Aircrafts today are extremely fast and sophisticated compared to their predecessors. Through the past 5 decades military Aircrafts have transformed and unimaginable technological advancement are being. The propeller aircrafts from the yester years has been replaced by jet engines enabling the aircrafts to travel at supersonic speeds. It was the innovative idea by two engineers, Frank Whittle from UK and Hans von Ohain from Germany that led to invention of Jet engines.
Now, to proceed, we have here a list of Top 10 Fastest Aircrafts or Jets for you, take a look and then do please comment.
10. “Aardvark” – General Dynamics F-111
The jet was built in U.S in the late 1960’s for the Royal Australian Air Force. It can reach a maximum speed of 2.5 Mach, which is 2 & 1/2 times faster than the speed of sound. Twin Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-100 afterburners and turbo fans drive aardvark.
9. Foxhound MIG 31
This Russian made military plane is an improved version of MiG-25 FoxBat, and it can reach a speed 2.83 mach powered by two SoloveivD-30F6 afterburners turbo fans. Foxhound is special as it can produce close to 34,172 lbf of thrust.
8. Eagle F-15
F-15 Eagle made in U.S.A is fitted with double Pratt & Whitney F100 axial-flow turbofan producing 29,000 lbf of thrust. It can fly at a max speed of 2.5 mach.
7. Valkyrie XB-70
At a max speed of 3.1 mach this aircraft take the 7th position in the list. It is made in USA and is fitted with world-class 6 General Electric YJ93-GE-3 afterburning turbojet machines.
6. Starbuster Bell X-2
The success of this aircraft is marred by the death of its test pilot Lt.Col. Frank K. “Pete” Everest while on a test sortie. It was built in U.S and can cross a maximum speed of 3 mach. Keeping the sad incident apart, the Starbuster is driven by unique two-chamber XLR25 sea level thrust throttle-able engine.
5. Mig-25 “Foxbat”
Built by Russia and sold all over the world this aircraft proved itself worth for high altitude sorties above 80,000 feet. Its can touch the maximum speed of 3.2 mach and is loaded with twin Tumansky R-15B-300 afterburning turbojets.
4. BlackBird SR-71
U.S.A based Lockheed Corporation conceptualized this jet in 1960’s, an improved version of U-2 reconnaissance aircraft. Fitted with twin Pratt $ amp; Whitney J58-1 continuous bleed afterburning turbojets that supply closer to 32,500 lbf thrust each. It is best fit for high altitude flying at 100,000 feet or more and can beat the sound by 3 times at 3.5 Mach. USAF for now retired this aircraft after being in service for closer to 40 years in 1998.
3. X 15
Equipped with Thiokol XLR99-RM-2 liquid fuel rocket engine this jet plane beats the sound by 7 counts, it can fly at maximum speed of 6.72 mach. This stunning X-15 is the world 3rd fastest jet aircraft. Thiokol engine uses liquid oxygen as fuel and drive the aircraft comfortable even as high as 354,330 feet.
2. X 43A
This Hydrogen powered jet aircraft leaves the sound behind by 9.8 mach. This is the fastest military aircraft in the world today fitted with the supersonic combustion ramjet engine that powers the aircraft. It is made by USA.
1. Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle remains at the top, though it serves no combat purpose. This plane is driven by 3 assemblies, an Orbiter Vehicle or OV, an external tank fueled by LOX/LX2, and finally a twin solid rocket boosters or SRB which in turn are powered by MMH/N204. It can touch a maximum speed of 20 mach.
