Fastest speed for a manned aircraft
- WHO
- Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird , Capt. Eldon W. Joersz, Maj. George T. Morgan
- WHAT
- 3529.56 kilometre(s) per hour
- WHERE
- United States (Beale Air Force Base,)
- WHEN
- 28 July 1976
The highest recorded speed in a manned aircraft capable of taking off and landing under its own power is 3,529.56 km/h (2,193.17 mph), by Captain Eldon W Joersz and Major George T Morgan Jr, in a Lockheed SR-71A `Blackbird' near Beale Air Force Base, California, USA, on a 25 km (15.5 mile) course on 28 July 1976.
This about the same speed as a rifle bullet. By comparison, Concorde's cruising speed is a mere 2,124 km/h. (1,320 mph). The Blackbird has flown from New York to London in 1 hr 55min, compared with Concorde's average of around 3 hr 50 min.
Note that although the X-15 rocket planes went faster, they were not eligbile for this record, which is recognised by the FAI, because they were air-launched.