Is the SR-71 still the fastest plane ever?
In 1974, the SR-71 set the record for the quickest flight between London and New York at 1 hour, 54 minutes and 56 seconds. In 1976, it became the fastest airbreathing manned aircraft, previously held by its predecessor, the closely related Lockheed YF-12. As of 2026, the Blackbird still holds both world records. One of the most defining characteristics of the SR-71 was its extraordinary speed. It could fly at speeds exceeding Mach 3, which empowered the aircraft to outrun the missiles launched at it. The Blackbird’s operating speed of over three times the speed of sound was essential for its reconnaissance role.
Was the flying wing a real plane?
The Northrop N-1M, a scale prototype for a long-range bomber, first flew in 1940. In 1941 Northrop was awarded a development contract to build 2 examples of the YB-35 flying wing, a very large 4 engined flying wing with a span of 172′. Development and construction of this aircraft continued throughout World War II. Only the first YB-35 was ever flown. Multiple flight testing demonstrated that it was airworthy; it was then parked and ignored for more than a year until being scrapped on 20 July 1949. The unfinished YB-35 #2, was scrapped almost a month later, on 19 August 1949.