Summary SR-71 Blackbird set 2 world records on speed and altitude, reaching Mach 3. B-29 Superfortress "Enola Gay" dropped the first atomic bomb during WWII. X-15 Rocket Plane achieved highest speed by a manned aircraft and contributed to spaceflight programs.
The new-generation fighter and stealth aircraft are known to be fast, agile, and highly tactical. However, going back several decades, we learn that the aircraft of the 1950s to 1970s have paved the way for today's technological marvels. We explore five iconic aircraft that remain in history for their unparalleled achievements in military aviation.
1 SR-71 Blackbird Fastest air-breathing manned aircraft, reaching speeds over Mach 3 Two world records on July 28, 1976 Absolute speed record: 2,193 moh Absolute altitude record: 85,069 ft The SR-71 "Blackbird is a long-range strategic reconnaissance aircraft designed and developed by Lockheed Martin in the early 1960s. The type performed its first flight in December 1964, and the first operational aircraft was delivered to the 4200th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base in January 1966. Powered by two Pratt & Whitney J58s, each producing 32,500 lbf thrust, the SR-71 became one of the most enduring aircraft for diverse missions.
The National Museum of the US Air Force states that the SR-71 remained the world’s fastest and highest-flying aircraft throughout its nearly 24-year career. It had the capability to survey 100,000 square miles of Earth’s surface each hour from 80,000 feet. A look at all the museums in the United States where you can still see a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.
2 B-29 Superfortress "Enola Gay" The first atomic bomb dropped during WWII Crew: 11 Length: 99 ft 0 in (30.18 m) Wingspan: 141 ft 3 in (43.05 m) Height: 27 ft 9 in (8.
46 m) Max takeoff weight: 133,500 lb (60,555 kg) Maximum speed: 357 mph (575 km/h, 310 kn) Range: 3,250 mi (5,230 km, 2,820 NM) Service ceiling: 31,850 ft (9,710 m) The B-29 Superfortress “Enola Gay” was a four-engine heavy bomber that entered service towards the end of World War II. It was the first bomber to have pressurized compartments. Equipped with state-of-the-art armament, avionics, and propulsion systems, the B-29 made its mark in the Pacific Theater.
According to the Smithsonian , “Boeing's B-29 Superfortress was the most sophisticated propeller-driven bomber of World War Il and the first bomber to house its crew in pressurized compartments. Although designed to fight in the European theater, the B-29 found its niche on the other side of the globe. In the Pacific, B-29s delivered a variety of aerial weapons: conventional bombs, incendiary bombs, mines, and two nuclear weapons.
” On August 6, 1945, Colonel Paul W. Tibbets, Jr., in command of the Superfortress Enola Gay, dropped the first atomic weapon on Hiroshima, Japan.
Three days later, on August 9, Major Charles W. Sweeney, commanding the B-29 Bockscar, dropped a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan. Other B-29s flew as reconnaissance and observation aircraft on both missions over Japan.
Yes, the RAF had a B-29 during WW2. And yes, it even bore the name of a US general who'd been a nemesis to Great Britain two centuries prior. 3 X-15 Rocket Plane Achieved the highest speed by a manned aircraft Fastest unofficial speed: Mach 6.
7 (4,520 mph) Highest altitude: 354,200 ft The X-15 Rocket Plane is a product of the hypersonic research program between NASA, the US military (Air Force and Navy), and North American Aviation. The aircraft was designed to research hypersonic flight and its various environmental aspects. X-15 Pilots and number of flights (total flights: 199) A.
Scott Crossfield, North American Aviation, 14 Joseph A. Walker, NASA, 25 Robert M. White, United States Air Force (USAF), 16 Forrest S.
Petersen, United States Navy, 05 John B. McKay, NASA, 29 Robert A. Rushworth, USAF, 34 Neil A.
Armstrong, NASA, 07 Joe H. Engle, USAF, 16 Milton O. Thompson, NASA, 14 William J.
Knight, USAF, 16 William H. Dana, NASA, 16 Michael J. Adams, USAF, 07 According to NASA , “.
..the aircraft flew during a period of nearly 10 years and set the world's unofficial speed and altitude records of 4,520 mph (Mach 6.
7) and 354,200 feet in a program to investigate all aspects of piloted hypersonic flight. Information gained from the highly successful X-15 program contributed to the development of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo piloted spaceflight programs as well as the Space Shuttle program.” The X-15's speed record remains unbroken, and (by some definitions) its altitude record wasn't broken until 2004.
4 Bell X-1 First aircraft to break the sound barrier Crew: 1 Length: 30 ft 11 in (9.42 m) Wingspan: 28 ft 0 in (8.53 m) Height: 10 ft 10 in (3.
30 m) Maximum speed: 1,612 mph (2,594 km/h, 1,401 kn) Service ceiling: 70,000 ft (21,000 m) During World War II, many designs were tested to help the necessary breakthrough for humans to travel supersonic safely and comfortably. It was in October 1947, when Charles (Chuck) Yeager climbed into the experimental rocket-powered Bell X-1 to exceed the speed of sound in level flight. Yeager achieved a maximum speed of Mach 1.
06. George Welch, a World War II ace and test pilot, claimed that he had exceeded the sound barrier two weeks prior to Yeager’s flight onboard a prototype XP-86 Sabre. While there are strong eyewitness accounts, Welch’s flight was not properly monitored, and hence, it was never officially recognized.
The XP-86 officially achieved supersonic speed in April 1948. The aircraft has a fascinating history. 5 Lockheed U-2 Known for flying at extremely high altitudes, setting altitude records for reconnaissance missions Crew: 1 Capacity: 5,000 lb (2,300 kg) payload Length: 63 ft 0 in (19.
20 m) Wingspan: 103 ft (31 m) Height: 16 ft 0 in (4.88 m) Max takeoff weight: 40,000 lb (18,144 kg) Cruise speed: 413 kn (475 mph, 765 km/h) at 65,000 ft (20,000 m) Range: 6,090 NM (7,010 mi, 11,280 km) plus Endurance: 12 hours Service ceiling: 80,000 ft (24,000 m) plus The Lockheed U-2 is a single-engine reconnaissance aircraft designed for surveillance and intelligence missions for the US Air Force and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The high-altitude, intelligence-gathering aircraft could fly at 70,000 ft (21,300 m).
The U-2 performed its first flight in August 1955 and entered service with the USAF a year later. The U-2 is designed for efficient data gathering and secure communication across the network. According to Lockheed Martin , “By using machine-to-machine processing to dramatically reduce the data to decision timeline, the U-2 can communicate securely and simultaneously at all tactical, operational, and strategic levels across multiple domains.
” With 104 aircraft built between 1955 and 1989, some remain in service. The aircraft remains in service today..
