Beyond Blue Skies: The Rocket Plane Programs That Led to the Space Age (Outward Odyssey: A People's History of Spaceflight)
Product ID: 193496181
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Chris Petty has written a book that covers much of the unheralded research into high-speed flight that helped set the stage for human spaceflight. I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the early history of rocket flight. —Al Worden, command module pilot for Apollo 15 In 1945 some experts still considered the so-called sound barrier an impenetrable wall, while winged rocket planes remained largely relegated to science fiction. But soon a series of unique rocket-powered research aircraft and the dedicated individuals who built, maintained, and flew them began to push the boundaries of flight in aviation’s quest to move ever higher, ever faster, toward the unknown. Beyond Blue Skies examines the thirty-year period after World War II during which aviation experienced an unprecedented era of progress that led the United States to the boundaries of outer space. Between 1946 and 1975, an ancient dry lakebed in California’s High Desert played host to a series of rocket-powered research aircraft built to investigate the outer reaches of flight. The western Mojave’s Rogers Dry Lake became home to Edwards Air Force Base, NASA’s Flight Research Center, and an elite cadre of test pilots. Although one of them—Chuck Yeager—would rank among the most famous names in history, most who flew there during those years played their parts away from public view. The risks they routinely accepted were every bit as real as those facing NASA’s astronauts, but no magazine stories or free Corvettes awaited them—just long days in a close-knit community in the High Desert. The role of not only the test pilots but the engineers, aerodynamicists, and support staff in making supersonic flight possible has been widely overlooked. Beyond Blue Skies charts the triumphs and tragedies of the rocket-plane era and the unsung efforts of the men and women who made amazing achievements possible. Review: Fly With the First Pilots to Strap Into Winged Rockets! - Being a fan of the University of Nebraska Press’ Outward Odyssey series, I found Petty’s kickoff work a welcome addition to A People’s History of Spaceflight. The early rocketplane research flights offer an evolutionary lineage toward later space vehicles, and prior to this book, these developmental flights have seemed lacking in popular accounts. With newer rocketplanes currently seeking commercial viability, it is enlightening to recognize the very first time humans successfully sought some of these engineering configurations and extreme flight envelops. The first rocketplane trips to space, much harder to achieve and control back then, can still sound surprisingly modern. Petty’s style is approachable, comfortable language, explaining aerospace terminology with helpful comparisons for a range of backgrounds. Conversational engineering familiarity will help the reader, but his descriptions work very well for those who may not commonly use terms like “ablative coatings,” “effective dihedrals,” or “roll coupling.” He uses anecdotes effectively, sprinkling a few lesser-heard, peculiar, or humorous stories into the mix, and this certainly enhances the friendly narrative. Petty’s strength here is staying on-track with the People’s History series mission of offering “how it felt.” Those familiar with Wolfe’s The Right Stuff of four decades ago may see the same desire to strengthen our knowledge of the humans inside the machines, and the author gives us several glances into the pilots’ mindsets. Yes, we want to know what zooming to insane altitude ceilings was like, or how you survived getting your pressure helmet repeatedly smacked against the rocketplane’s canopy. But also, where were they coming from, personally and professionally? Did they have familiar family distractions? In a group of traditional overachieving aviators with predominantly wartime military backgrounds, did they have personality clashes among themselves and with their bosses? The challenge of precision flying in a time without digital assistance, and with far more frequent mechanical mishaps, demanded coolness in spite of such. Perhaps the best section in the book, for those interested in flight test and pre-Shuttle development, is the book’s third part: Lifting Bodies. Apart from knowing the famous film clip used in the Six Million Dollar Man TV series introduction, readers might find this section the most surprising. Both powered and unpowered glide versions of these curious craft make for some exciting, “hairy” scenes, and the author puts us right in the cockpit. Petty brings us a exceptional first book, and a very entertaining look at pioneering, edge-of-space flight research work. This book is a must-have addition to an aerospace enthusiast's history collection. Review: Kelly Johnson actually worked with the U of M wind tunnel. - The U of M wind tunnel was silent the day I was at orientation at North Campus at University of Michigan. I touched base with Lockheed "Skunk Works" in 1965 choosing a firm from a campus publication. This book showed me the stretch using external tanks I kind of puzzled over in it's real life era as I worked with FX performance data. The F-12 and then the SR-71 haunted those who wanted AWACS first to be Air Defense Command and then TAC. I flew from the Moffet dirigible hangar in a P-3C Update 1 to harden my experience with Lockheed's view. My real view was to the Convair "Centaur" rocket stage of Atlas after spending time with the SKYLAB conversion of the Apollo Saturn S-IV-B with men from China Lake one day just before it was launched. Mach 7 was the goal of the subject of this book.
| Best Sellers Rank | #565,732 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #251 in Astronautics & Space Flight #362 in Aviation History (Books) #460 in Aeronautics & Astronautics (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.8 out of 5 stars 88 Reviews |
W**O
Fly With the First Pilots to Strap Into Winged Rockets!
