Top 3 Record-Breaking Aircraft in Speed & Altitude

From reconnaissance jets to supersonic airliners, these aircraft pushed the boundaries of what's possible in atmospheric flight.

The top 3

1. Fastest Manned Air-Breathing Aircraft: SR-71 Blackbird: The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird holds the absolute speed record for a manned air-breathing aircraft, reaching 2,193.2 mph (Mach 3.32) on July 28, 1976, a record that remains unbroken.
2. Highest Altitude for Manned Flight: X-15 Rocket Plane: While the SR-71 Blackbird set an altitude record for sustained horizontal flight in an air-breathing aircraft at 85,069 feet, the North American X-15 rocket plane holds the unofficial record for highest manned flight within the atmosphere, exceeding 354,200 feet (67 miles) in 1963.
3. Fastest Commercial Aircraft: Concorde: The Concorde remains the fastest commercial passenger aircraft ever, capable of cruising at Mach 2.02 (1,345 mph) and holding the record for the fastest transatlantic flight from New York to London in 2 hours, 52 minutes, 59 seconds.

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