posted 05-27-2013 01:58 AM               

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Originally posted by NAAmodel#240:
As you know, Dave knows his stuff and he says your work is terrific.

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quote:

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You are probably one of a scant few that understands my username.

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posted 08-30-2013 01:48 PM               

The first will be at the Weisbrod Air Museum in Pueblo, Colorado, at 2:00 pm on Sunday October 6.

The second will, be for the AIAA, Orange County Chapter in Huntington Beach at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, October 22.

posted 09-18-2013 04:08 PM               

The writing was great and the stories taught me even more about the project that thought I've pretty much read everything about.

posted 09-18-2013 05:51 PM               

I'm looking forward to hopefully meeting some of you at one of my upcoming talks on the X-15. The one in Huntington Beach for the AIAA on October 22 has now opened their registration. Non-members of the AIAA have a $5 charge to attend, but that does include pizza and drinks.

posted 10-24-2013 09:41 PM               

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Originally posted by Kite:
One thing I did not understand was how North American only allowed Scott Crossfield to test the plane for them when backup pilot Alvin White was available.

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Obviously not for any reason regarding his ability, but he stated, Scotty really "hogged" it, but he said it in a jovial manner. Basically it was his bird and the understanding was he was there solely "just in case".

Also the XB-70 was not far down the road, and he was moved over to that program where he became the Chief Test Pilot.

posted 10-27-2013 02:19 AM               

“Al was laying awake nights figuring out how he could break my legs so he could get into the X-15.”

posted 10-29-2013 02:52 PM               

Anyway, Bizony gives the book four out of five stars. His only criticism, as such, is that he'd have liked to see more context on the project...the "whys" and "hows" of the X-15 program's initiation and its place in the overall arc of the US manned spaceflight effort. Otherwise nothing but praise.

posted 01-25-2014 01:17 AM               

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Originally posted by dom:
I've just finished your book (a great read) and was particularly fascinated by the story of pilot Mike Adams.

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As far as how his career might have gone if the earlier accident had not happened, it is certainly hard to say for sure. As I mentioned in the book, he was up for astronaut selection and could have gone into the Gemini program. If that had happened his accident in the X-15 would not have happened because the vertigo he was susceptible to, most likely would not have been a factor on a Gemini or Apollo mission. You also had at least one other crew member present, which would have made a lot of difference.

posted 01-25-2014 01:19 AM               

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Originally posted by Philip:
A less known fact: first space telescope was carried onboard an X-15 flight...

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posted 01-30-2014 03:31 AM            

But one comment and a related question: putting this simply, the chapter dealing with Neil Armstrong's time with the program seems to focus very extensively on his failings/shortcomings to a greater extent than the other pilots. This is partly explained by personal circumstances in Armstrong's life at the time. One example is the test landing on one of the lakebeds after heavy rains that Armstrong did in the F-104 with Yeager flying backseat (which is also covered in Yeager's autobiography).

posted 02-03-2014 01:13 AM               

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Originally posted by Henry Heatherbank:
I'd be interested to hear why this chapter had this focus rather than on the engineering aspects of the missions he flew...

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What it came down to was the fact that if Neil had not screwed up several flights in a row as he did with the X-15 skip flight and the other incidents after that, he most likely never would have gone to the Moon. He knew that things were going badly, and he needed to leave Edwards after the death of his daughter. If that death had not happened, Neil probably would never have screwed up those flights, and he most likely would have stayed on the X-15 instead of applying for Houston.

And in general, you will find that each chapter has a unique focus, rather than just speaking directly of any specific technology or engineering work. Some examples: Chapter 4 (Petersen) dealt with the rocket engine development; Chapter 9 (Thompson) dealt with the X-15 and the media; and Chapter 11 (Dana) dealt with experiments.

posted 02-03-2014 01:24 AM               

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Originally posted by Rusty53:
I received my copy of the book today and was able to use Michelle Evans' description of the drive to the High Range stations to locate the Ely station on Google Earth.

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Yes, the structures at Ely were still in place the last I heard, and I believe they are still being used on occasion (at least they were when I drove up there about 8 years ago).

The Beatty site only has the outline you describe. All the buildings are indeed gone, but it was fun to go up there and sit on the old foundation and fix myself some lunch one afternoon, then search around and find a few old pieces of electronics still scattered about the area.

On my website you can find two download files for the special tour itinerary I created called "In the Footsteps of the X-15." One is the itinerary and the other has a set of maps to go with the itinerary. Tour Stop 7 is a detailed description of exactly how to get up to the Beatty site, and Tour Stop 11 is the same for the Ely site.

So, if you really want to have some fun, download the maps and itinerary and take a fun trip through X-15 territory. One of these days I am going to organize an official tour as I've had several people who have said they would love to do that.

posted 02-03-2014 03:04 AM            

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Originally posted by x15gal:
Neil is always portrayed as a very unflappable person, so I took this opportunity to delve into an aspect of his character that is often overlooked.

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Certainly a very brave decision to cover Armstrong's involvement that way, but you have done it very, very well. [SPOILER ALERT] - I thought the way you wrapped up the chapter with the account of Armstrong openly retelling the story of him being grounded and forced to fly backseat with Joe Walker for 10 hours was a great way to "humanise" Armstrong.

I have especially liked the chapter on Joe Engle, whose time with the X-15 program has usually only been a footnote to other coverage of his NASA career. And the Milt Thompson chapter covering the media interest and the motion picture filmed at EAFB during his time on the X-15 has been really fascinating.

posted 06-16-2014 12:47 PM               

I've also included links to other authors in the Outward Odyssey series. I hope that they may also be able to get out and talk about their books.

posted 08-24-2017 12:50 PM               

1960s Space Plane Subject of Aug. 26 Lecture and Book Signing

Author Michelle Evans discusses her book about the remarkable X-15

On Aug. 26, the Museum hosts a lecture and book signing with author Michelle Evans, who will talk about her book, "The X-15 Rocket Plane: Flying the First Wings into Space."

Evans captures the drama and excitement of the program behind the plane that was flown into space 15 years before the shuttle. Her book puts a human face on the feats of science and engineering that went into the X-15 program, and introduces its largely unsung pilots. By the time of the Apollo 11 moon landing, only 31 American astronauts had flown into space, and eight of them were astronaut-pilots of the X-15.

The 2 p.m. program is free with admission to the Museum.