10 June 1969: The U.S. Air Force donated the first North American Aviation X-15, serial number 56-6670, to the Smithsonian Institution for display at the National Air and Space Museum. The first of three X-15A hypersonic research rocketplanes built by North American for the Air Force and the National Advisory Committee (NACA, the predecessor of NASA), 56-6670 made the first glide flight and
Theodore J. “Ted” Banick joined the United States Air Force in 1952 and served until 1980. While in the Air Force, he trained in the PA-18, T-6, T-28, T-33, and 2 helicopter types. He was commissioned in 1954 and went on to fly the F-86, F-104, F-100, F-4, and T-39. He served the USAF in many places and capacities, including 2 tours in Vietnam.
Upon retirement from the Air Force, Ted became an assistant professor at the University of Southern California, Institute of Safety and Systems Management, then an aviation safety consultant and accident investigator.
In 1995, he began his career as a “professional retiree and amateur golfer”. Ted was a member of several pilot and safety organizations. He loved the Air Force, aviation, golf, music, old movies, his dogs, and his friends. He was a lifelong Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs fan, and really enjoyed USC Trojans football, and was a longtime supporter of their marching band.