Memorial Tribute to the forgotten X-15 Astronaut Virtual Cache
Memorial Tribute to the forgotten X-15 Astronaut
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Travel to N35 25.077 W117 35.581 after you arrive at these coordinates turn onto dirt road in a north-westerly direction towards the above listed coordinates.
November 1967:
This is the spot where Major Michael Adams, USAF and his High performance X-15 aircraft came to rest.
Background: During an X-15 test mission from Edwards AFB, Ca. Major Adams encountered a series of technical problems which resulted in his X-15 entering a spin at over 5 times the speed of sound (close to 4000 miles an hour!) Even though Major Adams recovered the X-15 from the spin, structural damage to the aircraft and it's flight control surfaces made controlled flight impossible and he and the aircraft came to rest near this spot where he touched the face of God.
Major Adams became the USA's first in-flight astronaut fatality and due to the previous Apollo disaster not many people noticed. (incidentally, because of the altitudes that the X-15 flights routinely reached, the X-15 pilots earned and were awarded Astronaut wings)
Fast forward to May 2004:
Tustin, Ca.
An Eagle Scout candidate learns about Major Adams, and the X-15 Tragedy. This Eagle Scout's hard work comes to fruition when he places and puts the final touches on a memorial too long overdue for an "Eagle" who left the surly bonds of earth so many years ago.
Note: If anyone "knows" this Eagle Scout,(or can put me in contact with him) please have him contact me via this website.
Thanks in advance!
Note: The area has been totally "sanitized." There are NO Souvenirs to be sought for or found in the area, but please respect the fact that an extraordinary man and his plane both perished here.
To prove you visited this spot.... please email me the answers the following questions:
1. How tall (from it's highest point) to the ground is the memorial? (the pole with the flag and the X-15 ARE NOT part of the original memorial.)
2. What is the memorial's diameter?
Bonus question: What materials does the memorial appear to be made out of? (again the pole with the flag & X-15 ARE NOT part of the original memorial)
Thanks to Kit_Fox for the info on the scout, As soon as I receive permission I'll post his name and a pic of him at the memorial.
Here are some great websites about the monument:
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Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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