The popularity of the X-15 hypersonic research program even reached out to children with many toys and models directly connected to the rocket plane. Below are several examples of what could be found to excite a young pilot, from tin toys to bobbleheads.

all photos this page author's collection, unless otherwise noted

The Mattel V-Rroom X-15 tricycle. This riding toy was popular enough that it lasted through several different versions, such as the one in the advertisement above with the snazzy wheels. One thing of note is that it came equipped with an actual seat belt.

This may have been one of the first children's toys to come so equipped.

Definitely very handy when it came to playing a budding pilot at hypersonic velocity!

A metal "friction-powered" X-15 toy. "When it hits an object, it automatically stands up."

A friction-powered X-15 toy, very similar to the one above. However, the overall shape, especially the wings, are much different.

There are enough similarities between these two toys to wonder if they both came from the same manufacturer.

A swing-wing X-15 toy with a soft plastic nose that bends to prevent injury. Although it is marked as an X-15 and has the tail number for the no. 1 aircraft, it also mysteriously has the Royal Air Force roundel insignia.

An "X-15" rocket that bears no resemblance to an actual X-15.

A tiny die-cast X-15 from Hong Kong. It is only about an inch-and-a-half long.

An interesting tin toy version of an X-15. The basic shape is pretty close to that of a real X-15, but the paint job is a bit fanciful.

Even more interesting is that it came with a tin YB-52. This is a prototype version of the bomber that would become the X-15 mothership.

Two views of an X-15A-2 made from Legos, complete with external tanks! This was created by author David Hitt.

model and photos by David Hitt

Not exactly a toy, but instead a small, easy-to-use camera from Kodak that bore the moniker of the Kodak "Instamatic X-15."

Check out the Advertisement page for a version of how it was marketed. This camera used a 126 film cartridge and a new invention, the flash cube.

Definitely not an X-15, yet bears that moniker. The flying saucer toy above provides "Realistic Space Noise." Since there's no air in space to convery noise, it would be interesting to hear.

At right is a paper model of the X-15 provided free with packages of Fritos corn chips.

At far right is an "X-15 Rocket Kite" with a 4-foot wing span.

Like the real rocket plane, this kite glides through most of its flight.

A red rubber X-15 toy that holds relatively the proper planform of the rocket plane from the top, but from the side, it definitely doesn't match.

It's possible that the purpose of this was to facilitate shooting this toy with a rubber band

The Lancaster JetHawks have done an entire series of bobblehead dolls, several of which have been in honor of X-15 pilots.

(L-R) Joe Engle, Pete Knight, and Bill Dana. Below is a close-up of the Space Shuttle and X-15 that Joe is holding in his hands to signify both vehicles that he flew into space.

The tiny X-15 is held to Joe's hand by a magnet, so you have to be careful whenever it is moved, such as when it is part of the displays done for my X-15 presentations.

Although not specifically labeled as an X-15, it has an elemental shape that hints at that of the X-15. This was enough for a seller on eBay to identify this toy as an X-15.

A multi-colored array of X-15 rubber toys.

— The Sanchis X-15 —

Sanchis. which I believe is a Spanish company, made several versions of this X-15 toy. Above is the box with the gold version. Below, is out of the box.

These were first released in the 1960s, but are still available through eBay, although they can be a bit pricey. Other versions can be seen below.

The white version of the Sanchis X-15. All versions come with a lifting hatch where you can load three missiles.

In most versions, the missiles are red (see above right), but as seen in the above left image, they can also come in silver with black tips.

These are reminiscent of X-15s used in the movie "Battle in Outer Space" where the X-15s came with a death ray in the nose! Below highlights some of the great box art.

The "Avion Especial" version of the Sanchis X-15 toy was black and white. This version was inspired by photos of the X-15 on 9 Nov. 1961, when it was flown by

Robert White with a thermal test on the cokpit canopy (seen below left). The Sanchis box art did a great reproduction of the actual launch photo.

This version was much more sophisticated than the earlier versions, with batteries and a wired remote control to roll the X-15 and fire its missiles.

There was also a light in the engine compartment to signify rocket thrust. In addition, the wings sported NASA logos rather than the roundel used on other models of this toy.

The Strenco X-15 toy from Germany was carried on a pad erector so that it looked like the rocket plane was being launched as if it were a mobile ballistic missile.

A Pushmi-Pullyu truck arrangement was included to move the launch pad around, and the X-15 could be raised and lowered as needed.