X-43A Hypersonic Experimental Vehicle - The second X-43A hypersonic research vehicle, mounted under the right wing of the B-52B launch aircraft, viewed from the B-52 cockpit.  The crew is working on closing out the research vehicle, preparing it for flight. ( NASA Photo)2007:July 20 - The X-48B RPRV makes its first flight at Dryden.  It reached an altitude of 7,500 feet in the 31 minute flight. 

November 16 - The X-43A sets a new airspeed record of Mach 9.6 or about 6,800 mph and proves that scramjet propulsion is a viable technology for powering future space-access vehicles and hypersonic aircraft. 

March 27 - The X-43A hypersonic technology demonstrator is rocketed by the Pegasus booster to an altitude of 95,000 feet and an airspeed of Mach 6.8 or 5,000 mph.  It sets the world airspeed record for an aircraft powered by an air-breathing engine. 

2003:June 9 - Altair UAV makes its first flight at Dryden. 

2002:November 15 - AAW F-18 makes its first flight. 

May 22 - The X-45A unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) makes its first flight. 

March 27 - Active Aeroelastic Wing (AAW) F-18 rolled out. 

2001:December 13 - X-38 Vehicle 131R makes the final flight of the program. 

November 18 - Dryden provides communications support for NASA/Air Force observations of the Leonid meteor storm. 

August 13 - Helios a long-duration, solar powered unpiloted aircraft - takes off from the island of Kauai and sets a world altitude record of 96,863 feet. 

June 2 - X-43A lost on first launch attempt. 

The X-43A is designed to test a scramjet engine at speeds of Mach 7 or Mach 10. 

March 14 - First X-40A glide flight at Edwards.  The X-40A is a low-speed test vehicle to prove the technology for the orbital X-37.  During its first flight, the X-40A vehicle was released from a helicopter and made a 74 second glide, landing on the Edwards AFB runway. 

2000:June 11 - 45th anniversary of the first flight of NB-52 008, the drop aircraft used for many of the X-15 and lifting body flights.  It is both the oldest B-52 still flying, and the one with the least total flight time. 

March 30 - X-38 Vehicle 132 completed its third and final free flight.  Launched from Dryden's B-52, it completed the highest, fastest, and longest X-38 flight to date.  It was released at an altitude of 39,000 feet and flew freely for 45 seconds, reaching a speed of over 500 miles per hour before deploying its parachutes for a landing on Rogers Dry Lakebed.