The
resource guide
This is a guide to various
non-linkable X-Plane resources.
Your contributions to this list are welcome!
Books:
1. Jay Miller, The X-Planes
X-1 to X-32 (1988, Aerofax Inc., P.O. Box 200006, Arlington,
Texas 76006)
(This is the most
exhaustive, accurate and interesting book I have ever found on
the topic of the X-Planes. Difficult to find, but certainly worth
the effort!)
2. Michael J.H. Taylor, Jane's
Pocket Book of Research and Experimental Aircraft, (1976,
Macmillan Publishing Co. Inc., 866 Third Ave., New York, New York
10022)
(Handy pocket guide to
experimental aircraft designed, developed, constructed and flown
throughout the world.)
3. General Chuck Yeager and Leo
Janos, Yeager, (1985, Bantam Books Inc. 666 Fifth Ave.,
New York, New York, 10103)
(Autobiography of the first
human to pilot an aircraft past Mach 1. What he did before his
test pilot days may be even more amazing)
4. Steve Pace, X-Planes at
Edwards, (1995, Motorbooks International Publishers &
Wholesalers, PO BOX 2, 729 Prospect Ave. Osceola WI 54020)
(Many large color photos of X-planes and other advanced aircraft
at Edwards Air Force Base. Great photos.)
Periodicals:
1. William Garvey, September
1996, Popular Mechanics, Page 48
(This article, The
Outer Limits, provides a fair overview of the X-Planes
history. Excellent illustrations, including a pull-out poster of
the x-planes.
2. General Chuck Yeager,
October, 1997, Popular Mechanics, Page 52
(Breaking the Sound
Barrier is General Yeager's personal account of his historic
milestone. Originally written in 1987, this article was re-run to
comemmorate the 50th anniversary of achieving Mach 1. Great
cut-away image of the X-1. Can also be view at: http://www.popularmechanics.com/popmech/sci/9710STMIBP.html
3. Frank
Vizars, January, 1998, Popular Science, Page 70
(The Last Hero Pilot reviewed Chuck Yeager's 50th
anniversary of breaking the sound barrier in the X-1. in 1997,
General Yeager recreated the feat in an F-15, with Bob Hoover
flying chase in an F-16. Good photos and illustrations in this
brief article.)
Others:
1. X-15. Richard
Donner movie starring Charles Bronson, Brad Dexter, David McLean
and Mary Tyler Moore (narrated by Jimmy Stewart). Filmed in 1961, this is movie did it
best to show the danger and thrill of being an X-15 test pilot.
The movie shows up on cable every now and then. Look for it and
have your VCR ready! For more information about this movie,
follow this link: http://us.imdb.com/M/title-exact?X-15+(1961)