all images taken by author or from author's collection, unless otherwise noted

Iven Kincheloe, Chief US Air Force X-15 pilot, with Chief NASA pilot Joe Walker, and North American Aviation (NAA) Chief pilot Scott Crossifeld

in front of the X-15 engineering mockup at the NAA facility in Los Angeles. Kincheloe would not survive to fly the X-15.

North American Aviation

The X-15 engineering mockup at the North American Aviation plant: 14 Dec. 1956.

North American Aviation

Rear view of the NAA engineering mockup under construction.

North American Aviation

X-15 mockup that traveled around the country promoting the hypersonic program. Note the tail number is "00000."

It is unknown how many mockups were constructed, but at least three still survive today. This particular mockup may be the original NAA engineering mockup.

Another view of "00000" from the same public appearance as above.

The original mockup shows off during a parade in Manhattan Beach, California.

Civil Air Partrol Cadet Lt. Johanna Wenlow checks out the mockup at the World Congress of Flight in Las Vegas, Nevada, April 1959.

A scout troop checks out the mockup.

"00000" repainted with the NASA tail logo, hits the road.

Aerial view of the "00000" X-15 at the World Congress of Flight, next to a unique walk-thru Atlas SM-65 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM).

The "ultimate" mockup in a Halloween parade.

The "00000" mockup was on display at the CBS television studios in Hollywood on 15 May 1959.

Six months earlier, a season 2 episode of "The Twentieth Century" focused on the X-15 which was entitled "Mission: Outer Space."

— The X-15 at the 1964 New York World's Fair —

Evening view of the United States Space Park at the 1964 New York World's Fair. The X-15 mockup is unseen in this view and would be off the left side of the photo.

Another angle on the Space Park now shows the X-15 mockup. Note the tail number shows X-15 no. 1. This would change over the course of the Fair.

Another view of the mockup during the early days of the World's Fair Space Park.

Bill Cotter

As changes occurred in the real program, the X-15 mockup changed during the run of the Fair. It now features a new tail number and the external fuel tanks of the X-15A-2.

The mockup at the Fair as it originally appeared.

The photo above was the official postcard of the X-15 from the Fair.

Space Park entrance showing the newly refurbished X-15A-2 mockup.

Close-up of the updated A-2 version of the World's Fair mockup.

Following the 1964 World's Fair, the X-15A-2 mockup was taken overseas where it appeared at the 1967 Paris Air Show. Note the lifting body mockup to the left. This was repainted red and used as the XRV rescue vehicle in the 1969 movie Marooned.

The X-15A-2 mockup after removal from the Fair.

— The X-15 mockup at the Pima Air & Space Museum —

Two views of the mockup used at the World's Fair prior to restoration for the Pima Air & Space Museum.

Two views of the full-scale X-15 mockup at Pima. Definitely getting a bit dusty. This mockup was used for the filming of the 1961 classic movie, "X-15. as well as the 1964 New York World's Fair. Note that it is on display at the same angle as at the Fair in order to use the same attachment points under the fuselage. The tail box was added, as well as the external fuel tanks, when it was upgraded to the X-15A-2 for the World's Fair, but it is doubtful the fuselage was lengthened 29 inches, as was done on the real aircraft.

Cherie and Michelle with Penny and Beverly Leonhardt in February 2017.

Penny Leonhardt

Tail section of the Pima mockup.

— Armstrong Flight Research Center X-15 no. 3 mockup —

Finishing the mockup's fuselage at the Starr-Z Co. at the California City Airport.

NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center

The wings and LR-99 mockup tailcone cap ready for installation.

NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center

X-15 on the pedestal during a snowstorm, 15 January 1997. Wind damage eventually forced its removal before it was completely destroyed.

NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center

The X-15 no. 3 mockup construction crew after rollout.

NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center

After the mockup was refurbished, it was used as a backdrop during the renaming ceremonies for the Armstrong Flight Research Center, 13 May 2014.

The mockup in storage at Armstrong. Hopefully it will eventually find a new home at the Flight Test Museum now under construction at the West Gate to Edwards AFB.

— US Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville, Alabama —

The X-15A-2 mockup at the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, in March 1991. The Saturn I, Block II, is behind the X-15.

— Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, McMinnville, Oregon —

Refurbished as the X-15 no. 3, the former Space & Rocket Center mockup was one of the first exhibits to arrive at the new McMinnville Museum building. Restoration was accomplished by the Cosmosphere in Kansas, who now owns the mockup.

Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum

The X-15A-2 mockup that was at the US Space & Rocket Center was sent to McMinnville, Oregon, for display at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum.

Now high above the other aircraft, the X-15 is seen from the second story of the Evergreen museum. Below is a Lear Jet, F-15 Eagle, and F-4 Phantom II.

The new Evergreen X-15 no. 3 prepares to be lifted into place.

Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum

Two views of no. 3 from the main floor of the museum.

— X-15 no. 1 mockup, Zagreb Fair, Croatia —

Crowds pack the U.S. pavilion to get a look at the X-15 mockup hanging from the ceiling at the Zagreb Fair in Croatia. The date is unknown, but probably is the Spring of either 1959 or 1960. Note that this is the first time we've seen a mockup that includes the nose boom rather than the Q-Ball. It also has the lower ventral in place, which is not present on any other X-15 mockups ever seen. Also of note: There appears to be some sort of representation in the cockpit of a person in a pressure suit; and that while the U.S. Air Force star and bars insignia is present on the aft fuselage, the actual words "U.S. Air Force" are not present along the central fuselage. Does this represent another mockup that was specifically created for Europe?

— An X-15 mockup hits the road —

An X-15 mockup, sans tail surfaces and wings, off on another publicity appearance for the NASA rocket plane.