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Author Topic:   NASA or USAF X-15 rocket plane patches
GoesTo11
Member

Posts: 1350
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004

posted 03-10-2009 01:00 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for GoesTo11   Click Here to Email GoesTo11     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Can anyone tell me if there was an insignia, official or otherwise, for the X-15 program?

On page 35 of Dennis Jenkins and Tony Landis' book "Hypersonic" there is a small illustration of a "program patch," with no information or elaboration. I'd never seen it before, and can't locate any period photos showing anyone wearing it.

Can anyone tell me anything about this emblem, or any other vintage patch specific to the X-15 project?

E2M Lem Man
Member

Posts: 846
From: Los Angeles CA. USA
Registered: Jan 2005

posted 03-10-2009 07:13 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for E2M Lem Man   Click Here to Email E2M Lem Man     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
There was another patch that appeared to look down at the X-15 that Michelle Evans designed, but that came out years later and was not an official patch.

KSCartist
Member

Posts: 3010
From: Titusville, FL
Registered: Feb 2005

posted 03-11-2009 08:15 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for KSCartist   Click Here to Email KSCartist     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
At the risk of spraining my arm to pat myself on the back, I've also designed an X-15 patch.

By the way, Michelle's is a great design!

x15gal
Member

Posts: 58
From: Lake Forest, CA, USA
Registered: Nov 2010

posted 11-24-2010 01:18 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for x15gal   Click Here to Email x15gal     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Tim, you did a wonderful job on your X-15 commemorative patch. Your skills are exceptional.

The story on the patch that I designed is that during my research on the program, I always asked all those I interviewed if anyone had ever seen a patch. Not one person said that there was a X-15 patch done at the time of the program. Because of that, I decided to sit down and design my own.

Not long after I did that, one of the guys I was interviewing said that he did have a patch, and showed me a copy of the round green patch with the X-15 rising above the Earth. From everything I was able to discover about this patch, it was something that came along well after the program was completed, but it obviously pre-dates mine by some unknown number of years (mine was designed in 1986).

(If anyone can find a photo, or other info, that shows the patch in use during the actual program, it would be greatly appreciated.)

X-Plane Fan
Member

Posts: 154
From: Clayton, Ohio, USA
Registered: Jul 2007

posted 12-03-2010 06:47 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for X-Plane Fan     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Actually the original X-15 patch was created back when the X-15 program was active. To my knowledge it was produced in very low numbers (probably less than a dozen).

The only one I've seen that was actually worn was on the jacket of a PSD technician that appears in photos with pilots of the X-15, SR-71 and NF-104 to name a few. Here's a shot taken with Bob Gilliland after the first or second flight of the SR-71A in 1964/65.

albatron
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Posts: 2804
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 12-03-2010 10:09 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for albatron   Click Here to Email albatron     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Interesting Tony, thanks. I wasn't aware of that one. Any idea who the USAF guy with Bob Gilliland is?

Gilbert
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Posts: 1427
From: Carrollton, GA USA
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 12-06-2010 07:35 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Gilbert   Click Here to Email Gilbert     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
That photo seems to answer the question of whether or not X-15 patches existed during the program.

spaced out
Member

Posts: 3179
From: Paris, France
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 12-06-2010 09:15 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for spaced out   Click Here to Email spaced out     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Maybe that's someone's home-made attempt at a project patch, or maybe it's an unofficial patch someone had made in small numbers.

In any case now that I've seen a photo of it I can understand why it apparently wasn't very popular with pilots or project members at the time.

lucspace
Member

Posts: 468
From: Hilversum, The Netherlands
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 11-24-2011 02:25 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for lucspace   Click Here to Email lucspace     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Is the design shown in "Hypersonic" and the "X-15 Scrapbook" the same that Major Richardson in wearing in the two photos? Could anyone mail me scans of the designs in those books?

I am trying to reconstruct the patch and am unsure about the stars.

Gilbert
Member

Posts: 1427
From: Carrollton, GA USA
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 06-05-2013 11:25 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Gilbert   Click Here to Email Gilbert     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I just received one of Michelle's X-15 program patches. It is beautiful and the quality is excellent. The patch is a great addition to the somewhat limited X-15 collectibles arena.

x15gal
Member

Posts: 58
From: Lake Forest, CA, USA
Registered: Nov 2010

posted 06-06-2013 01:46 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for x15gal   Click Here to Email x15gal     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Gilbert, Thank you for your comment on the patch (and the postcard). Glad you liked the patch. The company did a wonderful job in their production.

Gonzo
Member

Posts: 598
From: Holland, MI, USA
Registered: Mar 2012

posted 07-30-2013 02:54 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Gonzo   Click Here to Email Gonzo     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
For anyone interested in these, they are awesome patches. Well worth adding to your collection.

lucspace
Member

Posts: 468
From: Hilversum, The Netherlands
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 05-24-2021 07:48 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for lucspace   Click Here to Email lucspace     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Reproduction of the unofficial X-15 NASA/USAF experimental aircraft program patch. Based on photos of officials and astronaut Joe Engle wearing the original patch.

The patch measures 130 mm across the aircraft: I have not yet found a distributor. © copyright Lucreation 2021

SXPatches
Member

Posts: 169
From: Port Orchard, WA USA
Registered: Jul 2020

posted 05-24-2021 03:15 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SXPatches   Click Here to Email SXPatches     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Nice. What was old is new again! Knowing that this emblem was actually worn is special, and I think the other commemorative designs are equally special.

thisismills
Member

Posts: 472
From: Michigan
Registered: Mar 2012

posted 05-24-2021 06:44 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for thisismills   Click Here to Email thisismills     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Great news! Looking forward to purchasing this X-15 program reproduction patch.

