William Harvey "Bill" Dana, 3 November 1930 to 6 May 2014 (83 years)

X-15 Missions: 16 flights from 4 November 1965 to 24 October 1968

Highest Speed: Mach 5.53 (3,897 mph)xxxxxxxxxxHighest Altitude: 306,900 feet (58.1 miles)

William H. Dana, National Aeronautics & Space Administration. X-15 Pilot no. 11.

Armstrong Flight Research Center

Dana in the "Iron Bird" X-15 simulator two days prior to flight 3-54-80 on 19 Aug. 1966.

Armstrong Flight Research Center

X-15 no. 1 in the NASA hangar for maintenance. X-15s nos. 2 & 3 can also be seen.

NASA Headquarters

Another view of the three X-15s under maintenance in the NASA hangar.

TD Barnes collection

Dana with a bandaged nose the day prior to his first flight on 4 Nov. 1965.

Armstrong Flight Research Center

The H-21 is a ghostly image in the desert behind the X-15 as it skids to a stop.

author's collection

X-15 touches down. Note the deflected tail surfaces which help keep it on the lakebed.

Armstrong Flight Research Center

H-21 Workhorse helicopter brings in the ground crew to aid the pilot after landing.

Edwards History Office

3 Oct. 1967, X-15 no. 1 is ready for Dana's flight 3-63-94, which occured the next day. The B-52/X-15A-2 in the background is taxiing for the runway with Pete Knight for flight 2-53-97. His flight will be the fastest rocket plane flight ever accomplished.

North American Aviation

Experiment pods attached to the wing-tips of X-15 no. 1 on 1 Dec. 1964. Thermal paint has been added to the pods to verify heat flow and temperature during flight.

Armstrong Flight Research Center

Post flight checkout on X-15 no. 1. Note the tip pod hatch is open on the far right.

Armstrong Flight Research Center

Servicing on the lakebed after Dana's flight 1-74-130 on 1 Mar. 1968.

Armstrong Flight Research Center

Lakebed rollout of X-15 no. 3.

Armstrong Flight Research Center

Posing with X-15 no. 3 after landing flight 3-60-90 on 22 Jun. 1967.

Armstrong Flight Research Center

Nose view of X-15 no. 1 with wing tip pods prior to loading on the B-52 for flight.

Armstrong Flight Research Center

X-15 no. 1 nestled on the B-52's right wing pylon, just after takeoff from Edwards.

Armstrong Flight Research Center

Bill signs a couple of X-15 Topping models.

author's collection

Dana in the X-15 "Iron Bird" simulator, with more of the hardware and controls visible.

Armstrong Flight Research Center

Bill Dana on the Los Angeles County float in the Rose Parade on 1 Jan. 1968. The float is called

"Star Spangled Adventure" and advertises US Savings Bonds. Dana is wearing his X-15 pressure suit.

author's collection

A humorist at Edwards envisioned all the experiments carried aboard the X-15.

Armstrong Flight Research Center

Close-up of Bill Dana atop the float in the Rose Parade.

author's collection

The X-15 carried numerous experiments which were deployed while in space. Shown here is the Western Test Range instrument behind the cockpit, and a tip pod experiment.

computer art Thommy Eriksson

Rear bug-eye camera views. The cameras are mounted directly behind the cockpit. A chase plane contrail can be seen in left photo, and curvature of the Earth in the right.

Armstrong Flight Research Center

On an astronaut qualification mission to 306,900 feet, Dana knocked his checklist pages loose into the X-15 cabin during the zero-g ballistic arc on flight 3-56-83 on 1 Nov. 1966.

Armstrong Flight Research Center

Dana converses with Armstrong. The M2-F3 lifting body is behind them.

Armstrong Flight Research Center

Composite photo of Thompson, Dana, and McKay with the advanced X-15A-2.

Armstrong Flight Research Center

X-15 no. 1 is serviced after flight 1-74-130. This was Dana's 12th flight on 1 Mar. 1968.

Armstrong Flight Research Center

Detail of the lower ventral speed brake mechanism.

Armstrong Flight Research Center

X-15 no. 3 is launched from the right wing pylon of the B-52 mothership. Note the slight roll to the right as the rocket plane drops away.

NASA Headquarters

Gliding in above the lakebed, seconds before landing gear deployment.

Armstrong Flight Research Center

Towing the X-15 off the lakebed after landing, back to the servicing area.

Armstrong Flight Research Center

Dana on the runway centerline following flight 1-75-133 on 4 Apr. 1968.

Saturday Evening Post

A Bill Dana bobblehead from the Lancaster Jethawks.

author's collection

Crew for X-15 no. 1 pose with their bird after the final flight in the X-15 rocket plane program. Mission 1-88-141 on 24 Oct. 1968 was the X-15's 199th flight.

Armstrong Flight Research Center

Seconds after rolling to a stop, technicians are there to help the pilot.

Armstrong Flight Research Center

Looking back at the X-15 and the Earth below.

NASA Headquarters

TThe B-52 mothership salutes the X-15 at the end of a mission.

Armstrong Flight Research Center

Painting of Bill Dana for the Legends of Flight at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.

San Diego Air & Space Museum

— The End of the Rocket Plane Era: Bill Dana flying the Lifting Bodies —

Bill Dana completed 9 of the 37 flights accomplished with the HL-10.

Armstrong Flight Research Center

The M2-F3 Lifting Body. Dana flew 18 of the 27 flights of this vehicle.

Armstrong Flight Research Center

The B-52 salutes Bill Dana following a flight in the HL-10 on 25 Apr. 1969.

Armstrong Flight Research Center

Fighting for the chance to fly the HL-10.

Shown here are Gerry Gentry in the cockpit holding a hammer, Peter Hoag trying desperately to get into the cockpit, with Bill Dana and John Manke holding him back.

Armstrong Flight Research Center

Bill Dana exits the X-24B cockpit and is interviewed by a reporter following the last rocket plane flight at Edwards AFB. Note that Dana is wearing pink flight boots!

Armstrong Flight Research Center

Dana with the X-24B lifting body on 23 Sep. 1975. This was the last rocket plane flight at Edwards AFB, ending an era which began with the Bell XS-1 on 19 Jan. 1946.

Armstrong Flight Research Center