Milburn G. Mel Apt, The Fastest Man Alive!
The Fastest Man Alive! Milburn G. "Mel" Apt (April 9, 1924 – September 27, 1956)
September 27, a B-50 bomber was flying high over the Mojave Desert in California, holding an X-2 rocket plane under its wing, with Capt. Milburn G at the controls. Upon reaching altitude, the B-50 released the X-2, and "Mel" rocketed into the record books on his first X-2 flight, and the aircraft's 13th powered flight, setting a record speed of 3,377 km/h, or Mach 3.196 at 65,541 ft.
Milburn G. "Mel" Apt smashed the barrier at 3 times the speed of sound, becoming the fastest man alive.
Just after separation from the B-50 mother ship, Apt rocketed away, quickly outdistancing the F-100 chase planes. Once reaching 65,000 ft, Apt nosed over and began accelerating rapidly, reaching Mach 3.2 (2,094 mph)
Upon rocket burnout, Apt found himself much further from home than anticipated, potentially putting his aircraft beyond safe gliding range of his planned runway.
Even though the planned flight test profile called for slowing to Mach 2.4 before attempting to turn back to base. Apt elected to roll into his turn still above Mach 3, to bring his craft back to Edwards.
Shortly after, the X-2 began a series of diverging rolls and tumbled out of control.
As the aircraft began its tumble, Milburn G. "Mel" Apt made his final radio transmission in his calm voice, "There she goes!"
Apt fought to regain control of the aircraft, but the subsequent loss of control from inertia coupling made managing the aircraft impossible, and shortly after, led to the aircraft's breakup.
Apt separated the escape capsule. The capsule's drogue parachute opened, but the larger parachute failed to deploy.
Apt attempted to bail out, but now out of altitude, Milburn G. "Mel" Apt was killed when his escape capsule hit the Edwards bombing range, five miles away from the remains of his aircraft.
Just after separation from the B-50 mother ship, Apt rocketed away, quickly outdistancing the F-100 chase planes. Once reaching 65,000 ft, Apt nosed over and began accelerating rapidly, reaching Mach 3.2 (2,094 mph)
Upon rocket burnout, Apt found himself much further from home than anticipated, potentially putting his aircraft beyond safe gliding range of his planned runway.
Even though the planned flight test profile called for slowing to Mach 2.4 before attempting to turn back to base. Apt elected to roll into his turn still above Mach 3, to bring his craft back to Edwards.
Shortly after, the X-2 began a series of diverging rolls and tumbled out of control.
As the aircraft began its tumble, Milburn G. "Mel" Apt made his final radio transmission in his calm voice, "There she goes!"
Apt fought to regain control of the aircraft, but the subsequent loss of control from inertia coupling made managing the aircraft impossible, and shortly after, led to the aircraft's breakup.
Apt separated the escape capsule. The capsule's drogue parachute opened, but the larger parachute failed to deploy.
Apt attempted to bail out, but now out of altitude, Milburn G. "Mel" Apt was killed when his escape capsule hit the Edwards bombing range, five miles away from the remains of his aircraft.
On that day, September, 27th, 1956, Milburn G. "Mel" Apt became the fastest man alive!
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