October 3rd, 1967, Test pilot "Pete" Knight gave that Ol' Mach Demon the best chase it ever had! William John "Pete" Knight set a world absolute aircraft speed record for manned aircraft when he piloted the X-15A-2 to 4,520 miles per hour, or Mach 6.72, almost seven times the speed of sound. A speed record that still stands to this date. Knight also became one of only five pilots to earn their Astronaut Wings by flying an airplane to an altitude over 280,500 feet.
On a previous X-15 test flight, Pete suffered a total electrical failure and complete onboard systems shut down, that occurred while climbing through 107,000 feet at Mach 4.17 on June 29, 1967.
Calmly allowing the plane to continue to its apex altitude of 173,000 feet, he pushed the nose over and flew a purely visual approach to a non eventful landing at Mud Lake, Nevada. For his remarkable feat of airmanship that day, he earned a Distinguished Flying Cross.
via
www.Sierrahotel.net
