Image Credit: NASA. . For more information <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/highlights/index.html">Visit NASA's Multimedia Gallery</a> You may wish to consult NASA's <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/audience/formedia/features/MP_Photo_Guidelines.html">image use guidelines</a>. If you plan to use an image and especially if you are considering any commercial usage, you should be aware that some restrictions may apply. ________________________

NOTE: In most cases, NASA does not assert copyright protection for its images, but proper attribution may be required. This may be to NASA or various agencies and individuals that may work on any number of projects with NASA. Please DO NOT ATTRIBUTE TO PINGNEWS. You may say found via pingnews but pingnews is neither the creator nor the owner of these materials. _________________

Additional information from source:

Cowboy Joe (NACA High-Speed Flight Station test pilot Joseph Walker) and his steed (Bell Aircraft Corporation X-1A) are pictured in this 1955 photograph. The X-1A was flown six times by Bell Aircraft Company pilot Jean "Skip" Ziegler in 1953. Air Force test pilots Major Charles "Chuck" Yeager and Major Arthur "Kit" Murray made 18 flights between Nov. 21, 1953 and Aug. 26, 1954. The X-1A was then turned over to NASA's precursor, the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics or NACA. Joe Walker piloted the first NACA flight on July 20, 1955. Walker attempted a second flight on Aug. 8, 1955, but an explosion damaged the aircraft just before launch. Walker, unhurt, climbed back into the JTB-29A mothership, and the X-1A was jettisoned over the Edwards AFB bombing range.