Posts: 1405
From: Huntington Beach
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 11-23-2001 05:03 PM               

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Everyone here knows about the 12 moonwalkers. There are even some items available from time to time with all twelve of their signatures.

What about the other twelve? I am referring to the twelve men who piloted the X-15.

Has anybody ever seen an item signed by all 12? Would people consider this an item more elusive than the 12 moonwalkers? Certainly there is one notable non-signor in the group. Plus a number of them have passed already.

Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 11-23-2001 05:20 PM               

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I suspect it's very feasible some aligned with the program just may have a piece like this but I doubt there are many if at all.

I resigned myself to obtaining signed flight covers of all 12 and only have Armstrong and Adams yet to obtain. But knowing how few the signed Adams ones are I've resigned myself to only having 11.

Posts: 1405
From: Huntington Beach
Registered: Feb 2000

Posts: 969
From: South Fork, CO
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 11-24-2001 03:14 AM               

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Several years ago when I really started collecting in earnest, I saw a photo of an X-15 on the ground, shot from an overhead viewpoint. It was signed by nine of the 12 who flew it including Mr. Armstrong. It sold on eBay at the time for about $1400, which I thought was way overpriced. What I'd give for that piece now, knowing how truly rare an X-15 photo signed by 9 of the pilots is.

In cases like this 20/20 hindsight is VERY painful.

Posts: 428
From: San Antonio TX, USA
Registered: Apr 2004

posted 07-16-2010 08:00 PM               

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I just got a color 8x10 photo of the X-15 sitting on the ramp, with Knight, Rushworth, Engle, Thompson, Dana and McKay standing on either side of the plane's nose.

Does anyone know if any of these photos exist signed by the six pilots? Did any dealers do private signings with the pilots, where the photo was signed?

Editor's note: Threads merged.

Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005

posted 07-16-2010 08:01 PM               

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McKay passed away in 1975, which pre-dates most of the "dealer interest" in such items.

The only organized commercial photo signing of X-15 pilots (that I'm aware of) took place in 1993, where the Flight Test Historical Foundation (with help of at one least on cS member) got the then-surviving seven X-15 pilots (Crossfield, Armstrong, Engle, Dana, Thompson, Knight, White) to autograph a variety of photos for fund-raising purposes. The other five pilots (McKay, Walker, Rushworth, Adams, and Petersen) had passed away by that point.

The Flight Test Historical Foundation had at least one photo of the lineup you mentioned signed by four of the six pilots. (I can link a scan of such an item later, when I get home.)

I don't recall ever seeing a color photo of the six pilots you mention being signed by all six, but it's probably not impossible... as long as the McKay signature was gathered prior to his passing in 1975. However, consider posting a scan if you can (or e-mail the image to me off-list and I will post it later), so we can provide you with opinions on the signatures.

Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 07-16-2010 08:01 PM               

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I personally have never seen a color version of that photo signed, but have seen a black and white one.

As for commercial signings, as Mark says the only one is the six signature ones done by the FTHF, that included Armstrong. But it was the X-15 on the ramp, not them personally.

Completing all 12 signatures is probably one of the hardest groups to do, aside from ALL of the MOL or DynaSoar ones.

I too would be happy to look at it.

Posts: 428
From: San Antonio TX, USA
Registered: Apr 2004

Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005

Posts: 573
From: Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
Registered: Jan 2000

Posts: 660
From: Northville MI USA
Registered: Aug 2005

posted 07-29-2015 09:48 AM               

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Wow - what a collection!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing with us.

The XB-70 cover on page one does not seem to be signed by the pilots. I have a number of XB-70 and the servicer for the XB-70 covers typically wrote the names of the pilots as well as flight number etc. on the covers. I don't have this flight cover so I can't compare but both names and the flight info seem to be written by the same person using the same pen on this cover.

Posts: 573
From: Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 07-29-2015 04:13 PM               

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Glad you enjoyed the X-15 pilots and the rest of the collection.

Thank you for the information on the XB-70 cover. I bought it hoping I was buying a genuine Van Shepard signature which I needed to complete the XB-70 pilots (with the exception of Carl Cross whose signature I have never seen). Do you have a genuine Van Shepard signature for comparison or for sale?

Can anyone help? Thanks folks.

Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000

Posts: 573
From: Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 07-29-2015 08:14 PM               

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That would be because some absolute gems are courtesy of my good friend Al whose help, assistance and expertise has always been freely given and very much appreciated. It was interesting reading your earlier post about not having a Mike Adams.

For those who haven't done so already have a look at Al's site and you will see the 12 X-15 pilots on postal covers plus some other rare aerospace items.

Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000

Posts: 1744
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 08-03-2015 08:35 AM               

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I've just spent some time visiting both Ian's and Al's wonderful websites and plan to go back soon to check things out more carefully.

Both have an emphasis on aviation, but with much space material, and for those who haven't visited these websites yet, you should when you have a good bit of time; there's a lot to see!

It was interesting to see rare complete sets of X-15 pilot signed material from both, with Al having all flight covers, and Ian having 11 signed photos, with a superb signed card from the rarest of the rare, Mike Adams.

Posts: 573
From: Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 08-03-2015 08:14 PM               

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Thank you for the kind words Bob. Not sure I will ever be in your league. Thank you also for your assistance with my collection.

It helps a lot to have people point out suspect items in our collections. I bought a Joe Walker signed photo from a major auction house which turned out to be not authentic. I have three postal covers signed by John McKay that are probably suspect. The auction house that sold them insists they are authentic and John McKay's son says they may be authentic but experienced collectors say not authentic.

For those who are interested have a look at Bob's site.

Posts: 58
From: Dayton, Ohio
Registered: Jul 2014

Posts: 573
From: Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
Registered: Jan 2000

Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000

Posts: 108
From: Crestwood, MO
Registered: Mar 2009

Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 09-04-2015 10:56 AM               

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Thanks Doug, I just noticed that purchasing my banquet ticket for this year's induction.

I agree, it's a very nice addition to anyone's X-15 collection.