Top 10: The Fastest Aircraft Ever Made

Aircraft are among the fastest machines ever created, second only to spacecraft. Compared to cars and bikes, they move at incredible speeds and can cross very long distances in just minutes. Over the years, engineers have continued to push the limits of speed, developing aircraft that can fly faster than the speed of sound and even several times faster.

In this article, we look at the ten fastest crewed aircraft ever flown. While some unmanned aircraft have reached even higher speeds, aircraft with pilots attract more attention and have played a major role in aviation history.

Before we begin, it is important to understand how speed is measured. Aircraft speed is usually given in miles per hour (mph) and Mach. Mach shows how fast something is compared to the speed of sound. At sea level, Mach 1 is about 760 mph, but at higher altitudes, where the air is thinner, the speed of sound becomes lower.

10. MiG-31 Foxhound – Mach 2.83

The Mikoyan MiG-31, known as the “Foxhound,” is a Soviet-era interceptor aircraft based on the earlier MiG-25. It was designed to defend large territories by intercepting enemy bombers and cruise missiles from long distances. Unlike many fighter jets that focus on agility, the MiG-31 was built to focus on speed and power.

It is a large and heavy aircraft, weighing about 46,000 kilograms when fully loaded. Much of this weight comes from the fuel needed to run its powerful engines. The aircraft can reach speeds of up to 3000 km/h (1900 mph), which is about Mach 2.83. It uses two turbofan engines with afterburners to produce strong thrust. Although it can fly very fast, it is usually limited to Mach 1.5 during normal use to protect the engines and structure. Even today, it remains one of the fastest aircraft still in operation.

9. Mikoyan-Gurevich Ye-150 – Mach 2.85

The Mikoyan-Gurevich Ye-150 series was a group of experimental interceptor aircraft developed in the Soviet Union in the late 1950s. These aircraft were built for very high performance, with the ability to climb quickly and reach very high speeds.

The Ye-150 first flew in 1959 and could reach speeds of around Mach 2.65, with some sources suggesting speeds up to Mach 2.85. It could also fly at very high altitudes, above 69,000 feet. The aircraft was developed to counter fast Western bombers and was designed to be guided by ground radar before using its onboard systems.

However, the project faced many technical problems, especially with its electronics, engines, and missile systems. Because of these difficulties, it was cancelled in 1962. Despite this, it briefly held a world speed record of 1665.9 mph, achieved by Georgi Mosolov.

8. General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark – Mach 2.91+

The General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark was developed as a multi-role aircraft for both the United States Air Force and the Navy. The Navy version was later cancelled, but the Air Force version became a successful bomber.

Officially, the F-111’s top speed is listed between Mach 2.2 and Mach 2.5. However, pilots have reported that it could reach much higher speeds in real conditions. Instead of having a fixed speed limit, the aircraft used a heat sensor to warn if the windscreen was getting too hot and might melt.

Some pilots claimed speeds of Mach 2.91 or even higher. The aircraft’s high speed came from its variable-sweep wings, smooth design, and powerful engines.

7. North American XB-70 Valkyrie – Mach 3

The North American XB-70 Valkyrie was one of the most advanced aircraft ever built. It was developed during the Cold War and was designed to fly at Mach 3 at very high altitudes, making it difficult to intercept.

The aircraft had a sleek design with delta wings and folding wingtips that helped it stay stable at high speeds. It was built to carry nuclear weapons over long distances.

However, improvements in surface-to-air missiles made such aircraft more vulnerable. Because of this, the program was cancelled before full production. The XB-70 was later used for research and helped improve knowledge of high-speed flight.

6. Bell X-2 Starbuster – Mach 3.196

The Bell X-2 was a rocket-powered research aircraft built to study very high-speed flight. It followed the earlier X-1, which was the first aircraft to break the sound barrier.

The X-2 was launched from a larger aircraft and used a rocket engine to reach speeds beyond Mach 3. It was built with heat-resistant materials to handle very high temperatures.

In 1956, pilot Milburn Apt became the first person to fly faster than Mach 3, reaching Mach 3.196. However, the flight ended in tragedy when the aircraft lost control and the pilot did not survive.

5. Mikoyan MiG-25 Foxbat – Mach 3.2

The Mikoyan MiG-25 “Foxbat” was designed for high speed and high altitude. It could intercept fast enemy aircraft and also carry out reconnaissance missions.

Unlike some advanced aircraft, it was built mainly from stainless steel. This made it cheaper and strong, but it could not safely fly at top speed for long periods.

The aircraft could reach speeds of Mach 3.2, although doing so could damage its engines. Even with this limitation, it was one of the fastest and most feared aircraft during the Cold War.

4. Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird – Mach 3.3

The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird is one of the most famous aircraft ever built. It was designed in secret by Lockheed’s Skunk Works for high-speed reconnaissance missions.

The aircraft could fly at speeds above Mach 3.3 and cover more than 33 miles in a single minute. Its design included advanced engines, special fuel, titanium construction, and a shape that reduced air resistance.

The SR-71 was never successfully intercepted and played an important role during the Cold War. It remains the fastest crewed jet aircraft ever used in military service.

3. Lockheed YF-12 – Mach 3.35

The Lockheed YF-12 was an interceptor aircraft related to the A-12 and SR-71. It was designed to carry long-range missiles and stop enemy bombers at very high speeds.

Although it was very advanced, it had some problems. It needed special fuel and took a long time to get ready for flight, making it less useful for quick missions.

Because of these issues and high costs, the project was cancelled. However, the technology developed for the YF-12 was later used in other aircraft designs.

2. Lockheed A-12 – Mach 3.35+

The Lockheed A-12, also called “Cygnus,” was a high-speed reconnaissance aircraft developed as part of a secret program. It was built mainly from titanium to handle the extreme heat created during high-speed flight.

It was designed to fly at Mach 3 for long periods and may have reached speeds as high as Mach 3.6. The heat during flight was so intense that the aircraft expanded and then returned to normal size after cooling.

Although it was used for only a short time, it helped in the development of the more advanced SR-71.

1. North American X-15 – Mach 6.7+

The North American X-15 is the fastest crewed aircraft ever flown. It reached speeds of over Mach 6.7, which is about 4,519 mph.

It was a rocket-powered research aircraft built to study very high speeds and altitudes. It used strong heat-resistant materials and powerful rocket engines.

Instead of taking off from a runway, it was carried under a B-52 bomber and released in the air. After a short powered flight, it glided back to Earth.

The X-15 program helped in the development of future space missions, including the Mercury program, Gemini program, and the Apollo program. Pilots who flew above 80 km were considered astronauts.