Top 10: The Fastest Aircraft Ever Made

From World War II to the present day, military and civilian aircraft have been pushing the boundaries of speed and performance. But which ones are the fastest ever made? Let's take a look at our top 10 picks.

• Tu-144 (USSR): Reaching speeds of up to Mach 2.35, this Soviet supersonic transport was one of the fastest aircraft in its time. Its high-speed capabilities were unmatched until the introduction of modern commercial airliners.
• X-51 Waverider (USA): This experimental scramjet-powered aircraft has reached speeds of over Mach 5, making it one of the fastest military aircraft ever built. Unfortunately, its development was put on hold in 2013 due to funding issues.
• Nakatani's F-Zero (Japan): In 1989, Japanese pilot Yosuke Nakatani set a new world speed record with his custom-built fighter jet, reaching speeds of over Mach 2.5.
• Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird (USA): This legendary spy plane has been clocked at speeds over Mach 3.5 and is still one of the fastest operational aircraft in the world today.
• X-43A (USA): Another experimental aircraft, this scramjet-powered vehicle reached hypersonic speeds (over Mach 6) during a 2004 test flight.
• Mitsubishi F-2A (Japan): With its cutting-edge technology and advanced design, this multi-role fighter jet has been clocked at speeds over Mach 2.25.
• North American X-15 (USA): This rocket-powered aircraft was used for spaceflight testing in the late 1950s and early 1960s and reached speeds of up to Mach 6.72.
• Panavia Tornado (UK/Germany/Italy): This multi-role fighter jet has been clocked at speeds over Mach 2.5, making it one of the fastest operational aircraft in its class.
• Boeing X-51 Waverider's successor, the Lockheed Martin X-59 QueSST is currently under development and aims to reach speeds over Mach 5.
• Sukhoi Su-47 Berkut (Russia): This experimental aircraft features a unique flying wing design and has been clocked at speeds over Mach 2.25.

Whether you're interested in military aviation or just want to know what's pushing the boundaries of speed, this list has something for everyone. And who knows - maybe one day we'll see an even faster aircraft take to the skies!

Check out our selection of high-definition dashcams and keep your vehicle safe on the road while you're admiring these speed demons from afar.