8. NASA X-15 – Fastest Rocket-Powered Manned Aircraft
Before there were space shuttles or SpaceX rockets, there was the North American X-15 — a rocket-powered aircraft that reached Mach 6.7 (4,520 mph or 7,274 km/h) in 1967, piloted by William J. “Pete” Knight.
The X-15 was part of an experimental program to test the boundaries of high-speed, high-altitude flight. It flew to the edge of space, with some pilots even receiving astronaut wings after flights over 50 miles high. The aircraft was dropped from a B-52 bomber before igniting its rocket engine.
It provided crucial data for NASA’s space programs and laid the foundation for both the Apollo missions and future reusable space vehicles. Its record of speed for a manned aircraft stood unchallenged for decades.
Unlike traditional planes, the X-15 could not take off from the ground. It was launched mid-air and had only one shot to complete its mission before gliding back to land — an engineering marvel and a risky endeavor for any pilot.
