70 years ago… SETP into existence! 1955, September 14 saw the formation of the SETP - Society of Experimental Test Pilots and the first meeting on September 29 brought seventeen test pilots of the "Testy Test Pilots Society" together but the name was soon changed into SETP. Well-known test pilots like Robert Hoover and Scott Crossfield were instrumental in the SETP creation with Crossfield becoming the driving force in the USAF and NASA’s hypersonic flight research X-15 spaceplane program. In 1959 Crossfield was the first to fly the North American Aviation X-15, testing the spaceplane 14 times. This 1959 photo shows Scott Crossfield wearing his beloved Rolex GMT-master 6542 Pepsi pilot watch, which he wore between 1958 and at least 1968. In October 1967, a Rolex GMT-master 1675, worn by test pilot William “Pete” Knight during X-15 flights 188 & 190 became the fastest pilot watch (Mach 6.7 = 7232 Km/Hr) and the first “Rolex-in-space” flying above 85 kilometers as 50 miles was considered space for USAF pilots! (photos: USAF/AP/AFFTC)
