This is the Revell 1:64 (so-called Box Scale) North American
X-15 Hyper-Aircraft.
Most of the aircraft were a gun metal black with a blueish tinge, but a few flights sported a white ablative material to test how special ablative coatings burned off at re-entry speeds, thus protecting the craft from the heat. The aircraft was launched at very high altitudes from the wing pylon on a B-52 bomber. The X-15's officially-recognized world speed record for a manned, powered aircraft was set in October 1967 with a speed of Mach 6.72 at an altitude of 31 km. This is 7,274 km/hr, or 2 km per second. This means it could not possibly carry it's own fuel, so had massive fuel tanks attached under each side. Full speed flight time was measured in second.
The gloss white is Krylon spray can paint.The kit came with white markings for a black surface, so most of the decals came from the IPMS Ottawa decal bank. It includes a pilot in the cockpit, who is barely visible in the photos.
Length: 15.5 m
Wing: 6.8 m
Empty weight: 6.6 tonnes
Loaded weight: 15.4 tonnes
Max speed: 7200 km/hr
Range: 450 km
Ceiling 100 km
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| North American X-15 Hyper-Aircraft |
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| North American X-15 Hyper-Aircraft |
A real one in later years...
