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Pete Everest

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description Pete Everest Overview

Frank "Pete" Everest was a United States Air Force test pilot recognized for his contributions to high-speed aviation research. He set a world speed record in 1956 while flying the Bell X-2, earning him the nickname "The Fastest Man Alive." During his career at Edwards Air Force Base, he flew various experimental aircraft, including the Bell X-1, to gather crucial data on supersonic flight. He also served as a fighter pilot during World War II.

help Pete Everest FAQ

What aircraft made Pete Everest famous as the Fastest Man Alive?

Frank “Pete” Everest earned the nickname while flying the Bell X-2, a rocket-powered research aircraft also known as Starbuster. On his final X-2 flight in July 1956, he reached about 1,900 mph and set a world speed record. [NASA Bell X-2 history](https://www.nasa.gov/aeronautics/bell-x-2/)

What was the Bell X-2 designed to investigate?

The Bell X-2 was built to explore controlled flight at extreme speed and altitude, beyond the envelope of aircraft such as the Bell X-1. Its stainless-steel and K-monel construction was intended to withstand the heating and stresses of high-speed flight.

Where did Pete Everest conduct much of his test-pilot work?

Everest worked at Edwards Air Force Base in California, the center of American flight research during the X-2 period. He served as chief of Edwards’ Flight Test Operations Division from 1950 to 1956.

How does Pete Everest’s X-2 record differ from Pete Knight’s X-15 record?

Everest’s 1956 record came in the Bell X-2, while Pete Knight’s later record came in the North American X-15. Knight reached Mach 6.70 in 1967, far beyond Everest’s roughly Mach 2.87 X-2 speed.