On October 3, 1967 Pete Knight Flew the X-15A2 at 4,520 Miles an Hour — Mach 6.7. Nearly 60 Years Later That Is Still the Fastest Any Winged Aircraft Has Ever Flown With a Human Being Inside.

Automatically curated summary from 19FortyFive.

On October 3, 1967, U.S. Air Force test pilot Pete Knight piloted the rocket-powered X-15A2 to Mach 6.7 (4,520 mph) at an altitude of 102,000 feet, setting a record for the fastest manned winged aircraft flight. Released from a B-52 over California, the flight tested hypersonic aerodynamics and heat-resistant materials. During the mission, extreme shockwaves melted an attached dummy ramjet, and a system malfunction forced Knight to land heavily loaded with volatile propellant. The aircraft now resides in the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

Context and limitations

The article contains anachronistic references to photos taken in 2025. Specific technical details regarding flight hazards and damaged equipment rely on publisher commentary and should be cross-referenced with official NASA historical records.