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
With only 282 hours in the Hun, I feel proud to be listed with the pilots who have accomplished much more with this marvelous flying machine. I loved every minute and really learned how to fly with the Hun.
I flew the “A” model, but only in training at Nellis to check out in the HUN. From Nellis, I went to George and we flew the “C” model. I was there only about 18 months, SAC got a hold of me to fly the B-47… I was a mean disgruntled fighter jock!!! To say the least…
The B-47 was an experience – educational and stressful during the Cold War. The C-124 was a good “old Shaky” workhorse, and the C-141 was a “Cadillac”! I considered the T-39 a twin-engined F-86!
Thanks to the Air Force for an exciting career and the opportunities to meet and make many lasting, faithful friends – the likes of which cannot be made anywhere else. After retiring in 1983, I continued flying an additional 15 years in single and twin-engined recip aircraft – charter service with Moyer Aviation at Mount Pocono. PA. In 1998, I fully retired to the Pocono Mountains near Saylorsburg, PA.
