Capts. Iven C. Kinchloe (left) and Mel Apt pose with the Bell X-2 rocket-powered aircraft. Captain Kinchloe climbed to 126,200 feet altitude in the X-2 Sept. 7, 1956. Captain Apt reached a speed of Mach -- three times the speed of sound -- in the aircraft before it tumbled out of control and he was killed attempting to bail out on Sept. 27, 1956. ( Air Force photo)

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Size: 1572px × 1589px
Photo credit: © PJF Military Collection / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: air, airforce, force, military, states, united, usa