zoom_in Click to enlarge

Scott Crossfield

▲ ▼

description Scott Crossfield Overview

Albert Scott Crossfield (1921–2006) was an American naval officer, aerospace engineer, and test pilot. On November 20, 1953, he became the first pilot to fly at Mach 2, twice the speed of sound, in the Douglas D-558-II Skyrocket over the Mojave Desert. Crossfield later played a key role in the development and testing of the North American X-15 rocket plane during the late 1950s while working for North American Aviation.

help Scott Crossfield FAQ

What aircraft did Scott Crossfield use for the first Mach 2 flight?

Crossfield reached twice the speed of sound in the Douglas D-558-II Skyrocket on November 20, 1953. The rocket-powered research aircraft was released from a Boeing P2B carrier aircraft before beginning its powered climb.

Was Scott Crossfield the first person to break the sound barrier?

No, Chuck Yeager first exceeded Mach 1 in the Bell X-1 in 1947. Crossfield's milestone came six years later when he became the first pilot to reach Mach 2.

What role did Scott Crossfield have in the X-15 program?

Crossfield joined North American Aviation as an engineering test pilot and helped turn the X-15 design into a flyable aircraft. He made the X-15's first glide flight and its first powered flight in 1959.

How did Scott Crossfield die?

Crossfield died in 2006 when the Cessna 210A he was flying encountered a severe thunderstorm over Georgia. He was 84 and remained active in aviation long after his experimental-flight career.