There may be many airplanes, but it is no secret that there are some whose speed is far superior to the rest. For this reason, today we will tell you which are the 10 fastest airplanes in history. Whether you are an aircraft lover or not, you will be amazed by the speeds they can reach, ideal for speed lovers!
Although the vast majority of the fastest airplanes were created for war, there is no denying that they are true works of art. However, some of them are not very well known and you will probably be surprised by their names or by the speeds they can reach.
We bring you a list of the 10 fastest airplanes in history. Do you like speed? Then you will love to know how fast these aircraft are. Take a look at them and draw your conclusions:
Lockheed SR-71
The Lockheed SR-71 aircraft, known as Blackbird and Habu (after its crew members) was a long-range strategic reconnaissance aircraft with a top speed never seen before. It was created from Lockhead YF-12 and A-12 aircraft by Lockheed’s Skunk Works company. It is an aircraft that was active from 1964 to 1998, one whose top speed has not yet been surpassed thanks to the concepts implemented by its creator Clarence Johnson.
- Maximum speed: 3530.4 Km/h
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 is a high-speed reconnaissance and interceptor aircraft created in the Soviet Union, specifically in the Mikoyan-Guverich design office. This aircraft first took flight in 1964 and entered service in 1970. We are talking about a plane with an estimated maximum speed of Mach 3, a powerful radar, and four air-to-air missiles.
- Maximum speed: 3398.4 km/h
XB-70 Walkyrie
XB-70 Walkyrie was an aircraft designed to replace the B-52 strategic bombers during the 1960s and 1970s. It was a project that started in 1954 but suffered many drawbacks. The XB-70 Walkyrie was an aircraft capable of flying at speeds of Mach 3, with nuclear and conventional bomb loads, whose range without mid-air refueling was over 12,000 km.
- Maximum speed: 3292.2 km/h
MiG-31
The MiG-31, in general lines, is very similar to the MiG-25P but with a more aerodynamic and technical design. We are talking about a fast twin-engine high-wing aircraft with trapezoid arrow wings, twin tails, and several control surfaces both on the vertical and horizontal axis. Undoubtedly, it is one of the fastest aircraft in history with the best design.
- Maximum speed: 2973.6 km/h
McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
Currently manufactured by Boeing, the lightning-fast McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle (also known simply as the F15) is an all-weather American tactical single-seat fighter. This aircraft was specially designed to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. Although its first flight was in July 1972, the derivative model F-15E Strike Eagle fighter-bomber entered service in 1989. Today, it is well known that the U.S. Air Force intends to keep the F-15 Eagle in service until 2025. One of the fastest aircraft in history and one of the most popular worldwide.
- Top speed: 2655 km/h
General Dynamics F-111
General Dynamics F-111 is the name of a fast strategic reconnaissance and ground attack bomber designed in the 1960s. In the United States Air Force (USAF), variants of this aircraft were referred to as the Aardvark (its current nickname) at the 1996 decommissioning ceremony. Currently, the only operator keeping the F11 active in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and in the Australian service they are known as “Pig”.
- Maximum speed: 2665 Km/h
Sukhoi Su-24
During the 1970s and 1980s, the Sukhoi Su-24 (NATO designation, Fencer) was one of the Soviet Union’s most advanced all-weather attack and bomber aircraft. It carried the Soviet Union’s first digital navigation and attack system, a two-seat, twin-engine aircraft. In addition, it should be noted that it resembles the U.S. F-111 although its capabilities are more similar to the European Panavia Tornado. It remains in service with the Russian Air Force and other countries such as Venezuela.
- Maximum speed: 2548.8 km/h
Sukhoi Su-27
The Sukhoi Su-27, nicknamed Flanker by NATO, is a Russian twin-engine fighter aircraft, created in the 1970s by the Pavel Sukhoi Design Bureau. The machine was intended to perform combat tasks, and demonstrate air superiority and interception within an integrated Air Defense System, all under the Russian doctrine that dominated at the time. Be that as it may, this has been considered since the 80s the best combat aircraft in the world and has given rise to a large number of models derived from the original airframe.
- Maximum speed: 2500 Km/h
Túpolev Tu-144
It is called Túpolev Tu-144 (NATO Designation: Charger) a fast supersonic aircraft built by the Russian manufacturer Tupolev. Its prototype flight was on December 31, 1968, near Moscow, a couple of months before the Concorde, aircraft that exceeds in speed and capacity, but not in autonomy. It should also be noted that the Tu-144 crossed the sound barrier for the first time on June 5, 1969, and on July 15, 1969, became the first commercial transport to exceed Mach 2 speed.
- Maximum speed: 2495.7 km/h
MIG-23
The Mig-23 is a fighter aircraft designed to perform air superiority and fighter-bomber duties for the Soviet Union. One-third of the 5607 MiG-23s produced were exported, in their different versions, to various countries. It is an aircraft designed for wars that successfully fought in numerous conflicts.
- Maximum speed: 2445 Km/h
Do you love airplanes? Then take a look at this article with the biggest planes you can fly.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.