page_title: X-15 (film)
section_title: Cast
hierarchical_section_title: X-15 (film) / Cast
caption_attribution_description: English: This photo illustrates how the X-15 rocket powered aircraft was taken aloft under the wing of a B-52. Because of the large fuel consumption, the X-15 was air launched from a B-52 aircraft at 45,000 ft and a speed of about 500 mph. This photo was taken from one of the observation windows in the B-52 shortly before dropping the X-15. The X-15 was flown over a period of nearly 10 years -- June 1959 to Oct. 1968 -- and set the world's unofficial speed and altitude records of 4,520 mph (Mach 6.7) and 354,200 ft in a program to investigate all aspects of manned hypersonic flight. Information gained from the highly successful X-15 program contributed to the development of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo manned spaceflight programs, and also the Space Shuttle program. The X-15s made a total of 199 flights, and were manufactured by North American Aviation. X-15-1, serial number 56-6670, is now located at the National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC. North American X-15A-2, serial number 56-6671, is at the United States Air Force Museum, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. The X-15-3, serial number 56-6672, crashed on November 15, 1967, resulting in the death of Major Michael J. Adams.
context_page_description: X-15 is a 1961 American aviation drama film that presents a fictionalized account of the X-15 research rocket aircraft program, the test pilots who flew the aircraft, and the associated NASA community that supported the program. X-15 starred David McLean, Charles Bronson, Mary Tyler Moore, Kenneth Tobey and James Gregory. The film marked the directorial debut of Richard Donner, and was narrated by James Stewart.
context_section_description: As appearing in screen credits (main roles identified):
  David McLean  as  NASA test pilot Matt Powell
  Charles Bronson  as  Lt. Col. Lee Brandon
  Ralph Taeger as  Maj. Ernest Wilde
  Brad Dexter as  Maj. Anthony Rinaldi
  Kenneth Tobey  as Col. Craig Brewster
  James Gregory as  Tom Deparma
  Mary Tyler Moore  as Pamela Stewart
  Patricia Owens  as  Margaret Brandon
  Lisabeth Hush 	 as  Diane Wilde
  Stanley Livingston  as  Mike Brandon
  Lauren Gilbert  as  Col. Jessup
  Phil Dean  as  Maj. McCully
  Chuck Stanford  as Lt. Cmdr. Joe Lacrosse
  Patty McDonald  as  Susan Brandon
  James Stewart  as  Himself / Narrator (voice)
caption: Interweaving of NASA and original film footage was intended to present a realistic representation of the X-15 research flights.
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