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
Joe “Flew T-41, T-37 and T-38 White Rockets in pilot training class 68-G at Webb AFB, Big Spring TX.
Flew F-84F Thunderstreak in Ohio ANG, 1968-1971
Flew F-100 Super Sabre in Ohio ANG, 1971-1974
I spent my civilian career, including while I was a weekend warrior, at the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright Patterson AFB, working on propulsion and stealth technology development. After early retirement I started working for a small systems engineering company that supports base activities at WPAFB, and that’s where I am now.
Why did they affectionately call the F-84F the “Hog”? On a hot summer day, with two 450 gal tanks and the low thrust engine it had, the jet used every bit of Springfield’s 9000’ runway. But it was supersonic going straight down! When we got our Huns from VN they had lots of bullet holes in them. Both jets were great airplanes. My years flying the Thunderstreak and the Hun were the best.
“Outboard and back, for an easy light!””
