Fastest Aircraft
The North American X-15 is the fastest aircraft to be ever piloted. Its top speed is 4,520 mph. Its first flight was on June 8, 1959. It has been retired since 1969. The fastest drone aircraft is the X-43A Scramjet. Its top speed is 7,000 mph.
X-15 Technical Specifications
Its engine generated 70,400 lbs. The thrust is 1 min 20 sec – 2. Its weight when empty is 14,605 lbs. The maximum weight is 50,914 lbs. The length is 52' 5". The wingspan is 22' 4". The X-15 has a climbing rate of 354,200 feet. The ceiling is 280 miles.
Other High Speed Aircraft
Excluding the X-15 and the X-43A Scramjet, the fastest would be the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. On 28 July 1976, it reached a top speed of 2,193.2 mph. It was piloted by Capt. Eldon W. Joersz and Maj. George T. Morgan.
Next would be the Lockheed YF-12A. On 1 May 1965, it reached speeds of 2,070.1 mph. The aircraft was piloted by Robert L. Stephens and Daniel Andre.
At number five (including the X-15 and the Scramhet) would be the Ye-152. Its top speed is 1665.9 mph. It was attained on 7 July 1962 by Col. Georgii Mosolov.
Number six among the world’s fastest aircraft would be the McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II. It reached a top speed of 1606.3 mph on 22 November 1961. The aircraft was piloted by Robert G. Robinson.
Number seven would be the Convair F-106 Delta Dart. It has a top speed of 1,525.9 mph. The plane was piloted by Maj. Joseph Rogers on December 1959. Number eight is the Ye-66. Its maximum speed is 1,484 mph. The speed was reached on 31 October 1959. It was piloted by Col. Georgii Mosolov.
The Lockheed F-104C Starfighter is at number nine. It has a maximum speed of 1,404 mph. The top speed was attained by Cap. WW Irwin on May 1958. Rounding off the top ten is the McDonnell F-101A Voodoo. The top speed is 1,207.6 mph. It was piloted by the USAF on December 1957.
Other Aircraft Records
The MC-72 is the fastest piston engine driven seaplane with top speeds of 440.68 mph. At 605 mph. the Boeing 747 is the fastest commercial jet. The MiG-25 Foxbat is the fastest jet fighter with speeds of 2,115 mph.
The record for the world’s fastest aircraft is bound to change. Aside from military and commercial use, aircraft is also used for research. These are the reasons for its continued development.
