Re: X-15 Posted: 01 Apr 2021, 14:22 |
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Joined: 09/21/16
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Username Protected wrote: I have often thought that there must have been a secret follow-on program to the X-15. They wouldn't have just tossed all that great engineering, would they? But at this late date, it seems likely that they did. As another poster stated, the space shuttle was the real successor to the X-15. Joe Engle flew both the X-15 and the shuttle. As commander of STS-2, Engle flew the only completely manual re-entry and landing of the shuttle program. I’m sure his X-15 experience was invaluable. Greg
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Post subject: Re: X-15 Posted: 01 Apr 2021, 14:27 |
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Joined: 09/21/16
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Username Protected wrote: I strongly suspect there is 'something' out there - maybe remote control drone type descendant. Look no further than the X-37. It fits your description perfectly. Greg
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Post subject: Re: X-15 Posted: 06 Apr 2021, 21:17 |
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Joined: 03/28/10
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Location: Columbus, OH
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Username Protected wrote: I have often thought that there must have been a secret follow-on program to the X-15. They wouldn't have just tossed all that great engineering, would they? But at this late date, it seems likely that they did. Aurora...
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Post subject: Re: X-15 Posted: 06 Apr 2021, 23:46 |
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Joined: 01/03/15
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Username Protected wrote: Aurora... I'm interested in what people think Aurora would actually do. And not just "what would it do?", but "what would it do that we can't do now?"
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Post subject: Re: X-15 Posted: 07 Apr 2021, 06:44 |
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Joined: 09/29/10
Posts: 5660
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Company: USAF Simulator Instructor
Location: Wichita Valley Airport (F14)
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Username Protected wrote: I have often thought that there must have been a secret follow-on program to the X-15. They wouldn't have just tossed all that great engineering, would they? But at this late date, it seems likely that they did. Aurora...
The X-15 was a research airplane. It’s purpose was to gather data on high speed and high altitude flight and try out new technologies. It didn’t have the range or endurance to accomplish any military mission. But they didn’t just toss out all that great engineering. As others have pointed out, the data gathered by the X-15 was used in many other projects like Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, the Space Shuttle and probably the SR-71.
The conspiracy theory on the Aurora is that it’s the follow-on to the SR-71. It’s mission would be high altitude, high speed reconnaissance. With SAMs now able to successfully engage reentering ballistic missiles, an air-breathing aircraft, even a Mach 6.0 airplane at 120,000 feet, is vulnerable. Stealth would help but how do you hide something that hot from infrared sensors?
I certainly hope there are black programs developing new capabilities. If we develop a game-changing aircraft, I hope we have the good sense to keep it black for as long as possible. Once an aircraft goes operational, however, it becomes exceedingly difficult to keep it quiet. There are too many people getting assignments that they can’t talk about and they’re all going to the same place. Several years before the Air Force unveiled the F-117, every US pilot who attended a Red Flag exercise knew we had a new fighter, probably stealth, in operational service. The were too many “golden-haired boys” (pilots on the fast track to promotion) hanging around Nellis AFB, claiming they were flying one of the handful of A-7s sitting on the ramp. The cover story was they doing “testing.” The only thing we got wrong was the base. We all thought the F-117 was at Groom Lake when it was actually at Tonopah.
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