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A supersonic aircraft is an aircraft which can exceed the speed of sound (Mach 1.0) in level flight.
Type | Country | Class | Role | Date | Status | No. | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aeritalia F-104S | Italy | Turbojet | Fighter | 1966 | Production | 246 | Interceptor |
AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo | Taiwan | Turbofan | Fighter | 1989 | Production | 137 | |
AIDC T-5 Brave Eagle | Taiwan | Turbofan | Trainer | 2020 | Production | 4 | |
Atlas Cheetah | South Africa | Turbojet | Fighter | 1986 | Production | 60 | |
Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow | Canada | Turbojet | Fighter | 1958 | Prototype | 5 | Interceptor |
BAC 221 | United Kingdom | Turbojet | Experimental | 1964 | Prototype | 1 | Fairey Delta 2 adapted to test the ogival delta wing for Concorde. |
BAC TSR-2 | United Kingdom | Turbojet | Attack | 1964 | Prototype | 1 | Tactical Strike/Reconnaissance (TSR) |
Bell X-1 | United States | Rocket | Experimental | 1947 | Prototype | 7 | First supersonic aircraft. |
Bell X-2 | United States | Rocket | Experimental | 1952 | Prototype | 2 | |
Boeing X-32 | United States | V/STOL | Experimental | 2000 | Prototype | 2 | |
Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet | United States | Turbofan | Multirole | 1995 | Production | 608 | |
Boeing EA-18G Growler | United States | Turbofan | Patrol | 2004 | Production | 172 | Electronic warfare (EW) |
Bristol 188 | United Kingdom | Turbojet | Experimental | 1962 | Prototype | 2 | |
British Aerospace EAP | United Kingdom | Turbofan | Experimental | 1986 | Prototype | 1 | Developed into the Eurofighter Typhoon |
CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder | Multi-National | Turbofan | Multirole | 2003 | Production | 164 | Pakistan-China |
Chengdu J-7 | China | Turbojet | Fighter | 1966 | Production | 2400 | |
Chengdu J-10 | China | Turbofan | Multirole | 1998 | Production | 548 | |
Chengdu J-20 | China | Turbofan | Fighter | 2011 | Production | 50 | |
Concorde | Multi-National | Turbojet | Transport | 1969 | Production | 20 | SST. Anglo-French |
Convair B-58 Hustler | United States | Turbojet | Bomber | 1956 | Production | 116 | Strategic. |
Convair F-102 Delta Dagger | United States | Turbojet | Fighter | 1953 | Production | 992 | Interceptor |
Convair F2Y Sea Dart | United States | Turbojet | Fighter | 1953 | Prototype | 5 | Seaplane. Interceptor |
Convair F-106 Delta Dart | United States | Turbojet | Fighter | 1959 | Production | 340 | Interceptor |
Dassault MD.550 Mirage | France | Turbojet | Fighter | 1956 | Prototype | 1 | Interceptor |
Dassault Mirage III | France | Turbojet | Fighter | 1958 | Production | 1422 | Interceptor. Active only in Pakistan Air Force |
Dassault Mirage IIIV | France | V/STOL | Fighter | 1965 | Prototype | 2 | |
Dassault Mirage IV | France | Turbojet | Bomber | 1959 | Production | 66 | Strategic nuclear. |
Dassault Mirage 5 | France | Turbojet | Attack | 1967 | Production | 582 | |
Dassault Mirage F1 | France | Turbojet | Fighter | 1966 | Production | 720 | |
Dassault Mirage F2 | France | Turbofan | Attack | 1966 | Prototype | 1 | |
Dassault Mirage G | France | Turbojet | Multirole | 1967 | Prototype | 3 | |
Dassault Mirage 2000 | France | Turbofan | Fighter | 1978 | Production | 601 | |
Dassault Mirage 4000 | France | Turbofan | Fighter | 1979 | Prototype | 1 | |
Dassault Rafale | France | Turbofan | Multirole | 1986 | Production | 240 | |
Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard | France | Turbojet | Attack | 1974 | Production | 85 | |
Dassault Super Mystère | France | Turbojet | Multirole | 1955 | Production | 180 | |
Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket | United States | Rocket | Experimental | 1948 | Prototype | 3 | Dual jet and rocket powerplants, |
Douglas X-3 Stiletto | United States | Turbojet | Experimental | 1951 | Prototype | 1 | |
English Electric Lightning | United Kingdom | Turbojet | Fighter | 1957 | Production | 337 | Interceptor |
Eurofighter Typhoon | Multi-National | Turbofan | Fighter | 1994 | Production | 661 | |
EWR VJ 101 | West Germany | V/STOL | Fighter | 1963 | Prototype | 2 | |
Fairey Delta 2 | United Kingdom | Turbojet | Experimental | 1954 | Prototype | 2 | First aircraft to pass 1,000 mph. |
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon | United States | Turbofan | Fighter | 1974 | Production | 4604 | |
General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark | United States | Turbofan | Fighter | 1964 | Production | 563 | Also bomber and EW Variants. |
Grumman F-11 Tiger | United States | Turbojet | Fighter | 1954 | Production | 200 | |
Grumman F11F-1F Super Tiger | United States | Turbojet | Fighter | 1956 | Prototype | 2 | |
Grumman F-14 Tomcat | United States | Turbofan | Fighter | 1970 | Production | 712 | |
Guizhou JL-9 | China | Turbojet | Trainer | 2003 | Production | ||
HAL Tejas | India | Turbofan | Multirole | 2001 | Production | 40 | |
Helwan HA-300 | Egypt | Turbojet | Fighter | 1964 | Prototype | 3 | Interceptor |
HESA Azarakhsh | Iran | Turbojet | Fighter | 1997 | Prototype | 6 | |
HESA Saeqeh | Iran | Turbojet | Fighter | 2004 | Production | 12 | |
Hongdu L-15 | China | Turbofan | Trainer | 2005 | Prototype | ||
IAI Kfir | Israel | Turbojet | Multirole | 1973 | Production | 220 | |
IAI Lavi | Israel | Turbofan | Multirole | 1986 | Prototype | 3 | |
IAI Nammer | Israel | Turbofan | Fighter | 1991 | Prototype | 1 | |
IAI Nesher | Israel | Turbojet | Multirole | 1971 | Production | 61 | |
KAI T-50 Golden Eagle | Republic of Korea | Turbofan | Trainer | 2002 | Production | 200 | |
Lockheed A-12 | United States | Turbojet | Patrol | 1962 | Production | 15 | Hybrid turbojet-ramjet engines. Reconnaissance |
Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird | United States | Turbojet | Patrol | 1964 | Production | 32 | Hybrid turbojet-ramjet engines. Reconnaissance |
Lockheed YF-12 | United States | Turbojet | Fighter | 1963 | Prototype | 3 | Interceptor |
Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor | United States | Turbofan | Fighter | 1997 | Production | 195 | |
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II | United States | Turbofan | Multirole | 2006 | Production | 820 | |
Lockheed F-104 Starfighter | United States | Turbojet | Fighter | 1954 | Production | 2578 | Interceptor |
Lockheed Martin X-35 | United States | Turbofan | Experimental | 2000 | Prototype | 2 | |
Martin Marietta X-24A | United States | Rocket | Experimental | 1969 | Prototype | 1 | |
McDonnell F-101 Voodoo | United States | Turbojet | Fighter | 1954 | Production | 807 | |
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II | United States | Turbojet | Multirole | 1958 | Production | 5195 | |
McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle | United States | Turbofan | Fighter | 1972 | Production | 1723 | F-15E Strike Eagle multirole variant |
