Top 58 fastest aeroplanes
These are the 58 fastest manned aircraft that ever flown. As you’ll see, the age of speed peaked in the 1960s: today the US Navy hasn’t a frontline aircraft that comes close to making it into the top 58!
58. Avro CF-105 Arrow (1958)
M1.98
57. Northrop YF-17
Mach 2. Oh, and I should also add the Convair B-58 Hustler here, also at Mach 2. And the Gripen.
56. BAe Experimental Aircraft Programme (1986)
Mach 2.
55. Saab 35 Draken (1955)
Mach 2
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54. Northrop F-20 Tigershark (1980)
Mach 2
53. Sukhoi Su-57 (2010)
Mach 2 (est)
52. North American A-5 Vigilante (1958)
Mach 2
51. Douglas D-558-II Skyrocket (1953)
Mach 2.005
50. Dassault Mirage IIIV (1965)
Mach 2.04 (Fastest ever VTOL aircraft). Should also include the Grumman F11F-1F Super Tiger here at Mach 2.04.
49. Tupolev Tu-160 (1981)
Mach 2.05. (I should have also added the Eurofighter Typhoon here which has also gone M2.05)
48. General Dynamics F-16 (1974)
Mach 2.05
47. English Electric Lightning (1957)
Mach 2.1 (fastest British aeroplane)
46. Saab 37 Viggen (1967)
Mach 2.1 (fastest Swedish aeroplane)
45. Helwan HA-300 (1964)
Mach 2.1 (Fastest African aircraft)
(I should have added Chengdu J-10A here at Mach 2.1, awaiting verification)
44. Republic F-105 Thunderchief (1955)
Mach 2.1
43. Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (1955)
Mach 2.1
42. Tupolev Tu-144 (1968)
Mach 2.15
41. Mikoyan-Gurevich Ye-8 (1962)
Mach 2.15
40. Sukhoi Su-15 (1962)
Mach 2.16
39. Nord 1500-2 Griffon II (1957)
Mach 2.19
38. Mirage F1 (1966)
Mach 2.2
37. Mirage 2000 (1978)
Mach 2.2
36. Mirage IV (1959)
Mach 2.2
35. Dassault Mirage III (1956)
Mach 2.2
34. Dassault Mirage 5 (1967)
Mach 2.2
33. Dassault Mirage F2 (1966)
Mach 2.2
32. McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II (1958)
Mach 2.2. It is rumoured that the prototype XF4H-1 reached Mach 2.6 and that a special recon variant reached even greater speeds.
31.. Rockwell B-1A ‘Excalibur’ (1974)
Mach 2.22
30. Sukhoi Su-11 (1958)
Mach 2.2
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29. Northrop YF-23 (1990)
Mach 2.2 1990
28. Lockheed F-104 Starfighter (1954)
Mach 2.2
27. Sukhoi Su-47 (1997)
Mach 2.21
26. Aérospatiale/BAC Concorde
Max recorded 2.23 (Normal Mach 2)
25. Mikoyan Project 1.44 (2000)
![MIG Project 1.44 MFI [HD] - YouTube](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nLxuUnAlNWk/maxresdefault.jpg)
Mach 2.24
24. Mikoyan MiG-29 (1977)
Mach 2.25
23. Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor (1997)
Mach 2.25
22. Panavia Tornado ADV (1979)
Mach 2.27
21. Dassault Mirage 4000 (1979)
Mach 2.3
(The IAI Kfir is also quoted as Mach 2.3 though verification is sought)
20. Dassault Mirage G (1967)
Mach 2.34 FASTEST EUROPEAN AIRCRAFT
19. Grumman F-14 Tomcat (1968)
Mach 2.34
18. Sukhoi Su-27 (1977)
Mach 2.35
17. Mikoyan MiG-23 (1967)
Mach 2.35
16. Chengdu J-20
Estimated Mach 2.35 (Expected to get to 2.5 with future engines)
UPDATE: With divert-less bumps M1.6-2 seems more likely
15. Convair F-106 Delta Dart
Mach 2.39
14. Vought XF8U-3 Crusader III (1958)
Mach 2.39
13. Shenyang J-8II (1984)
Mach 2.4 (limited to 2.2 in peacetime)
12. Bell X-1A (1953)
Mach 2.44
11. General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark (1964)
Mach 2.5 (though some pilots have said it was actually lower, maybe 2.2-2.3). One pilot has claimed M2.91.
10. McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
Mach 2.54 (Really prob 2.2 for in-service aircraft) 1972
9. Mikoyan MiG-31
Mach 2.83 (LIMITED TO M1.5 in peacetime)
8. Mikoyan-Gurevich Ye-152-1 (1961)
Mach 2.85
7. North American XB-70 Valkyrie (1964)
Mach 3.1
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6. Bell X-2 (1955)
Mach 3.196 (air-launched)
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5. Mikoyan MiG-25 (1964)
Mach 3.2 (normal limits 2.83) (FASTEST NON US AIRCRAFT)
4. Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird (1964)
Mach 3.3
3. Lockheed YF-12 3.35 (1963)
2. Lockheed A-12 3.35 1962
- North American X-15 (1959)
Mach 6.72
Hush-Kit 
Is there also a 56 fastest prop jobs post? Which would include the Republic Rainbow in the 4 engine category?
As for this list; Avro Arrow is one of my favorite what ifs, as in, what if it had been allowed to live long and prosper?
SAAB Viggen and Draken have always appealed to me. EE Lightning also.
NA Vigilante looks almost too smooth, too slick.
Ha ha ha, give me a break Scott, I’ve only just finished this one. Enjoy 🙂
Sorry; it keeps looking more and more like I am related to my Mom (who turned 81 a few days ago) you’ll tell her a thing you are doing and she’ll begin asking questions based on the 4th or 5th step in the future from where you are now; “Mom! Slow down! I’m not that far along yet!” (in 1970s she took flying lessons along with Dad and instructor said she was a natural pilot. Eventually, as can happen in aviation, the cash flow interfered with further progress)
Ha ha ha. Fastest props is a good idea. Do the research and I’ll put the article together.
Given my messy health that could take multiple months. But for a start I’ve bought a book about Republic Rainbow which says it was the world’s fastest aircraft of the 4 piston engines category.
So, 1 down, 55 to go! ;D
Shouldn’t the X-1A and X-15 both be tagged as “air-launched” as you have for the X-2?
Think most of our readers know that, but thanks.
#39 looks a bit like #40 had a crash with #8 at M2.19.
Mo important: Can you reach out and touch an adversary before he touches you.
Would have been nice to have had an aerial shot of the 56Sqdn EE Lightning, or at least a full picture of the aircraft, and not just the ground crew, pretty as they are.
Provide one and I’m happy to include it 🙂
Interesting how many of the 58 fastest planes are also the most beautiful.
According to this blog post by a former Viggen pilot, Draken is slightly faster than Viggen, although both are limited to about mach 2 by their fixed air intakes.
https://chefsingenjoren.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-kanten-av-envelopen.html
(Google translate did a surprisingly good job if you don’t understand swedish.)