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Chief research pilot Joseph Walker flew in 1960s and perished in 1966 while piloting a F-104 that caught vortex of a XB-70 | Cosmos Observatory | Cosmos Observatory

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Chief research pilot Joseph Walker flew in 1960s and perished in 1966 while piloting a F-104 that caught vortex of a XB-70

Chief research pilot Joseph Walker flew in 1960s and perished in 1966 while piloting a F-104 that caught vortex of a XB-70

Walker made the first NASA-piloted X-15 flight March 25, 1960, and flew the aircraft 24 times, achieving its highest altitude (354,300 ft.) Aug. 22, 1963. He died piloting a F-104 that was caught up in a vortex of the XB-70.

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