Neil Armstrong was an X-15 pilot? The program turns 50 this week?

Neil Armstrong was actively engaged in both piloting and engineering aspects of the X-15 program from its inception. He completed the first flight in the aircraft equipped with a new flow-direction sensor and the initial flight in an X-15 equipped with a self-adaptive flight control system. He worked closely with designers and engineers in development of the adaptive system, and made seven flights in the rocket plane from December 1960 until July 1962. During those fights he reached a peak altitude of 207,500 feet in the X-15-3, and a speed of 3,989 mph (Mach 5.74) in the X-15-1.

The X-15 had its first, unpowered glide flight on June 8, 1959, while the first powered flight took place on September 17, 1959.

Yeah he sure did. On one flight, he was reported to have flown so far off course that he was near Pasadena and could see the Rose Bowl Stadium. He said he believed he could have seen Pasadena if he had looked out, he was too busy trying to sort out some glitch to look, and all it took to be off course at that speed was about 20 or 30 seconds. So he did OK. I think it was on that same flight that he barely made it back to Edwards and the legend is that the X15 brushed the tops of a Joshua Tree before making the landing, again this seems to all be exaggeration

Great pictures of an inspiring time. I always thought the X-15 was an amazing spacecraft.

happy bday neil armstrong.