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet | United States | Turbofan | Multirole | 1978 | Production | 1480 | |
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 | Soviet Union | Turbojet | Fighter | 1953 | Production | 2172 | |
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 | Soviet Union | Turbojet | Fighter | 1955 | Production | 11496 | |
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 | Soviet Union | Turbojet | Fighter | 1967 | Production | 5047 | |
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 | Soviet Union | Turbojet | Fighter | 1964 | Production | 1186 | Interceptor |
Mikoyan MiG-27 | Soviet Union | Turbojet | Attack | 1970 | Production | 1075 | |
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 | Soviet Union | Turbofan | Fighter | 1977 | Production | 1600 | |
Mikoyan MiG-31 | Soviet Union | Turbofan | Fighter | 1975 | Production | 519 | Interceptor |
Mikoyan MiG-35 | Russia | Turbofan | Fighter | 2007 | Prototype | 8 | |
Mikoyan Project 1.44 | Russia | Turbofan | Experimental | 2000 | Prototype | 1 | |
Mitsubishi F-1 | Japan | Turbofan | Fighter | 1971 | Production | 77 | |
Mitsubishi F-2 | Japan | Turbofan | Multirole | 1995 | Production | 98 | |
Mitsubishi T-2 | Japan | Turbofan | Trainer | 1975 | Production | 90 | |
Mitsubishi X-2 Shinshin | Japan | Turbofan | Experimental | 2016 | Prototype | 1 | |
Myasishchev M-50 | Soviet Union | Turbojet | Bomber | 1959 | Prototype | 1 | |
Nanchang J-12 | China | Turbojet | Fighter | 1970 | Prototype | 8 | |
Nanchang Q-5 | China | Turbojet | Attack | 1965 | Production | 1300 | |
Nord Gerfaut | France | Turbojet | Experimental | 1953 | Prototype | 2 | |
Nord Griffon | France | Turbojet | Experimental | 1955 | Prototype | 2 | Dual turbojet-ramjet powerplant |
North American A-5 Vigilante | United States | Turbojet | Fighter | 1958 | Production | 120 | Interceptor |
North American F-100 Super Sabre | United States | Turbojet | Fighter | 1953 | Production | 2294 | |
North American F-107 | United States | Turbojet | Attack | 1957 | Prototype | 3 | |
North American X-15 | United States | Rocket | Experimental | 1959 | Prototype | 3 | |
North American XB-70 Valkyrie | United States | Turbojet | Bomber | 1964 | Prototype | 2 | Strategic bomber |
Northrop F-5 | United States | Turbojet | Fighter | 1959 | Production | 2603 | |
Northrop T-38 Talon | United States | Turbojet | Trainer | 1959 | Production | 1189 | |
Northrop HL-10 | United States | Rocket | Experimental | 1966 | Prototype | 1 | |
Northrop M2-F3 | United States | Rocket | Experimental | 1970 | Prototype | 1 | |
Northrop YF-17 | United States | Turbojet | Fighter | 1974 | Prototype | 2 | |
Northrop F-20 Tigershark | United States | Turbofan | Fighter | 1982 | Prototype | 3 | |
Northrop YF-23 | United States | Turbofan | Fighter | 1990 | Prototype | 2 | |
Panavia Tornado | Multi-National | Turbofan | Multirole | 1974 | Production | 992 | |
Republic XF-91 Thunderceptor | United States | Turbojet | Fighter | 1949 | Prototype | 2 | Interceptor |
Republic F-105 Thunderchief | United States | Turbojet | Attack | 1955 | Production | 833 | |
Rockwell B-1 Lancer | United States | Turbofan | Bomber | 1974 | Production | 104 | Strategic bomber |
Rockwell-MBB X-31 | United States | Turbofan | Experimental | 1990 | Prototype | 2 | |
Saab 35 Draken | Sweden | Turbojet | Fighter | 1955 | Production | 651 | |
Saab 37 Viggen | Sweden | Turbofan | Fighter | 1967 | Production | 329 | |
