RECORD HEIGHT

Press, Volume C, Issue 29643, 13 October 1961, Page 12

RECORD HEIGHT

Craft Up 40 Miles

(N Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) EDWARDS BASE (California), Oct. 11. A cracked windshield was the only damage known today caused to the X-15 rocket plane as it returned to earth yesterday after reaching a new record height for winged flight of 215,009ft—0r about 40 miles. The altitude was more than eight miles greater than tlie previous X-15 record of 169,600 ft, set in March, American Associated Press reported. It took the pilot, Major R. White, aged 37, higher than any man had gone, except astronauts in missile-boosted capsules. The top speed of yesterday’s flight did not reach the X-15 record set by a test pilot, J. Walker, in the March flight. It was 3477 miles an hour compared with the earlier 3645 miles an hour. Objective 50 Miles Major White said later that he believed the X-15 was only a flight or two from its objective of 50 miles height, at speeds of 4000 miles an hour. The flight, described as the most dangerous yet attempted by an X-15 pilot, was planned to test the rocket ship’s ability to withstand the stresses space craft must meet in re-entering the atmosphere. After reaching the top of the climb, the pilot plunged 16 miles at more than 3000 miles an hour before pulling back his control stick The outer glass panel of the plane’s double windshield cracked about the time he levelled out for the glide home, he said. He was meeting gravity pressures more than four times the normal. .® mishap did not interfere with his control of the plane. Air friction made the planes pressed-steei skin smoking hot, and it rose to a temperature of 900 degrees “ designed to withstand 1200 degrees. Christmas Postage Christmas cards for overseas need 3d postage this year and not 2jd. the ? ep ,V, ty "Chief Postmaster (Mr J. W. Lincoln) said yesterday. Numbers of cards were coming into the Post Office understamped, he said. The 3d rate covered all weights of cards and similar secondclass overseas postings up to ♦°* u , Gards for addresses within New Zealand cost 21 d Postage.