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John B. McKay

 
John B. McKay

 
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John B. McKay
 
 
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John B. McKay (December 8, 1922 – April 27, 1975) was one of the first pilots assigned to the X-15 flight research program at NASA
NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an agency of the Federal government of the United States, responsible for the nation's public list of space agencies....
's Flight Research Center
Dryden Flight Research Center

The Dryden Flight Research Center , located inside Edwards Air Force Base, is an aeronautical research center operated by NASA. On March 26, 1976 it was named in honor of the late Dr....
, Edwards Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force Base

Edwards Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located on the border of Kern County, California and Los Angeles County, California in the Antelope Valley....
, California
California

California is a U.S. state on the West Coast of the United States of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. It is bordered by Oregon to the north, Nevada to the east, Arizona to the southeast, and to the south the Mexico state of Baja California....
. As a civilian research pilot and aeronautical engineer, he made 30 flights in X-15s from October 28, 1960, until September 8, 1966.






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John B
John B. McKay (December 8, 1922 – April 27, 1975) was one of the first pilots assigned to the X-15 flight research program at NASA
NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an agency of the Federal government of the United States, responsible for the nation's public list of space agencies....
's Flight Research Center
Dryden Flight Research Center

The Dryden Flight Research Center , located inside Edwards Air Force Base, is an aeronautical research center operated by NASA. On March 26, 1976 it was named in honor of the late Dr....
, Edwards Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force Base

Edwards Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located on the border of Kern County, California and Los Angeles County, California in the Antelope Valley....
, California
California

California is a U.S. state on the West Coast of the United States of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. It is bordered by Oregon to the north, Nevada to the east, Arizona to the southeast, and to the south the Mexico state of Baja California....
. As a civilian research pilot and aeronautical engineer, he made 30 flights in X-15s from October 28, 1960, until September 8, 1966. His peak altitude was 295,600 feet, and his highest speed was 3,863 mph (Mach 5.64).

McKay was with the NACA
NACA

NACA may refer to:*Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America a non-profit community advocacy and homeownership organization helping victims of predatory mortgages....
 and its successor, NASA, from February 8, 1951 until October 5, 1971 and specialized in high-speed flight research programs. He began as an NACA intern, but assumed pilot status on July 11, 1952. In addition to the X-15, he flew such experimental aircraft as the D-558
Douglas Skystreak

The United States Douglas Skystreak was a single-engine jet research aircraft of the 1940s. It was designed in 1945 in aviation by the Douglas Aircraft Company for the U.S....
-1, D-558-2
Douglas Skyrocket

The Douglas Skyrocket was a rocket and jet-powered supersonic research aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company for the United States Navy....
, X-lB
Bell X-1

The Bell Aircraft X-1, originally designated XS-1, was a joint National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics-U.S. Army Air Forces/US Air Force supersonic research project and the first aircraft to exceed the speed of sound in controlled, level flight....
, and the X-lE. He has also served as a research pilot on flight programs involving the F-100
F-100 Super Sabre

The North American Aviation F-100 Super Sabre was a jet engine fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard until 1979....
, F-102, F-104, and the F-107. In 1958, McKay was selected for and would have participated in the Air Force's Man In Space Soonest
Man In Space Soonest

Man In Space Soonest was a United States Air Force program to put a astronaut into outer space before the Soviet Union. MISS would have used a Thor booster, then later an Atlas rocket, to put a capsule into orbit....
, had it come to fruition.

Born on December 8, 1922, in Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth, Virginia

Portsmouth is an independent city located in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the United States Census 2000, the city had a total population of 100,565, but a 2006 Census estimate showed the city's population had increased to 101,377....
, McKay graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering. During World War II
World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a Participants in World War II, including all of the great powers, organised into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War II and the Axis powers....
 he served as a Navy pilot in the Pacific Theater, earning the Air Medal
Air Medal

The Air Medal is a Awards and decorations of the United States military of the United States which was established by Executive Order 9158, signed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, on May 11, 1942....
 with two clusters, and a Presidential Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation (US)

The Presidential Unit Citation, originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and allies for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 December 1941 ....
.

McKay wrote several technical papers, and was a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics is the professional society for the field of aerospace engineering. The AIAA was founded in 1963 from the merger of two earlier societies: the American Rocket Society , founded in 1930 as the American Interplanetary Society , and the Institute of Aerospace Sciences , founded...
, as well as the Society of Experimental Test Pilots
Society of Experimental Test Pilots

The Society of Experimental Test Pilots is an international organization that seeks to promote air safety and contributes to aeronautical advancement by promoting sound aeronautical design and development; interchanging ideas, thoughts and suggestions of the members, assisting in the professional development of experimental pilots, and provid...
.

John B. McKay died on April 27, 1975. In 1996, he was inducted into the Aerospace Walk of Honor
Aerospace Walk of Honor

The Aerospace Walk of Honor in Lancaster, California, USA, honors test pilots who have contributed to aviation and space research and development....
, and in 2005 he was awarded astronaut's wings.

Awards and honors

  • Air Medal
    Air Medal

    The Air Medal is a Awards and decorations of the United States military of the United States which was established by Executive Order 9158, signed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, on May 11, 1942....
     (two clusters)
  • Presidential Unit Citation
    Presidential Unit Citation (US)

    The Presidential Unit Citation, originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and allies for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 December 1941 ....
  • John J. Montgomery Award
  • National Society of Aerospace Professionals
  • Award for Achievement, National Aeronautics Association
  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute’s Hall of Fame
  • Aerospace Walk of Honor
    Aerospace Walk of Honor

    The Aerospace Walk of Honor in Lancaster, California, USA, honors test pilots who have contributed to aviation and space research and development....
     (1996).