X-15 Mounted to B-52 Mothership Pylon in Flight

This photo illustrates how the X-15 rocket powered aircraft was taken aloft under the wing of a B-52. Because of the large fuel consumption, the X-15 was air launched from a B-52 aircraft at 45,000 ft and a speed of about 500 mph. This photo was taken from one of the observation windows in the B-52 shortly before dropping the X-15. Photo taken: 01/01/1965. ** Credit: NASA / yaymicro.com **