[X-15 ROCKET PLANE FLIGHT USAF PILOT ROBERT RUSHWORTH]

Year Published: 1960

Creator: United States Air Force

Description:

This short, silent film shows USAF test pilot Robert Rushworth flying the X-15 rocket plane at Edwards Air Force Base. Most likely this film shows his first flight on November 4, 1960.

Rushworth flew the X-15 thirty-four times to a maximum speed of 4,018 mph (Mach 6.06) and a maximum altitude of 285,000 feet. He not only flew the rocket research aircraft more times than any other pilot but was also the second Air Force X-15 pilot to attain the astronaut rating. This included a flight to an altitude of 285,000 feet, made on June 27, 1963. This flight above 50 miles qualified Rushworth for Astronaut Wings, though he would have attained that honor sooner had the USAF Man In Space Soonest project proceeded according to plan. On a later X-15 flight, he was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for successfully landing a North American X-15 after its nose wheel extended while flying at nearly Mach 5. He made his final X-15 flight on July 1, 1966, then returned to regular Air Force duties.

Having served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, Rushworth also served in a number of important positions including that of Commander, AF Test and Evaluation Center. He retired from the Air Force in 1981 as Vice Commander of the Aeronautical Systems Division at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.

Complete Record: This short, silent film shows USAF test pilot Robert Rushworth flying the X-15 rocket plane at Edwards Air Force Base. Most likely this film shows his first flight on November 4, 1960. Rushworth flew the X-15 thirty-four times to a maximum speed of 4,018 mph (Mach 6.06) and a maximum altitude of 285,000 feet. He not only flew the rocket research aircraft more times than any other pilot but was also the second Air Force X-15 pilot to attain the astronaut rating. This included a flight to an altitude of 285,000 feet, made on June 27, 1963. This flight above 50 miles qualified Rushworth for Astronaut Wings, though he would have attained that honor sooner had the USAF Man In Space Soonest project proceeded according to plan. On a later X-15 flight, he was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for successfully landing a North American X-15 after its nose wheel extended while flying at nearly Mach 5. He made his final X-15 flight on July 1, 1966, then returned to regular Air Force duties. Having served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, Rushworth also served in a number of important positions including that of Commander, AF Test and Evaluation Center. He retired from the Air Force in 1981 as Vice Commander of the Aeronautical Systems Division at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.