Being a fan of the University of Nebraska Press’ Outward Odyssey series, I found Petty’s kickoff work a welcome addition to A People’s History of Spaceflight. The early rocketplane research flights offer an evolutionary lineage toward later space vehicles, and prior to this book, these developmental flights have seemed lacking in popular accounts. With newer rocketplanes currently seeking commercial viability, it is enlightening to recognize the very first time humans successfully sought some of these engineering configurations and extreme flight envelops. The first rocketplane trips to space, much harder to achieve and control back then, can still sound surprisingly modern. Petty’s style is approachable, comfortable language, explaining aerospace terminology with helpful comparisons for a range of backgrounds. Conversational engineering familiarity will help the reader, but his descriptions work very well for those who may not commonly use terms like “ablative coatings,” “effective dihedrals,” or “roll coupling.” He uses anecdotes effectively, sprinkling a few lesser-heard, peculiar, or humorous stories into the mix, and this certainly enhances the friendly narrative. Petty’s strength here is staying on-track with the People’s History series mission of offering “how it felt.” Those familiar with Wolfe’s The Right Stuff of four decades ago may see the same desire to strengthen our knowledge of the humans inside the machines, and the author gives us several glances into the pilots’ mindsets. Yes, we want to know what zooming to insane altitude ceilings was like, or how you survived getting your pressure helmet repeatedly smacked against the rocketplane’s canopy. But also, where were they coming from, personally and professionally? Did they have familiar family distractions? In a group of traditional overachieving aviators with predominantly wartime military backgrounds, did they have personality clashes among themselves and with their bosses? The challenge of precision flying in a time without digital assistance, and with far more frequent mechanical mishaps, demanded coolness in spite of such. Perhaps the best section in the book, for those interested in flight test and pre-Shuttle development, is the book’s third part: Lifting Bodies. Apart from knowing the famous film clip used in the Six Million Dollar Man TV series introduction, readers might find this section the most surprising. Both powered and unpowered glide versions of these curious craft make for some exciting, “hairy” scenes, and the author puts us right in the cockpit. Petty brings us a exceptional first book, and a very entertaining look at pioneering, edge-of-space flight research work. This book is a must-have addition to an aerospace enthusiast's history collection.
D**R
Kelly Johnson actually worked with the U of M wind tunnel.
The U of M wind tunnel was silent the day I was at orientation at North Campus at University of Michigan. I touched base with Lockheed "Skunk Works" in 1965 choosing a firm from a campus publication. This book showed me the stretch using external tanks I kind of puzzled over in it's real life era as I worked with FX performance data. The F-12 and then the SR-71 haunted those who wanted AWACS first to be Air Defense Command and then TAC. I flew from the Moffet dirigible hangar in a P-3C Update 1 to harden my experience with Lockheed's view. My real view was to the Convair "Centaur" rocket stage of Atlas after spending time with the SKYLAB conversion of the Apollo Saturn S-IV-B with men from China Lake one day just before it was launched. Mach 7 was the goal of the subject of this book.
P**R
A great lead-in
It’s a great thing to remember the first steps, the preparation for the big jumps that get all the headlines. Don’t forget the guys who worked, sometimes unheralded, in the high desert.
D**N
Well written but needs more pictures!
I kept a Wikipedia page open to look up all the aircraft and people mentioned in the text, but it would be handier if these had simply been put in the book itself.
D**L
Even if you are an aeronautical expert, read this book
This book is amazing. I am 50 year 'veteran' of the aerospace industry and grew up following the X-15 and space programs. I learned things I had never heard/read before. I highly recommend this book.
R**K
Lots of great info!
I can never get enough aviation history, and the stories behind these early experimental aircraft are especially interesting. I learned a lot from this book. It stays in my library.
J**N
Technical history
If you like technical histories, read this one. It’s not a book I’d point random friends toward, but it made me happy.
T**X
New book on lifting bodies.
Can't wait to get into this book, I know it will be very informative !!
M**S
This book is a must read for anyone interested in space travel, space shuttle or just a great story.
For many, including myself, Mercury, Gemini and Apollo define the space age, after came The Space Shuttle, a futuristic transportation system that helped build the ISS and paved the way for amazing science that is helping us advance as we speak. But before the Shuttle learnt to fly and then glide home came the mechanics, engineers and pilots that dared to build and fly rocket planes. Having read Beyond Blue Skies by Chris Petty I have learnt a whole new history of how humans broke the bonds of earth, pushing higher and faster than ever before. What happened between 1946 and 1975 at Edwards is truly remarkable. This book is a must read for anyone interested in space travel, space shuttle or just a great story.
B**H
Nice book about a great story
Very well written, the book covers not only the X-15 (subject of many more books out there), but also tells the story of the lesser known, but by no means less important, rocket planes such as the X-2, the D-558-II and the HL-10. It doesn't focus too much on techical aspects of the airplanes, bus tells a story that is nice to read, also about the people involved and the main events. It shows how every new rocket plane was built over the knowledge gained with the previous ones. The achievements and setbacks are all there. The book brings us closer to those pioneers. Recommended reading!
M**S
A magnificent and superbly told history
Loved the book - Chris has a rare gift here for presenting the highly technical world of an experimental engineering programme in an engaging story - with the addition of fun little stories etc (like when Chuck Yaeger was flying chase and angled his plane so help shield the X cockpit from the sun). A 'must read'.
Trustpilot
3 weeks ago
3 weeks ago