Hypersonic

This is the most extensively researched history of the X-15 program yet produced, written with the cooperation of surviving X-15 pilots as well as many other program principals. It covers the tasks of converting and testing the B-52 carrier airplanes, building the first full-pressure suits to protect the pilot, building the first engineering mission simulators, acquiring the remote lakebed landing sites, and building the radar range. It also covers the flight program in detail, including the most authoritative flight log ever assembled; in many instances, information in this log was derived from the original flight data recordings.