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Translate : in English in Spanish in German A Biographie des pilotes

 

 

 

John B. McKay was one of the first pilots assigned to the X-15 flight research program at NASA's Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif. As a civilian research pilot and aeronautical engineer, he made 30 flights in X-15s from October 28, 1960, until September 8, 1966. His peak altitude was 295,600 feet, and his highest speed was 3863 mph (Mach 5.64).

John B. McKay

McKay was with the NACA and NASA from February 8,1951 until October 5, 1971 and specialized in high-speed flight research programs. He began as an NACA intern, but assumed pilot status on July 11, 1952. In addition to the X-l5, he flew such experimental aircraft as the D-558-1, D-558-2, X-lB, and the X-lE. He has also served as a research pilot on flight programs involving the F-100, F-102, F-104, and the F-107.

Born on December 8, 1922, in Portsmouth, Va., McKay graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 195O with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering. During World War II he served as a Navy pilot in the Pacific Theater, earning the Air Medal and Two Clusters, and a Presidential Unit Citation.

Les vols de John Mc Kay
N° du vol
Pilote
Date

Vitesse (Mach)

Altitude (m)
Remarque
McKay
28/10/60
2.02
15.453
Premier vol de McKay
McKay
01/02/61
1.88
15.173
_
2-24-44
McKay
29/06/62
4.95
25.359
_
2-25-45
McKay
19/07/62
5.18
25.984
_
2-29-50
McKay
28/09/62
4.22
20.787
_
2-30-51
McKay
09/10/62
5.46
39.685
_
McKay
09/11/62
1.49
16.454
Le X-15 n° 2 est détruit à l'atterrissage, Mc Kay est gravement blessé.
1-34-55
McKay
25/04/63
5.32
32.156
Retour de Mc Kay dans l'équipe.
1-35-56
McKay
15/05/63
5.57
37.856
_
1-35-56
McKay
15/05/63
5.57
37.856
_
3-27-44
McKay
13/03/64
5.11
23.165
_
3-28-47
McKay
12/05/64
4.66
22.189
_
1-49-77
McKay
30/06/64
4.96
30.258
_
3-33-54
McKay
26/08/64
5.65
27.737
_
1-50-79
McKay
15/10/64
4.56
25.877
_
2-35-60
McKay
30/11/64
4.66
26.579
_
1-52-85
McKay
26/02/65
5.40
46.817
_
McKay
28/04/65
4.80
28.224
Un suiveur stellaire, comportant quatre caméras de 35 mm pour photographier le rayonnement ultraviolet des constellations, testé avec succès.
McKay
18/05/65
5.17
31.120
Premier vol du X-15-A2 sans la partie détachable de la dérive ventrale
2-39-70
McKay
22/06/65
5.64
47.518
_
McKay
08/07/65
5.19
64.800
Photographies d'étoiles
2-42-74
McKay
02/09/65
5.16
73.091
_
3-48-72
McKay
14/09/65
5.03
72.847
_
Mc Kay
28/09/65
5.33
90.099
Premier vol spatial de Mc Kay, 150ème mission du X-15
3-51-75
McKay
27/10/65
5.06
72.207
_
1-63-104
McKay
06/05/66
2.21
20.848
_
1-65-108
McKay
28/07/66
5.19
73.700
_
1-66-111
McKay
11/08/66
5.21
76.505
_
1-67-112
McKay
25/08/66
5.11
78.486
_
1-68-113
McKay
08/09/66
2.44
22.311
30ème et dernier vol de Mc Kay

 

McKay wrote several technical papers, and was a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, as well as the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.

He died on April 27, 1975.

Captain Forrest S. Petersen, was born in Holdrege, Nebraska on 16 May 1922. He is the son of Mrs. Stella B. Petersen who lives in Gibbon, Nebraska. Prior to entering the Navy he attended the University of Nebraska.

He was commissioned an Ensign upon graduation from the United States Naval Academy in June of 1944 and reported to the destroyer USS CAPERTON (DD 650). While serving aboard CAPERTON he participated in campaigns in the Philippines, Formosa and Okinawa. After graduation from flight training in 1947, he was assigned to Fighting Squadron Twenty Able which was later redesignated Fighter Squadron ONE NINETY TWO.

He was selected for Post Graduate training in Aeronautical Engineering in July 1950 and upon completion of two years of study at the Naval Post Graduate School was awarded a Bachelors Degree (AE). He continued studies for one year at Princeton University and received a Masters Degree in Engineering. From 1953 to 1956 he served with Fighter Squadron FIFTY ONE. In 1956 he was selected to attend the Naval Test Pilot School and remained as an instructor following graduation. in August 1958 he was assigned duties as Research Pilot in the X-15 Program and served with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Flight Research Center at Edwards, California until January 1962. During that time he made five free flights in the X-15 and achieved a speed of 3,600 MPH (Mach No. 5.3) and an altitude of about 102,000 feet. Captain Petersen was the only Navy pilot to fly the X-15. In July 1962 he was a joint recipient of the Collier Trophy which was presented by President John F.

