1959–1960 Sicle : Airplane Trading Cards

Sicle Airplane Trading Cards were distributed with Sicle brand frozen treats in the United States. The 76-card collection is divided into sets of Aurora model kit illustrations and official military photographs. The collection was produced by the Joe Lowe Corporation of New York. The American Card Catalog reference is F223-1.

Series A features artwork created for the Aurora Famous Fighters model kit series. A 21-card Aurora Famous Fighters variant series was distributed with the models. The Aurora branded cards contain the same numbering and illustrations. The American Card Catalog reference is F223-2.

Artistic concepts for the "X-15 Sateloid Rocket Plane" and a "U.S.A.F. Lunar Probe" are included in Series A. "Lunar Probe" Kit No. 385 was created by Aurora before the establishment of NASA. According to Frederick Boucher at Aeroscale , the "Lunar Probe" was modified from the "Thor IRBM" model kit.



Series AA depicts the MIDAS 2 satellite aboard the LV-3A Atlas-Agena A vehicle. The Missile Defense Alarm System was a network of satellites designed to detect Soviet missile launches. The first launch attempt of MIDAS 1 was made on February 26, 1960. The second stage failed to separate and the vehicle was destroyed over the Atlantic Ocean. MIDAS 2 was successfully placed into orbit on May 24, 1960. The communication link failed on May 26.

Series AA includes the first flight of the North American X-15-1 experimental aircraft (56-6670). On June 8, 1959, the X-15-1 was first dropped from Boeing NB-52A Stratofortress 52-003, The High and Mighty One, piloted by Charles Bock and Major Jack Allavie. The aircraft was piloted in an unpowered glide by Scott Crossfield. The vapor trail pictured is hydrogen peroxide exhaust produced by the electrical system.

NASA developed three of the experimental aircraft to investigate problems that pilots would encounter near the edge of space. The X-15-1 is currently held by the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. The aircraft is displayed in the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles International Airport in Virginia. The High and Mighty One is displayed at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.