North American X-15A-2 High-Speed Hypersonic Research Variant Family
The North American X-15A-2 was the second X-15 airframe (56-6671), modified with a 28-inch fuselage extension and external propellant tanks for higher-speed research. With an ablative coating and the tanks, it reached Mach 6.70 (4,520 mph; 7,274 km/h) on Oct. 3, 1967, the fastest X-15 flight. Its planned supersonic-combustion ramjet was represented by a dummy engine and never tested; the record flight used the XLR-99 rocket engine.
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Identity
- Aliases
- X-15A-2North American X-15A-2X-15 aircraft 2High-speed X-15 variant
- Family Name
- North American X-15A-2
- Full Name
- North American X-15A-2 High-Speed Hypersonic Research Variant Family
- Roles
- researchexperimental
- Status
- retired
- Type
- spaceplane
Details
- Aircraft Specs
- Configuration
- fixed_wing
- Crew Capacity
- 1
- Max Speed
- …
- Operating Modes
- land
- Description
- The North American X-15A-2 was the second X-15 airframe (56-6671), modified with a 28-inch fuselage extension and external propellant tanks for higher-speed research. With an ablative coating and the tanks, it reached Mach 6.70 (4,520 mph; 7,274 km/h) on Oct. 3, 1967, the fastest X-15 flight. Its planned supersonic-combustion ramjet was represented by a dummy engine and never tested; the record flight used the XLR-99 rocket engine.
- Dimensions
- Length
- …
- Wingspan
- …
- First Flight Year
- 1,964
- Last Flight Year
- 1,967
- Manufacturer
- Parent Vehicle Family
- Propulsion Configurations
- Entries
- Count
- 1
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Variant Notes
- Reaction Motors XLR99 rocket engine; the museum source identifies the X-15A-2 engine and its 50,000-plus-pound thrust class.
- Name
- X-15A-2 XLR99 installation
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 15, 2026 at 02:50:52 UTC
- Updated Time
- September 7, 2026 at 22:24:47 UTC
- Image
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