Exactly 55 years ago today, on October 3, 1967, William J. Knight set a world speed record when he flew a North American X-15 rocket-powered aircraft at Mach 6.7.

Born November 18, 1929, in Noblesville, Indiana, Knight first worked as a racehorse jockey before enlisting in the United States Air Force in 1951. Thanks to an aviation cadet program, Knight completed his pilot training in 1953. A year later, while flying a Northrop F-89 Scorpion all-weather interceptor, Knight won the prestigious Allison Jet Trophy Race in September 1954.

Knight became a test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base

Wanting to continue his education Knight attended the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. After obtaining a Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering, Knight joined the US Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California, becoming involved in various projects as a test pilot.

Pete Knight in front of aircraft
Knight was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Photo: USAF via Wikimedia Commons.

In 1960 knight was one of six pilots selected to fly the Boeing X-20 DynaSoar space plane. When the program was canceled in 1963, Knight completed his astronaut training in preparation for flying the experimental X-15 rocket plane.

With it being a superfast experiment aircraft, Knight had more than his share of eventful flights in the X-15. This included one where, when flying through 107,000 feet, he lost all electrical power. After reaching an altitude of 173,000 feet, he calmly glided the plane down for an emergency landing at Mud Lake, Nevada. For his remarkable feet of airmanship, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

World speed record

Now a major in the Air Force, on October 3, 1967, Knight flew an X-15A-2 reaching a speed of 4,520 miles per hour (Mach 6.70), a world record speed that still stands today. During his time with the X-15 flight program, Knight became one of only five pilots to ever receive their Astronaut Wings after reaching an altitude of 280,500 feet.

In 1968 after nearly ten years as a test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base in Kern County, California, Knight transferred to a combat unit stationed in Southeast Asia. During his time there, he flew a total of 253 combat missions over Vietnam piloting a North American F-100 Super Sabre.

F-100 in the sky
Knight flew north american f-100 super sabre during the Vietnam War. Photo: USAF via Wikimedia Commons.

Following his return to the United States, Knight served as a test director for the development of the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. In 1979 Knight returned to his old stomping ground at Edwards Air Force base, where he served as a test pilot for the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Knight became a politician

After 32 years in the Air Force, during which time he had clocked up more than 6,000 flying hours in the cockpits of more than 100 aircraft, Knight retired as a colonel in 1982.

Not content to sit back and do nothing, however, Knight became involved in California politics and was elected the mayor of Palmdale, California. He was later elected to the state assembly and served as an assemblyman until his death on May 7, 2004.