Palmdale in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

William J. "Pete" Knight

1929-2004

— F-100 Super Sabre —

William J. "Pete" Knight Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, September 12, 2015

1. William J. "Pete" Knight Marker

Inscription. William J. "Pete" Knight (November 18, 1929 – May 8, 2004) was a combat pilot, test pilot, Astronaut, and US politician. Knight holds the world’s speed record for flight in a winged powered aircraft. Knight enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1951. Starting in 1958, Knight served as a test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base. He was a project test pilot for the F-100, F-101, F-104 and later, T-38 and F-5 test program. In 1963, he completed the astronaut training curriculum at Edwards AFB and was selected to fly the X-15. On October 3, 1967, Knight set a world aircraft speed record by piloting the X-15A-2 to 4,520 miles per hour (Mach 6.7) - a record that still stands today. During 16 flights in the aircraft, Knight also became one of only five pilots to earn their astronaut’s wings by flying an airplane in space, reaching an altitude of 280,500 feet. After 32 years of service and more than 6,000 hours in the cockpits of more than 100 different aircraft, he retired from the USAF as a Colonel in 1982. In 1984, he was elected to the City Council of Palmdale, California, and four years later became the city’s first elected mayor. In 1992, he was elected to serve in the California State Assembly representing the 36th

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District. He served in the State Senate representing the 17th District from 1996 until his death on May 8, 2004.

F-100 Super Sabre
Nicknamed “Hun”
General Information
Manufacturer: North American Aviation
Production Period: 1953 to 1959
Number Produced: 2,294
Production Series: USAF: 100A,C, & D single seat A/C F-100F two-seat A/C

Roles: Originally designed as a land-based fair-weather air superiority fighter for the US Air Force; later developed into a land based all-weather multi-mission aircraft for the US Air Force, capable of close air support, interception and forward air control.

Performance and Specifications
(Figures given are for the F-100D model) Maxium Speed: 910 mph (Mach 1.2)
Service Ceiling: 46,900 feet above sea level
Range: 1,995 miles
Weapons: Four M39 20mm cannons, AIM-4 Falcon, AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, and a variety of air to ground rockets and bombs could be carried on the six wing and one fuselage stations
Crew: Pilot
Length: 54 feet, 2 inches
Wingspan: 38 feet, 9 inches
Height: 16 feet, 2 inches
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 37, 124 lbs.
Powerplant: Pratt & Whitney J57-P-21/21A turbojet engine with afterburner providing 16,000 lbs. of thrust
Achievments: First operational USAF aircraft

F-100 Super Sabre Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, September 12, 2015

2. F-100 Super Sabre Marker

to exceed the speed of sound in level flight; operated by the USAF Thunderbirds and USAF Europe Skyblazer Flight Demonstration teams.

Right Panel: F-100
A/C SN: 54-2299
Construction# 223-179
Date Acquired: 8-1-98
From: Loan, USAF George AFB, Ca
Displayed: 10-1-98 Built at Inglewood, California; left production line on Aug-27, 1956.
1956 8th TFW, 80th TFS (Headhunters) Itazuke AB, Japan: The 8th FBW became the 8th TFW on July 1, 1958 with the wing converting from F-86 to the F-100. During this time each squadron rotated to Kunsan Air Base, Korea for training missions and occasionally, an operational mission along the de-militarized zone.
1959 8th TFW, 80th TFS, Osan AB, Korea: Wing transferred to Osan Air Base, Unit on dawn to dusk alert status.
1959 4520 CCTW, Nellis AFB, NV: Aircraft used as a Thunderbird during the Far East Tour in 1959, Thunderbird aircraft were normally the F-100C model, however, these did not possess aerial refueling capability necessary to cross the Pacific.
1960 4520 CCTW, Nellis AFB, NV: Aircraft crashed, but was repairable.
1962 4520 CCTW, Nellis AFB, NV: Aircraft returned after repairs were made.
1962 4510 CCTW, Luke AFB, AZ: Aircraft transferred to 4510 CCTW; still used for combat crew

Photographed by Denise Boose, September 12, 2015

3. F-100 Super Sabre Marker

training.
1969 58 TFTW, Luke AFB, AZ: Tactical fighter training wing.
1970 114 TFG, 175 TFS, Joe Foss ANG Base, SD. Transferred to South Dakota ANG
1970 180 TFG, 112 TFS, Toledo Airport, OH. Transferred back to South Dakota ANG
1970 114 TFG, 175 TFS, Joe Foss ANGB, SD. Transferred back to South Dakota ANG
1981 George AFB, CA,: Displayed as gate guard at George AFB.
1999 Palmdale, Ca. Transferred to Palmdale Heritage Airpark and placed on display, designated “Spirit of Palmdale”.

Erected by Joe Davies Heritage Airpark.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical date for this entry is November 18, 1929.

Location. 34° 36.155′ N, 118° 5.281′ W. Marker is in Palmdale, California, in Los Angeles County. It can be reached from East Avenue P, on the left when traveling east. Located at Joe Davies Heritage Airpark, open Fri-Sun 11-4. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2001 East Avenue P, Palmdale CA 93550, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles,

in the High Desert,

and in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

on the Pacific

Pete Knight/F-100 Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, September 12, 2015

4. Pete Knight/F-100 Markers

Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: F-101 Voodoo Escort Fighter (a few steps from this marker); Col. Robert L. Riedenauer (Ret) (a few steps from this marker); F-105 Thunderchief (within shouting distance of this marker); MK-20 Rockeye Cluster Bomb Unit (within shouting distance of this marker); Wright J65 Turbojet Engine (within shouting distance of this marker); A-4AR Cockpit Trainer (within shouting distance of this marker); F-14 Tomcat (within shouting distance of this marker); Joe Davies Jr (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Palmdale.

F-100 and Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, September 12, 2015

5. F-100 and Markers

Photographed by Craig Baker, July 18, 2025

6. F-100 and Markers

7. F-100, 1963

USAF Thunderbird Museum, Nellis AFB, NV.

Pete Knight and X-15 image. Click for full size.

courtesy NASA

8. Pete Knight and X-15

Credits. This page was last revised on July 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 6, 2018, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 691 times since then and 43 times this year. Last updated on June 13, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 6, 2018, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 6. submitted on July 23, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 7. submitted on May 8, 2018, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 8. submitted on July 6, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.