Fastest Aircraft Ever Flown — Guinness World Records

About This Dataset

The fastest aircraft ever to fly, ranked by maximum recorded speed according to Guinness World Records and official flight test documentation. The NASA/USAF X-15 rocket-powered aircraft holds the speed record for a crewed powered aircraft at Mach 6.72 (7,274 km/h), set in October 1967 — a record that still stands today.

✨ AI Insight

The X-15's record of 7,274 km/h, set in 1967, remains unmatched, illustrating a significant gap between it and the next fastest aircraft, the SR-71 Blackbird, which reached 3,530 km/h in 1976. This disparity highlights the unique capabilities of rocket-powered flight compared to jet propulsion. The MiG-25 Foxbat, with a top speed of 3,395 km/h, also emphasizes the technological advancements made during the Cold War era. Notably, while supersonic commercial flights like the Concorde (2,179 km/h) and Tu-144 (2,430 km/h) were groundbreaking, they pale in comparison to military aircraft designed for speed and altitude. The trend suggests that while civilian aircraft have focused on efficiency and comfort, military designs continue to push the boundaries of speed.

Source: Guinness World Records

Key Findings

Auto-computed highlights from this dataset

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X-15 (USA) leads with 7,274 in 1994.

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Average value in 1994: 2,495 · median: 2,495.

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1967 recorded the highest combined total across all categories.

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Gap in 1994: X-15 (USA) is 3.3× larger than Concorde (UK/France).