It’s a common sight to see an aircraft streaking across the sky leaving its telltale condensation trail in its wake, but how fast are these planes actually flying? According to this chart from Global Air, they’re flying at unbelievable speeds. Their chart ‘Aircraft Ranked by Max Flying Speed’ showcases over fifty different types of aircraft, from commercial jets to private jets to even military aircraft. The flying speeds of these fifty-six different types of aircraft span from a low of 487 miles per hour to a breakneck speed of 4,520 miles per hour.
Which aircraft can reach these incredible speeds? The North American X-15 is the fastest aircraft in the world, and has been since the 1960s. The X-5 is primarily flown by the U.S. Air Force and NASA, and has made a total of 199 manned flights.
Explore the chart below to see which other aircraft from around the world are soaring through the sky at incredible speeds.
Infographic by: globalair
