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Re:SR-72 by Crito on Saturday March 08, 2014 @06:30PM (#7366818)
It depends on if you count the X-15 or the Shuttle, but neither of those were air-breathing.
Re:SR-72 by rbanffy on Saturday March 08, 2014 @07:26PM (#7366973)
The shuttle should be considered a glider (a lousy one) when landing. The X-15 is a rocket with wings and should be called a spaceplane - it crossed the 100 Km border twice after all, and couldn't take off by itself.
Re:SR-72 by Crito on Sunday March 09, 2014 @03:11PM (#7369520)
Agreed. The X-15 even had a RCS for when control surfaces no longer had enough air to bite into.
Re:SR-72 by rbanffy on Sunday March 09, 2014 @05:19PM (#7370009)
The coolest thing is the analog computer that seamlessly went between control surfaces and RCS as if it were flying using surfaces within an atmosphere. It may not be a "real" plane, but that doesn't make it any less amazing.

I'd love to see the X-15 progress into the X-20 and onwards.