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
Noel Lovellette served his country in the Air Force in Vietnam. After his military service, he operated his family ranch in Holland, TX. Noel played rhythm guitar and mandolin with the “Cowboys for Hire”. Band members said, “Don’t let his gray hair fool you; he can still jump into the pen and sort cattle with the best of them, and does frequently on the cow/calf operation he runs near Holland, TX with his bride Margie. He has a great vocal range and we use him from baritone to high tenor, and his love for bluegrass has its influence on the music as well.”
Noel came from a musical family, all of his siblings played instruments. For more on his music visit: http://home.grandecom.net/~daveroland/
