Top 10 Fastest Aircraft in the World

Recall that there were days when long distances were to be travelled in days and weeks using ships, camels, horses and other old means of transportation. But as technology continued to advance, diverse discoveries were made, leading to various developments in the world even to date. These developments include the invention of the aircraft and it has no doubt continually served a huge and advantageous purpose from its invention to date. And apart from serving purposes, such as saving time and relieving stressful luggage conveying, travelling by aircraft invention can also be eventful, thrilling, and exciting. Without further ado, this article is with the intent of detailing the top 10 fastest aircraft in the world with their Mach numbers.

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Fastest Aircraft in the World

1. North American X-15 – 7,274 km/h

The Fastest Aircraft Ever

This aircraft is a hypersonic rocket-powered aircraft. It was operated by the United States Air Force and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration as part of the X-plane series of experimental aircraft.

The North American X-15 aircraft has a maximum speed of Mach 6.70 which amounts to about 7,274 km/h (attained on the 3rd of October, 1967). This attainment gave it a record of being the fastest aircraft in the world. The X-15 was used at extreme speeds with rocket thrusters and this made it possible for it to reach altitudes higher than 100 kilometres.

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2. Lockheed YF-12 – 3,661 km/h

The Lockheed YF-12 was an American interceptor prototype manufactured by Lockheed Corporation. It was developed during the late 1950s and the early 1960s with the intent of it serving as a replacement for the F-106 Delta dart interceptor for the United States Air Force. The Lockheed YF-12 has a top speed of Mach 3.35 (3,661 km/h), making it one of the fastest aircraft ever.

3. Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird – 3,540 km/h

The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird is an integrated high-altitude air-plane. It is manufactured by the Lockheed Corporation and operated by USAF and NASA. Following its introduction in 1966 and the building of 32 others, it has always served the purpose of surveillance and experimental research (for the USAF and NASA especially). Being one of the fastest aircraft in the world, the Lockheed SR-71 has the capability of flying at speeds over Mach 3.3 (3,540 km/h).

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4. Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 Foxbat – 3,494 km/h

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 “Foxbat” is a supersonic interceptor and surveillance aircraft regarded as one of the fastest military aircraft in history. This aircraft was designed with stainless steel and purposefully for combat. It was designed by the Soviet Union’s Mikoyan-Gurevich bureau, Mikhail Gurevich before his retirement.

This plane has a top speed of Mach 3.2 (but still maintains that the engine would blow up at this speed). As a result of worry from the Western observers, there was a prompting to get to the development of the F-15 Eagle. But no doubt, this aircraft can never be ruled out as one of the fastest aircraft in history.

5. Bell X-2 Starbuster – 3,370 km/h

The Bell X-2 “Starbuster” was an X-plane rocket-powered research aircraft built to investigate the structural effects of aerodynamic heating, stability and also control effectiveness at high speeds and altitudes. It was developed jointly in 1945 by Bell Aircraft Corporation, the United States Air Force, and the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. This plane was built to explore aerodynamic problems of supersonic flight and expand the speed and altitude regimes acquired with the earlier X-1 series of research aircraft. Also had the purpose to investigate how aircraft behaved when flying at speeds higher than Mach 2.0.

In 1956, it was able to achieve a speed of 3.196 a Mach, skyrocketing to the top on the list of the fastest aircraft ever. Following the attainment of this speed while in the air, Pilot Milburn G. Apt made a sharp turn and the aircraft tumbled out of control.  He was able to get out of the plane with the help of a small parachute from the escape shuttle but the Bell X-2 aircraft crashed at its highest speed. This fatal crash ended the Bell X-2 program, but it still regardless, remains one of the fastest aircraft in history

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6. North American XB-70 Valkyrie – 3,310 km/h

The North American XB-70 Valkyrie was the prototype version of the planned B-70 nuclear-armed and deep-penetration supersonic strategic bomber for the USAF SAC. It was designed in the late 1950s by NAA, and it had the capability of cruising thousands of miles and flying at 70,000 feet. With a Mach of 3.1 (3,310 km/h), it is considered one of the fastest aircraft in the world.

7. Mikoyan MiG-31 Foxhound – 3,000 km/h

The Mikoyan MiG-31 “Foxhound” is a Russian-built supersonic interceptor aircraft developed to be used by the Soviet Air Forces. It was designed as a replacement for the MiG-25 “Foxbat” and it shares design elements with it. Asides from being one of the fastest planes in the world at Mach 2.83, this aircraft is considered one of the fastest combat jets in the world.

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8. McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle – 3,017 km/h

The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is an American twin-engine, all-weather fighter aircraft designed by McDonnell Douglas. This aircraft has a record of over 100 victories and no losses in aerial combat and is thereby considered the most successful aircraft ever built. It is still in use in the US Air Force and is undeniably one of the fastest aircraft in the world considering its abilities estimated at Mach 2.5+.

9. General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark – 2,655 km/h

The General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark is a retired supersonic, multipurpose combat aircraft. It was one of the most controversial aircraft and yet has one of the safest operational records of any aircraft in USAF history. This aircraft was also a highly effective all-weather interdiction aircraft with a 2.5 Mach. F-111 Aardvark one of the world’s fastest aircraft was developed in the 1960s by General Dynamics. It entered service in 1967 with the United States Air Force (USAF). And in 1973, the Royal Australian Air Force also ordered and began operating the F-111C variant.

10. Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker – 2,500 km/h

The Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker is a Soviet-origin twin-engine supermaneuverable fighter aircraft designed by Sukhoi. It was developed by the Soviet Union throughout the 1970s and 1980s and it is comparable to the F-15 Egle and the Grumman F-14. This aircraft is a fourth-generation fighter jet with a speed that reaches 2.35 Mach, making it one of the fastest jets and aircraft in the world.

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Fastest Aircraft in the World

Below is a summary of the list of the top 10 fastest aircraft in the world:

• North American X-15 – 7,274 km/h
• Lockheed YF-12 – 3,661 km/h
• Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird – 3,540 km/h
• Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 Foxbat – 3,494 km/h
• Bell X-2 Starbuster – 3,370 km/h
• North American XB-70 Valkyrie – 3,310 km/h
• Mikoyan MiG-31 Foxhound – 3,000 km/h
• McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle – 3,017 km/h
• General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark – 2,655 km/h
• Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker – 2,500 km/h