X-15 rocket powered aircraft

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X-15 aircraft:

This photo illustrates how the X-15 rocket-powered aircraft was taken aloft under the wing of a B-52.
Because of the large fuel consumption, the X-15 was air launched from a B-52 aircraft at 45,000 ft and a speed of about 500 mph. This was one of the early powered flights using a pair of XLR-11 engines (until the XLR-99 became available).
The X-15 was a rocket-powered aircraft 50 ft long with a wingspan of 22 ft.
It was a missile-shaped vehicle with an unusual wedge-shaped vertical tail, thin stubby wings, and unique fairings that extended along the side of the fuselage.
The X-15 weighed about 14,000 lb empty and approximately 34,000 lb at launch.

The XLR-99 rocket engine, manufactured by Thiokol Chemical Corp., was pilot controlled and was capable of developing 57,000 lb of rated thrust (actual thrust reportedly climbed to 60,000 lb).
North American Aviation built three X-15 aircraft for the program.