On 3 October, 1967 an American X-15 rocket-powered aeroplane reached 7,270 kph. It’s still the world record speed for an aeroplane. The X-15 also holds the altitude record of 107,960 metres. That’s nearly 108 kilometres above the Earth’s surface!
Which plane had no wings?
In the 1970s, US Air Force pilots flew an experimental plane called the X-24A without wings. This rocket plane had a specially shaped fuselage, or lifting body, to keep airborne.
Is it true? You can travel faster than the speed of sound.
Yes. Some supersonic planes with powerful engines, like Concorde, can fly faster than sound. Sound travels at about 1,225 kph.
Amazing! The famous American fighter ace and test pilot Chuck Yeager was the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound (Mach 1). In 1947 he flew the rocket-powered Bell X-1 to Mach 1.015.
Which is the fastest jet?
The fastest jet aircraft ever was the American Lockheed SR-71A ‘Blackbird’ spy plane. It holds the official speed record of an incredible 3,529.56 kph, which it set in 1976. In 1974 it set the New York to London record time of 1 hour and 55 minutes.
Picture Credit : Google