X-15

Premier avion-fusée du monde

A. Scott Crossfield, Clay Blair Jr. (co-author)
Translated from the American by Max Roth
Year1961
PublisherArthaud
PlaceParis
LanguageFR
Pages277
SeriesClefs de l'aventure, Clefs du savoir
Rating★★★★☆ (4/5)
AudienceGeneral, Student
LevelIntermediate
Keywords
astronauticsrocketspace raceX-15 Programtest pilot
ThemesHuman Spaceflight, Space Race

Autobiographical account by test pilot A. Scott Crossfield, the first person to fly at twice the speed of sound (Mach 2, 1953), covering his career at NACA's Edwards Air Force Base and his central role in the X-15 program. The author traces the development of the X-15 rocket plane from its design at North American Aviation through his fourteen research flights, including a near-fatal ground explosion in 1960. Written with journalist Clay Blair Jr. and translated from the American in 1961, this book stands as the most comprehensive first-hand account of 1950s American test pilot culture and the technical effort that brought humanity to the edge of space.

📖 Editorial Review

Published in 1961, this book is the French translation of A. Scott Crossfield's autobiography, by the NACA test pilot who was the first man to fly at twice the speed of sound and the central figure of the X-15 program. Written with journalist Clay Blair Jr. and translated from the American by Max Roth, it stands as …