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In the search for the speed of the fastest airplane in air speed, the first problem was to find the difference between regular speed and air speed. Air speed is defined as the speed of an airplane with relation to the air, as compared to regular speed, which is the speed relative to the earth.
In 1968, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, a record airspeed of 2,070.102 mph (925 m/s) was achieved by a Lockheed YF-12A. The 1989 Guinness Book states that a record airspeed of 2,193.167 mph (980 m/s) was achieved by a Lockheed SR-71-A, which is a newer version of the YF-12A. The online source from the AFAM web page agrees with this number to the thousandths place, and it was recorded 7 years later. As it says, this plane has held this record speed for 24 years. The 1996 World Book Encyclopedia has a different answer of 4,520 mph (2020 m/s). This difference in opinion can be explained by the fact that this record speed was performed by a rocket plane, which differs from the type of plane mentioned in the other sources.
The source from 1968 differs from the more recent data because since 1968, engines and designs of planes have been advanced due to technological advances so that planes can fly faster. Of course there are other faster speeds. The US Space Shuttle flew at a record 16,000 mph (7153 m/s). These machines aren't planes and they achieve these high speeds only during reentry.
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How fast can an airplane fly today?
Passenger airplanes fly at a speed ranging from 600 to 980 kph. Military aircrafts fly faster. The fastest military aircraft was the SR-71. It flew at a speed of Mach 3.5.
How fast can a cockpit airplane fly?
All aircraft have cockpits. The fastest fly around 1,600 mph.
Do heavier airplanes fly faster?
Not necessarily. The aircraft with better power to weight ratio will fly fastest.
Are there aircraft that fly at mach 3?
Yes-but Mach speed determination is a function of altitude and speed. Rough calculations for the following aircraft all at the same altitude (50,000') to get a baseline comparison: 1. X-43A Scramjet 7,000 mph speed record. The fastest drone aircraft. Mach 10.5 2. X-15 4,520 mph world speed record. Fastest manned aircraft. Mach 6.8 3. SR-71 Blackbird 2,293 mph world speed record. The fastest jet aircraft in the world. Mach 3.4 4. MiG-25 Foxbat 2,115 mph. The fastest jet fighter in the world. Mach 3.2 F-15 Eagle 1,875 mph. Fastest United States jet fighter. Mach 2.8 Source: NASA & Aviation Trivia
What is the maximum speed of the fastest aircraft?
The Air Force still hasn't said how fast an SR-71 will go. We do know they'll fly 1800 mph without much stress.
Some aircraft can fly faster than the speed of sound what is such speed called?
The speed of sound is known as Mach 1. Aircraft that can fly faster than Mach 1 are said to be supersonic.
When did the aircraft fly at the speed of light?
Aircraft cannot fly at the speed of light due to limitations imposed by physics. The speed of light is approximately 186,282 miles per second and is much faster than any aircraft is capable of traveling.
What is groundspeed of the aircraft?
Ground speed is the speed the aircraft has compared to the ground. This is usually different from air speed, which is the aircraft's speed compared to the surrounding air. Thus an aircraft with 400 kph air speed and 50 kph headwind has a ground speed of 350 kph. For fun: with light aircraft with very low stall speeds it's possible to fly backwards (compared to the ground) if they fly into a headwind that's stronger than their lowest stall speed. I.e. their ground speed is negative.
What is the max altitude does the airplane fly?
It depends what aircraft and what speed you are going
Fastest flight by a man without an aircraft?
John Paul Stapp ejected from an aircraft at supersonic speed. he lived thankfully :D
The first pilot to fly an aircraft faster then the speed of sound?
Charles Yeager was the first person ever to pilot an aircraft beyond the speed of sound.
What is th fastest jet in the world?
The Cessna Citation X (that is10) is reputed to be the fastest commercial aircraft - maximum speed is Mach .91
