EDWARDS AFB - Fifty years ago this month, A. Scott Crossfield became the first fastest man alive. On Nov. 20, 1953, shortly before the 50th anniversary of powered flight, Crossfield piloted the Douglas D-558-II Skyrocket research aircraft to Mach 2 - twice the speed of sound, or more than 1,290 mph. Crossfield's milestone in aeronautical history came at a time when the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy were pushing the frontiers of flight, flying a stable of exotic experimental research airplances from Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California's high desert. Higher, faster, farther was the mantra as...
