This week in Edwards flight test history

Published Oct. 4, 2016
412th Test Wing Public Affairs

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- On Oct. 3, 1967 Maj. William J. “Pete” Knight flew the modified X-15A-2 to a speed of Mach 6.7 (4,520 mph). The aircraft was flown with its full ablative coating and external fuel tanks. A dummy ramjet mounted on the lower ventral stub stabilizer fell away during the flight as a result of severe heat damage to the fairing. The flight marked the highest speed achieved in the X-15 program and remains the highest speed ever reached by a manned airplane.