How fast do the fastest planes including experimental and unmanned aircraft go?
The SR-71 Blackbird is the fastest manned military aircraft that was ever in regular use, but the fastest manned aircraft ever was the X-15. The fastest unmanned aircraft was the X-23. All of these are planes fly high because of the lower air density.
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Read our full article on the top 20 fastest airplanes in the world, which are much faster than the speed of commercial jets.
The Fastest Airplanes in the World
|
Aircraft |
Max Speed (Mach) |
Max Speed (mph) |
Role |
First Flight |
Status |
Number Built |
|
NASA X-43 |
9.6 |
7366 |
Research aircraft |
June 2, 2001 |
Retired |
3 |
|
X-15 |
6.72 |
4520 |
Research aircraft |
June 8, 1959 |
Retired |
3 |
|
Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird |
3.3 |
2193 |
Recon |
December 22, 1964 |
Retired |
32 |
|
3.2 |
2275 |
Interceptor aircraft |
August 7, 1963 |
Prototype |
3 |
|
|
MiG-25 Foxbat |
3.2 |
2190 |
Interceptor/recon aircraft |
March 6, 1964 |
Limited use |
1186 |