Knight

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Knight

William Joseph (Pete) Knight Status: Inactive. Trained as: Astronaut. Profession: Pilot. Sex: Male. Marital Status: Married. Children: Two. Birth Date: 18 November 1929. Birth City: Noblesville. Birth State: Indiana. Birth Country: USA. Nationality: American. Group: 1962 USAF Dynasoar Group. Date Selected: 20 September 1962. Departed: 1968. Number of Flights: 1. Total Time: 0.01 days.

Born Noblesville, Indiana. Joined USAF in 1951 and obtained degrees in mathematics and aeronautical engineering from USAF Institute of Technology. Flew fighters before attending Experimental Test Pilot School. Selected for Dynasoar in March 1962. After it was cancelled in 1963, assigned in 1964 as X-15 test pilot. He made 16 X-15 flights, including an astronaut wings flight to 85.5 km and the fastest X-15 flight, Mach 6.7 (7270 km/hr). In 1970 he was Vice Commander of the Air Force Test Center, Edwards AFB.

Flight Log

X-15 Flight 151 - - 1965 Sep 30 - Assignment: Prime Crew.
Maximum Speed - 4373 kph. Maximum Altitude - 23350 m.
X-15 Flight 152 - - 1965 Oct 12 - Assignment: Prime Crew.
Maximum Speed - 5001 kph. Maximum Altitude - 28770 m.
X-15 Flight 160 - - 1966 Jul 12 - Assignment: Prime Crew.
Maximum Speed - 5876 kph. Maximum Altitude - 39620 m.
X-15 Flight 162 - - 1966 Jul 21 - Assignment: Prime Crew.
Maximum Speed - 5741 kph. Maximum Altitude - 58610 m.
X-15 Flight 164 - - 1966 Aug 3 - Assignment: Prime Crew.
Maximum Speed - 5535 kph. Maximum Altitude - 75890 m. UV photos of stars in Auriga.
X-15 Flight 167 - - 1966 Aug 12 - Assignment: Prime Crew.
Maximum Speed - 5586 kph. Maximum Altitude - 70440 m.
X-15 Flight 170 - - 1966 Aug 30 - Assignment: Prime Crew.
Maximum Speed - 5701 kph. Maximum Altitude - 30540 m.
X-15 Flight 175 - - 1966 Nov 18 - Assignment: Prime Crew.
Unofficial world's speed record. Maximum Speed - 6838 kph. Maximum Altitude - 30140 m.
X-15 Flight 180 - - 1967 May 8 - Assignment: Prime Crew.
Maximum Speed - 5138 kph. Maximum Altitude - 29750 m. Check out of stability and control with ramjet pod.
X-15 Flight 184 - - 1967 Jun 29 - Assignment: Prime Crew.
Electrical failure while climbing through 32610 m; lost engine at 69 seconds; landed at Mud Lake with no flaps; Knight injured while exiting aircraft. Maximum Speed - 4618 kph. Maximum Altitude - 52730 m.
X-15 Flight 186 - - 1967 Aug 21 - Assignment: Prime Crew.
First test with full ablative coating, ramjet pod. Maximum Speed - 5419 kph. Maximum Altitude - 27740 m.
X-15 Flight 188 - - 1967 Oct 3 - Assignment: Prime Crew.
Unofficial world speed record (full ablative coating, dummy ramjet, mechanical eyelid). Maximum Speed - 7273 kph. Maximum Altitude - 31120 m.
X-15 Flight 190 - - 1967 Oct 17 - Assignment: Prime Crew. Flight Time: 0.01 days. Flight details: X-15 Flight 190.
Maximum Speed - 6204 kph. Maximum Altitude - 85500 m. Astronaut wings flight (USAF definition).
X-15 Flight 194 - - 1968 Apr 26 - Assignment: Prime Crew.
Maximum Speed - 5704 kph. Maximum Altitude - 63090 m.
X-15 Flight 196 - - 1968 Jul 16 - Assignment: Prime Crew.
Maximum Speed - 5442 kph. Maximum Altitude - 67510 m.
X-15 Flight 198 - - 1968 Sep 13 - Assignment: Prime Crew.
Maximum Speed - 5990 kph. Maximum Altitude - 77450 m.

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Last update 3 May 2001.
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