X-15 Diary

The Story of America's First Spaceship

By: Richard Tregaskis

Narrated by: Chris Sorensen

Built of titanium and a chrome-nickel alloy known as Inconel X, the X-15 was the fastest plane ever built, streaking through the lower reaches of outer space even before the first space capsules reached orbit. First tested in 1959, the X-15 proved to be a crucial testing ground for the astronauts and hardware in the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and even the Space Shuttle programs. Celebrated reporter Richard Tregaskis spent time with the pilots, engineers, and other key personnel involved in the project. We learn of the years of planning and design, devastating onboard explosions, exhilarating triumphs, and, above all, the personal and professional sacrifices that paved the way for the enduring legacy of the blisteringly fast X-15 rocket plane.

©2004 Richard Tregaskis (P)2016 Dreamscape Media, LLC

X-15 through one’s eyes

This was nice: it’s a journal of one’s experiences telling the beginning of the x15 story versus a academic historical account

Very repetative

The writer uses many of the same lines throughout the book. The daily question is will the X15 fly, or will it be scrubbed? Not technical, and the main objective for writers at that time was to try and coax personal stories and insights from the test pilots. Most of who were not there to seek fame and were very reluctant to share that kind of information.

Difficult audiobook

So the book was interesting with the in-depth information captured by the writer in their diary. Lots of detail about the earlier flights of the x-15. Throughout the book they referenced the coming “big engine” that would soon be setting records however the book never made it to that and just sort of ended. Nevertheless the detail provided by the projects beginning and earlier tests was interesting. However I would not recommend this audiobook to anyone. It was painful to listen to. The reader pronounced every words syllable slowly. Reminded me of Ben Stein’s teacher impersonation in Farris Bueller’s day off. I had to listen at 1.5x just to get though it. It’s not a book I would recommend unless you are fact hunting about the project.