X-15 first flight, in 1/48

**dhanners** · #1 01-08-2023, 04:27 AM

Yeah, another X-15. This is my build of YukonJohn’s repaint of Henry Yuen’s X-15, depicting the first X-15, 66670, as it appeared on its first powered flight on 23 January 1960. (Although 66670 made its first glide flight on 8 June 1959, the first powered flight in the X-15 program was actually by X-15-2, 66671, on 17 September 1959.)

I enlarged the model from 1/72nd to 1/48th. I wanted to try it at 1/32nd, but the printing shop I use couldn’t enlarge the original model that much (225%) and fit everything on the page.

The model includes a scratchbuilt XLR11 rocket motor (actually, two of them) and I also did some scratchbuilding on the vertical stabilizers, cutting each into separate sections and building each as its stub and moveable rudder section.

On its first flight, 66670 was fairly clean and unweathered, and the airframe was painted a semi-gloss black with a slight blue tint. It only took a supersonic flight or two to give the X-15 a weathered look, and they dispensed with the paint.

The last photo shows the first-flight 66670 with how the same aircraft looked on the 199th and last flight of the X-15 program, on 24 October 1968.

**-Jim G** · #2 01-08-2023, 07:35 AM

I love seeing this series of models! You do such a nice job, and the subject is so interesting!

One question: Of the X-15 program's 199 flights, is that first unpowered flight included?, or is it 199 powered flights?

**dhanners** · #3 01-08-2023, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Jim G

I love seeing this series of models! You do such a nice job, and the subject is so interesting!

One question: Of the X-15 program's 199 flights, is that first unpowered flight included?, or is it 199 powered flights?

Thanks for the kind words. It was 199 powered flights, and 66670’s glide flight was the only glide flight of the program.

NASA and USAF made eight attempts at a 200th flight, but all were scrubbed before the planes got off the ground or once airborne. The last attempt was to be 20 December 1968, but was scrubbed because of a snowstorm at Edwards, of all things.

The X-15 program’s funding ran out 31 December 1968, so that was the end of it.