News Archive / Tagged: X-15

• Our Spaceflight Heritage: celebrating 55 years of X-15

  Heather SmithJune 8th, 2014

  On this date (June 8) in 1959, A. Scott Crossfield flew the X-15, leading the United States in the first glide flight at Dryden Flight Research Facility, CA.  Within the first 50 years of spaceflight, the X-15 became the world’s first operational spaceplane.  The experimental, rocket-boosted aircraft flew 199 flights with 12 different pilots at […]

• Iconic NASA test pilot Bill Dana – dead at 83

  Jim SharkeyMay 12th, 2014

  NASA test pilot and aerospace engineer Bill Dana died on Tuesday, May 6 at the age of 83 following a lengthy illness.  Dana served at NASA for nearly 40 years before retiring in 1998. During his distinguished and extensive career, Dana flew over 8,000 hours in more than 60 different types of aircraft ranging from helicopters […]

• NASA Dryden Center renaming ceremony set for May 13

  Jason RhianApril 2nd, 2014

  In a little over a month, a turning point will occur at one of NASA’s most iconic facilities. On Tuesday May 13, 2014 a special ceremony will be held to change the name of Dryden Flight Research Center – to Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC) in honor of Neil Alden Armstrong, the first man to […]