Forrest Petersen

Kennedy and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal which was presented by Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Captain Petersen served as Commanding Officer of Fighter Squadron ONE FIFTY FOUR prior to being assigned to the office of Director, Division of Naval Reactors, AEC for Nuclear Power Training. He reported to USS ENTERPRISE in January 1964 and served therein as Executive Officer until April 1966. He was awarded the Bronze Star for duty during ENTERPRISE's first combat tour in Vietnam. He was then assigned duties as an Assistant to the Director of Naval Program Planning in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations. In November 1967 he assumed command of USS BEXAR (APA 237) in the Pacific Fleet Amphibious Forces. Following an eight month deployment with the Seventh Fleet Amphibious Forces in the Western Pacific he was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V.

Les vols de Forrest Petersen
N° du vol
Pilote
Date

Vitesse (Mach)

Altitude (m)
Remarque
Petersen
23/09/60
1.68
16.167
Premier vol de Petersen, panne des XLR-11
Petersen
20/10/60
1.94
16.398
_
Petersen
10/08/61
4.11
23.835
Premier vol du X-15 n°1 avec XLR-99
Petersen
28/09/61
5.30
31.029
Nouveau record de vitesse
Petersen
10/01/62
0.97
13.640
Dernier vol de Petersen, panne du XLR-99, atterrissage à Mud Lake

 

Captain Petersen holds the following awards for service in World War II, Korean War and the Vietnam War:

Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, NASA Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, American Defense, Pacific Theatre, American Theatre, Asiatic Theatre, China Service, Japanese Occupation, Philippine Liberation, Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, World War II Victory, Korean Service, United Nations Korean Service, Vietnam Service, Vietnamese Campaign.

 

Robert Rushworth was a USA test pilot who 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. 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.

Robert Rushworth

He retired from the Air Force in 1981 as Vice Commander of the Aeronautical Systems Division at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.

Les vols de Robert Rushworth
N° du vol
Pilote
Date

Vitesse (Mach)

Altitude (m)
Remarque
Rushworth
04/11/60
2.95
14.905
Premier vol de Rushworth
Rushworth
17/11/60
1.90
16.688
_
Rushworth
04/10/61
4.30
23.774
Vol sans dérive ventrale détachable
2-22-40
Rushworth
08/05/62
5.34
21.458
_
1-28-49
Rushworth
22/05/62
5.03
30.602
_
2-26-46
Rushworth
08/08/62
4.40
27.700
_
2-27-47
Rushworth
20/08/62
5.24
27.097
_
2-28-48
Rushworth
29/08/62
5.12
29.626
_
3-10-19
Rushworth
04/10/62
5.17
34.198
_
3-11-20
Rushworth
23/10/62
5.47
40.996
_
Rushworth
11/04/63
4.25
22.677
Premier vol du X-15 comme laboratoire volant
3-17-28
Rushworth
14/05/63
5.20
29.140
_
3-19-30
Rushworth
18/06/63
4.97
68.184
_
3-20-31
Rushworth
27/06/63
4.89
86.868
_
1-38-61
Rushworth
18/07/63
5.63
31.943
_
3-23-39
Rushworth
07/11/63
4.40
25.085
_
1-42-67
Rushworth
05/12/63
6.06
30.785
_
1-44-70
Rushworth
28/01/64
5.34
32.735
_
1-45-72
Rushworth
27/03/64
5.63
30.937
_
1-47-74
Rushworth
29/04/64
5.72
30.968
_
Rushworth
25/06/64
4.59
25.390
Premier vol du X-15-A2
Rushworth
14/08/64
5.23
31.486
Deuxième vol du X-15-A2, ouverture de la trappe du train avant à Mach 4.5, éclatement des pneux à l'atterrissage
2-34-57
Rushworth
29/09/64
5.20
29.809
_
3-38-61
Rushworth
22/12/64
5.55
24.750
_
Rushworth
17/02/65
5.27
28.986
Ouverture inopinée du train arrière droit à 4500 km/h
1-53-86
Rushworth
26/03/65
5.17
31.059
_
3-45-69
Rushworth
20/07/65
5.40
32.126
_
2-41-73
Rushworth
03/08/65
5.16
63.612
_
3-47-71
Rushworth
26/08/65
4.79
73.030
_
1-58-97
Rushworth
09/09/65
5.25
29.626
_
1-59-98
Rushworth
22/09/65
5.18
30.571
_
Rushworth
03/11/65
2.31
21.519
Premier vol du X-15A-2 équipé de ses réservoirs externes (vides)
2-44-79
Rushworth
18/05/66
5.43
30.175
_
Rushworth
01/07/66
1.54
13.716
Premier vol du X-15A-2 avec réservoirs externes remplis de combustible, interruption du vol suite à des problèmes de transfert du combustible, 34ème et dernier vol de Rushworth

 

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