Start here
A few places to begin, from the aircraft’s story to the people who fly it.
Meet the aircraft
An air-launched rocket research aircraft listed among X-Plane 11’s legacy aircraft. The X-Plane 11 manual lists this aircraft alongside its legacy extras. It is distinct from the refreshed nine-aircraft launch fleet; its cockpit and systems reflect that older package.
North American X-15
Laminar Research · Read more ↗Meet North American X-15
The X-15 was an air-launched rocket research aircraft. X-Plane 11 includes it among the manual's legacy extras, separate from the refreshed nine-aircraft launch fleet.
North American X-15
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North American X-15
Laminar Research · X-Plane 11 official aircraft roster ↗Laminar Research · X-Plane 11 →Aircraft type designators
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History & design
A flying hypersonic laboratory
Three X-15s explored hypersonic flight between 1959 and 1968. Scott Crossfield made the first unpowered flight on 8 June 1959; Bill Dana flew the programme’s last mission on 24 October 1968.
NASA · X-15 hypersonic research program ↗Aircraft-specific source account
An aircraft built around heat and research
NASA identifies aerodynamic heating, stability, control and pilot physiology as central X-15 research questions. Inconel X formed the heat-resistant outer skin, with the aluminum cabin insulated from it. Early flights used two XLR-11 engines before the larger XLR-99 installation. The programme produced hundreds of research reports as well as speed and altitude records, making the engine configuration and research objective important context for any individual mission.
NASA · X-15 hypersonic research program ↗NASA X-15 programme account
Systems & details
Two ways of controlling attitude
Aerodynamic rudders and horizontal tail surfaces controlled flight in denser air. At very high altitude, hydrogen-peroxide thrusters supplied pitch, yaw and roll control. These are different control regimes within one mission.
A short burn followed by a glide
NASA describes release from a B-52 near 45,000 ft, followed by 80–120 seconds of rocket thrust. The unpowered return ended on a dry lakebed using main skids and a non-steering nosewheel.
In your simulator
Systems, equipment and documentation for each developer’s aircraft.
X-Plane 11North American X–15
Laminar Research · Released
North American X–15
Laminar Research · Released
Manuals & resources
Read the original documentation from the people who created it. Manuals open on their publisher’s website.
Resource
X-Plane 11 official aircraft rosterLaminar Research · Official catalogue reviewed 15 September 2026Aircraft reference
X-15 hypersonic research programNASA · NASA programme history and aircraft description, updated August 2025Built-in force-feedback profiles
Read the documentary basis, editable starting settings and remaining questions for the aircraft you fly. Each explanation refers to the exact profile revision shown.
Catalogue programme-20261022-v1 · 1 profile choice
North American X-15
Free and Pro · Revision 1 · Partial review
X-Plane 11
North American X-15: The profile supplies a selected response for the rocket-aircraft rendition.
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