Following up on the earlier posts, here is another shot of Ralph Richardson wearing the same jacket in a photo that was recently sold as part of the Armstrong collection.

I do not know the exact date of the photo but it appears that the X-15 patch is not yet sewn on the arm Richardson.

David C
Member

Posts: 1321
From: Lausanne
Registered: Apr 2012

posted 06-23-2021 12:38 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for David C     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by lucspace:
I have not yet found a distributor.

Any progress on this yet?

lucspace
Member

Posts: 468
From: Hilversum, The Netherlands
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 06-23-2021 01:24 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for lucspace   Click Here to Email lucspace     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Yes, the patch will be available from Skyforce Space Patches soon!

David C
Member

Posts: 1321
From: Lausanne
Registered: Apr 2012

posted 06-23-2021 02:01 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for David C     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Excellent, looking forward to it.

David C
Member

Posts: 1321
From: Lausanne
Registered: Apr 2012

posted 07-17-2021 10:37 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for David C     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
And just received mine. Great job. Much better than the earlier reproduction seen at the top of this thread.

thisismills
Member

Posts: 472
From: Michigan
Registered: Mar 2012

posted 08-02-2021 04:34 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for thisismills   Click Here to Email thisismills     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Received my X-15 patch and let me say it is wonderful.

Thanks again for making this great patch available to us!

lucspace
Member

Posts: 468
From: Hilversum, The Netherlands
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 09-20-2021 01:13 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for lucspace   Click Here to Email lucspace     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Another original X-15 patch surfaced.

J Blackburn
Member

Posts: 259
From: Riner
Registered: Sep 2011

posted 09-24-2021 09:58 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for J Blackburn   Click Here to Email J Blackburn     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Received my X-15 patch today and glad I was able to obtain one. I have always been fascinated with the X-15 program and now I have another relic to add to the collection. Nice job Luc!!

JLR1
Member

Posts: 94
From: Cincinnati, OH
Registered: Oct 2008

posted 02-14-2022 04:56 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for JLR1   Click Here to Email JLR1     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Does anyone have any info on this patch, e.g. its manufacturer? As seen on eBay (294811647081). Thanks in advance.
This embroidered patch is based on an original X-15 patch owned by X-15 pilot Joe Engle. The original was embroidered on aluminized cloth similar to the spacesuits worn by the X-15 pilots. This one uses a shiny metallic-silver thread background to recreate this effect. Patch is 5 inches by 3.5 inches.

J Blackburn
Member

Posts: 259
From: Riner
Registered: Sep 2011

posted 02-14-2022 10:29 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for J Blackburn   Click Here to Email J Blackburn     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This particular patch is a reproduction of the original. This reproduction according to Mach 25 Media was intended to fundraise for the National Aviation Hall of Fame. I believe this reproduction patch was created by Tim Gagnon.

Here is a link to Mach 25 Media and information for several X-15 patches.

JLR1
Member

Posts: 94
From: Cincinnati, OH
Registered: Oct 2008

posted 02-15-2022 07:52 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for JLR1   Click Here to Email JLR1     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks for the reply. I had visited that website, but wasn't sure if the patch on eBay was part of a new batch of replicas. One has been sold, and then another immediately listed following the sale of the first one.

J Blackburn
Member

Posts: 259
From: Riner
Registered: Sep 2011

posted 02-15-2022 11:49 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for J Blackburn   Click Here to Email J Blackburn     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I purchased one late last night to add to my X-15 collection. I see the seller has listed another this morning.

It is a nice reproduction even with the silver thread in place of the actual flight suit material. I also like having this reproduction with the fact of seeing the Joe Engle photo of his actual patch in hand on the Mach 25 Media webpage.

J Blackburn
Member

Posts: 259
From: Riner
Registered: Sep 2011

posted 02-17-2022 02:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for J Blackburn   Click Here to Email J Blackburn     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have been in contact with the seller of this reproduction X-15 patch and he stated these patches are not the ones produced by Tim Gagnon. The seller stated he had produced these patches a few years back.

I have not received mine as of yet but from the pictures they look really nice. I will follow up when mine arrives.

J Blackburn
Member

Posts: 259
From: Riner
Registered: Sep 2011

posted 02-18-2022 12:42 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for J Blackburn   Click Here to Email J Blackburn     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I received my patch today and it is a very nice reproduction of Joe Engle's original. The patch is well made and I am honored to have it in my collection. The X-15 was an extraordinary aircraft and its flights helped shape America's space program to achieve so many tasks from the early days to the shuttle. This patch is another from a few out there to honor not only the aircraft but the pilots who flew it.

JLR1
Member

Posts: 94
From: Cincinnati, OH
Registered: Oct 2008

posted 02-18-2022 02:51 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for JLR1   Click Here to Email JLR1     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I also received one today. Very pleased with its look and quality. Twelve have been sold so far, another one listed today.

SXPatches
Member

Posts: 169
From: Port Orchard, WA USA
Registered: Jul 2020

posted 02-18-2022 10:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SXPatches   Click Here to Email SXPatches     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Mine should arrive soon. Glad to hear it is a good reproduction.

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