Test Pilot Pete Knight with the X-15A-2
Air Force pilot William J. "Pete" Knight is seen here in front of the X-15A-2 aircraft (56-6671). Pete Knight made 16 flights in the X-15, and on October 3, 1967, set the world unofficial speed record for a fixed wing aircraft, 4,520 mph (Mach 6.7), in the X-15A-2. He also made one flight above 50 miles, qualifying him for astronaut wings.
The X-15 was flown over a period of nearly 10 years—June 1959 to Oct. 1968—and set the world's unofficial speed and altitude records of 4,520 mph (Mach 6.7) and 354,200 ft (over 67 mi) in a program to investigate all aspects of piloted hypersonic flight. Information gained from the highly successful X-15 program contributed to the development of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo manned spaceflight programs, and also the Space Shuttle program.
The X-15s made a total of 199 flights and were manufactured by North American Aviation.
North American X-15A-2, serial number 56-6671, is at the United States Air Force Museum, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
Credit: NASA
Image Number: ECN-1025
Date: 1965
Test Pilot Pete Knight with the X-15A-2
Air Force pilot William J. "Pete" Knight is seen here in front of the X-15A-2 aircraft (56-6671). Pete Knight made 16 flights in the X-15, and on October 3, 1967, set the world unofficial speed record for a fixed wing aircraft, 4,520 mph (Mach 6.7), in the X-15A-2. He also made one flight above 50 miles, qualifying him for astronaut wings.
The X-15 was flown over a period of nearly 10 years—June 1959 to Oct. 1968—and set the world's unofficial speed and altitude records of 4,520 mph (Mach 6.7) and 354,200 ft (over 67 mi) in a program to investigate all aspects of piloted hypersonic flight. Information gained from the highly successful X-15 program contributed to the development of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo manned spaceflight programs, and also the Space Shuttle program.
The X-15s made a total of 199 flights and were manufactured by North American Aviation.
North American X-15A-2, serial number 56-6671, is at the United States Air Force Museum, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
Credit: NASA
Image Number: ECN-1025
Date: 1965