Beyond Blue Skies
The Rocket Plane Programs That Led to the Space Age
Format:Hardback
Publisher:University of Nebraska Press
Published:1st Nov '20
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This book explores the remarkable advancements in aviation after World War II, highlighting the journey toward human spaceflight in Beyond Blue Skies.
The book Beyond Blue Skies delves into the transformative three decades following World War II, a period marked by groundbreaking advancements in aviation that propelled the United States toward the frontiers of outer space. During this era, the concept of the sound barrier was still seen by many as an insurmountable challenge, while the notion of rocket-powered flight seemed confined to the realm of science fiction. However, a dedicated group of engineers, test pilots, and researchers began to push the limits of what was possible, paving the way for future human space exploration.
Set against the backdrop of California's High Desert, Beyond Blue Skies highlights the pivotal role played by Edwards Air Force Base and NASA’s Flight Research Center from 1946 to 1975. This location became a testing ground for innovative rocket-powered aircraft designed to explore the outer limits of flight. While figures like Chuck Yeager gained fame, many other test pilots and support staff worked diligently behind the scenes, accepting significant risks without the accolades that often accompany such bravery. Their contributions were essential to the success of supersonic flight and the eventual journey into space.
In this compelling narrative, Beyond Blue Skies not only recounts the remarkable achievements of the rocket-plane era but also honors the unsung heroes whose relentless efforts made these advancements possible. The book serves as a tribute to the teamwork and dedication that characterized this exciting chapter in aviation history, revealing the triumphs and tragedies that shaped the future of flight.
"Chris Petty's Beyond Blue Skies: The Rocket Plane Programs That Led to the Space Age transports readers to Edwards Air Force Base, where, from 1946 to 1975, experimental rocket planes carried engineers' knowledge to higher altitudes and into the supersonic and hypersonic realms. . . . Any reader interested in the history of aviation and space programs will enjoy learning how they made it all work."—Kevin Castro, H-Environment
“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
“Beyond Blue Skies captures the period, the place, and best of all the people who made the rocket-plane era at Edwards so successful, providing a solid basis for the space shuttle. Chris Petty has captured our soul.”—Robert W. Kempel, retired experimental flight research engineer
“Beyond Blue Skies is a deeply researched and thoughtful history of the X-planes that flew across the skies of California’s High Desert between 1946 and the 1970s. While rich in detail, it is approachable by the general reader and will prove to be as engaging as the exploits of the daring pilots who continually ‘pushed the envelope.’ Chris Petty’s new book capably fills a gap in the available literature, and for that reason along with its enjoyability, it deserves a place on your shelf.”—Rod Pyle, author, journalist, and editor in chief of Ad Astra magazine for the National Space Society
“Chris Petty takes us on an exciting journey further than the usual treatments on this subject. He provides unique, personal accounts and rare insights from the engineers and technicians who built, modified, maintained, and controlled the most advanced research aircraft and their milestone flights. These stories are an essential addition to chronicling the remarkable achievements of the pioneering test pilots.”—Col. Mark Pestana, NASA research pilot
ISBN: 9781496218766
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
408 pages