The Plane that Almost Melted - The Fastest Flight Ever Mach 6.7
On October 3rd, 1967, at a millisecond before 14:32 local time, Air Force Major William J. “Pete“ Knight hit the button. His North American X-15, one of the most experimental aircraft ever built, lit up its 600,000-horsepower XLR99 engine. The plane began to tear through the atmosphere, approaching a record-breaking speed of 4,520 miles per hour – Mach 6.7.
Every gauge and meter in the cockpit testified to the brutal forces at play, where the temperature of the aircraft’s exterior escalated to an incendiary 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit. The X-15 was melting around its pilot.
The aircraft ascended, the blue sky darkened, giving way to the silent, black expanse of space. Violent shockwaves rocked the plane. And suddenly it began to fall apart.
---
Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, top-secret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between.
As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible.
All content on Dark Skies is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas.
4 views
384
80
2 days ago 00:03:14 1
BIRD VIEWS OF CITIES ON PLANET LYRIANIS
2 days ago 00:03:57 1
Alice Merton - No Roots
2 days ago 00:01:11 1
LEGO 10696 Car VW 🚗🚕 MOC. Preview Car VW Beetle Convertible from LEGO CLASSIC. 💰💲 Save Money 💰👍
2 days ago 00:03:15 1
Imagine - John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band (w The Flux Fiddlers) (Ultimate Mix 2018) - 4K REMASTER
2 days ago 00:01:00 1
Самый модный мэр в мире Каха Каладзе. бывший футбольный чемпион #мотивация#shorts#цель
2 days ago 00:35:46 1
Boeing: The perfect story of what’s wrong with America’s economy? | Gautam Mukunda
2 days ago 00:00:59 1
Jim Carrey hijacked the plane - Liar Liar
2 days ago 00:03:34 1
Доброго вечора, ми з України! Good evening, we are from Ukraine!
2 days ago 03:44:30 1
BEAUTIFUL PLANET | The most beautiful places on Earth
2 days ago 00:18:44 1
Sam Austins Performs in the Medium Sized Backyard
2 days ago 00:02:48 1
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera (2025) Official Trailer – Gerard Butler, O’Shea Jackson Jr.
2 days ago 00:02:57 1
Security video of plane hitting Pentagon released, adds, S’bite from Judicial Watch
3 days ago 00:04:29 1
Stalker OST - Dirge for the Planet (Gingertail Cover)
3 days ago 00:56:30 1
Tidal Power: Unlocking the Greatest Untapped Energy Resource on the Planet | FD Engineering
3 days ago 00:30:21 1
How To Make US Navy’s Aircraft Carrier From Styrofoam | DIY The US Military With Styrofoam
3 days ago 00:19:30 1
Make your own try-squares for woodwork.
3 days ago 00:01:00 1
Тяжёлая история шикарного актёра и хорошего человека. #мотивация#shorts#цель
3 days ago 00:00:08 1
The Most Entertaining Birds on the Planet. #shorts #ai #aidreambirds #nature #birds #reels
3 days ago 00:08:05 1
Drone Flies into World’s Largest Plane - Antonov 225
3 days ago 00:02:02 1
the longest languages on the planet. girls with long tongues. girls show their tongue
3 days ago 00:04:21 1
Aethoria: The Most Beautiful Sci-Fi Planet You’ve Never Heard Of
3 days ago 00:03:39 7
In the city of Zeylghar district 2 on planet Syphelius
3 days ago 00:10:23 1
ALERTE;DERNIÈRE HEURE; OH MON DIEU C’EST PARTI POUR LA TROISÈME ;GROSSE EXPLOSION.
3 days ago 00:00:00 1
Lebanon LIVE: Israeli Warplanes Break Sound Barrier Over Beirut As Nasrallah Gives ’Revenge’ Speech