October 19, 2020

On This Day in History /
On Oct. 3, 1967, Maj. William “Pete” Knight flew the modified X-15A-2 to its maximum speed of Mach 6.7 or 4,520 mph, a speed which remains the fastest anyone has ever flown an aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo)

1968: Maj William J. Knight receives the Harmon International Aviator’s Trophy for 1968 as the world’s outstanding pilot for flying X-15 No. 2 to 4,520 MPH (Mach 6.72).