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William John "Pete" Knight (November 18, 1929 – May 7, 2004) ( Col, USAF) was an American aeronautical engineer, politician, Vietnam War combat pilot, test pilot, and astronaut. He was one of twelve pilots who flew the North American X-15, an experimental spaceplane jointly operated by the U.S. Air Force and NASA.
X-15 - Biography. William J. Knight. Pete Knight grew up in Noblesville, Indiana, and enlisted in the USAF in 1951. After receiving his commission through the aviation cadet program, he completed pilot training in 1953. Flying an F-89D for the 438th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, he won the prestigious Allison Jet Trophy Race in September of 1954.
Oct 13, 2023 · The Air Force selected William J. “Pete” Knight as an X-15 pilot in 1965, and he completed 16 flights in two years. On his eighth flight on Nov. 18, 1966, Knight took X-15A-2 to above Mach 6, with the fully fueled external tanks operating as expected.
William John "Pete" Knight was an American aeronautical engineer, politician, Vietnam War combat pilot, test pilot, and astronaut. He was one of twelve pilots who flew the North American X-15, an experimental spaceplane jointly operated by the U.S. Air Force and NASA.
Feb 28, 2014 · During its research program, the aircraft set unofficial world speed and altitude records of 4,520 mph (Mach 6.7 on Oct. 3, 1967, with Air Force pilot Pete Knight at the controls) and 354,200 feet (on Aug. 22, 1963, with NASA pilot Joseph Walker in the cockpit).
Aug 19, 2010 · Before the war he was an engineer for the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad. In April 1862 Knight was one of two dozen soldiers, almost all from Ohio, who volunteered for a secret mission now famously known as Andrews’ Raid or the Great Locomotive Chase.
Oct 16, 2014 · On October 3, 1967, U.S. Air Force pilot William “Pete” Knight set a world speed record in an X-15 rocket plane. Minutes later, the aircraft landed charred and broken. Knight was one of 12 men who piloted the experimental X-15 planes.
