Jun 25
"Reaching Peak Velocity Flying Through And In An Experimental Plane" Original Digital Art by Monte' X. Burke ©2026 Bug Barians Ltd., LLC. All Monte' X. Burke Abstract is Non AI.
seen from Venezuela
seen from United States
seen from Lebanon
seen from Germany
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from Japan
seen from Malaysia
seen from India
seen from Philippines
seen from Japan
seen from Türkiye
seen from China
seen from China
seen from Pakistan
seen from Germany
seen from Belgium
seen from United States
seen from Türkiye
seen from Latvia
"Reaching Peak Velocity Flying Through And In An Experimental Plane" Original Digital Art by Monte' X. Burke ©2026 Bug Barians Ltd., LLC. All Monte' X. Burke Abstract is Non AI.
"Wreckage of the X-2 rocket plane was taken to NACA's High Speed Flight Station for analysis following the 1956 crash that killed Air Force pilot Capt. Mel Apt
The X-2, initially an Air Force program, was scheduled to be transferred to the civilian National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) for scientific research. The Air Force delayed turning the aircraft over to the NACA in the hope of attaining Mach 3 in the airplane. The service requested and received a two-month extension to qualify another Air Force test pilot, Capt. Miburn "Mel" Apt, in the X-2 and attempt to exceed Mach 3. After several ground briefings in the simulator, Apt (with no previous rocket plane experience) made his flight on 27 September 1956. Apt raced away from the B-50 under full power, quickly outdistancing the F-100 chase planes. At high altitude, he nosed over, accelerating rapidly. The X-2 reached Mach 3.2 (2,094 mph) at 65,000 feet. Apt became the first man to fly more than three times the speed of sound. Still above Mach 3, he began an abrupt turn back to Edwards. This maneuver proved fatal as the X-2 began a series of diverging rolls and tumbled out of control. Apt tried to regain control of the aircraft. Unable to do so, Apt separated the escape capsule. Too late, he attempted to bail out and was killed when the capsule impacted on the Edwards bombing range. The rest of the X-2 crashed five miles away. The wreckage of the X-2 rocket plane was later taken to NACA's High Speed Flight Station for analysis."
Date: November 21, 1956
NASA ID: E56-2685
The B-70 project was cancelled a year later.
Aerospace Engineering Magazine 1960
DARPA Announces VTOL X-Plane Phase 2 Design
DARPA Announces VTOL X-Plane Phase 2 Design
For decades, aircraft designers seeking to improve vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities have endured a substantial set of interrelated challenges. Dozens of attempts have been made to increase top speed without sacrificing range, efficiency or the ability to do useful work, with each effort struggling or failing in one way or another.
DARPA’s VTOL Experimental Plane (VTOL…
View On WordPress
Men posing with unidentified early airplane, perhaps in New Mexico? Date: circa 1910? Negative Number 011691
Ever wanted a flying car? Come over and check out our newest blog post!
XB-70 - SR-71/A-12 and something else i'm not sure of..
from this fantastic gallery of Valkyrie pictures.
Valkyrie Landing