Saab JAS 39 Gripen | Sweden | Turbofan | Multirole | 1988 | Production | 271 | |
Saunders-Roe SR.53 | United Kingdom | Rocket | Fighter | 1957 | Prototype | 2 | Interceptor. Mixed powerplant (jet + rocket) |
SEPECAT Jaguar | Multi-National | Turbofan | Attack | 1968 | Production | 543 | |
Shenyang J-6 | China | Turbojet | Fighter | 1958 | Production | 4500 | |
Shenyang J-8 | China | Turbojet | Fighter | 1969 | Production | 408 | Interceptor |
Shenyang J-11 | China | Turbofan | Fighter | 1998 | Production | 440 | |
Shenyang J-15 | China | Turbofan | Fighter | 2009 | Production | 50 | |
Shenyang J-16 | China | Turbofan | Multirole | 2012 | Production | 172 | |
Shenyang J-31 | China | Turbofan | Multirole | 2012 | Prototype | ||
Sukhoi Su-7 | Soviet Union | Turbojet | Fighter | 1955 | Production | 1847 | |
Sukhoi Su-9 | Soviet Union | Turbojet | Fighter | 1956 | Production | 1150 | Interceptor |
Sukhoi Su-11 | Soviet Union | Turbojet | Fighter | 1958 | Production | 108 | Interceptor |
Sukhoi Su-15 | Soviet Union | Turbojet | Fighter | 1962 | Production | 1290 | Interceptor |
Sukhoi Su-17 | Soviet Union | Turbojet | Attack | 1966 | Production | 2867 | |
Sukhoi Su-24 | Soviet Union | Turbojet | Attack | 1967 | Production | 1400 | |
Sukhoi Su-27 | Soviet Union | Turbofan | Fighter | 1977 | Production | 680 | |
Sukhoi Su-30 | Soviet Union | Turbofan | Multirole | 1989 | Production | 630 | |
Sukhoi Su-33 | Soviet Union | Turbofan | Fighter | 1987 | Production | 35 | |
Sukhoi Su-34 | Soviet Union | Turbofan | Attack | 1990 | Production | 147 | |
Sukhoi Su-35 | Russia | Turbofan | Multirole | 2008 | Production | 154 | |
Sukhoi Su-37 | Russia | Turbofan | Fighter | 1996 | Prototype | 1 | |
Sukhoi Su-47 | Russia | Turbofan | Fighter | 1997 | Prototype | 1 | |
Sukhoi Su-57 | Russia | Turbofan | Fighter | 2010 | Prototype | 16 | |
Sukhoi T-4 | Soviet Union | Turbojet | Bomber | 1972 | Prototype | 1 | Strategic bomber |
Tupolev Tu-22 | Soviet Union | Turbojet | Bomber | 1959 | Production | 311 | Strategic bomber |
Tupolev Tu-22M | Soviet Union | Turbofan | Bomber | 1969 | Production | 497 | Strategic bomber |
Tupolev Tu-28 | Soviet Union | Turbojet | Fighter | 1961 | Production | 198 | Interceptor |
Tupolev Tu-144 | Soviet Union | Turbojet | Transport | 1968 | Production | 16 | SST |
Tupolev Tu-160 | Soviet Union | Turbofan | Bomber | 1981 | Production | 36 | Strategic bomber |
Vought F-8 Crusader | United States | Turbojet | Fighter | 1955 | Production | 1219 | |
Xian JH-7 | China | Turbofan | Multirole | 1988 | Production | 270 | |
Yakovlev Yak-27 | Soviet Union | Turbojet | Patrol | 1960 | Production | 165 | Reconnaissance |
Yakovlev Yak-28 | Soviet Union | Turbojet | Multirole | 1958 | Production | 1180 | |
Yakovlev Yak-38 | Soviet Union | V/STOL | Fighter | 1971 | Production | 231 | |
Yakovlev Yak-141 | Soviet Union | V/STOL | Fighter | 1987 | Prototype | 4 |
Aerodynamics, from Ancient Greek: ἀήρ aero (air) + Ancient Greek: δυναμική (dynamics), is the study of the motion of air, particularly when affected by a solid object, such as an airplane wing. It involves topics covered in the field of fluid dynamics and its subfield of gas dynamics. The term aerodynamics is often used synonymously with gas dynamics, the difference being that "gas dynamics" applies to the study of the motion of all gases, and is not limited to air. The formal study of aerodynamics began in the modern sense in the eighteenth century, although observations of fundamental concepts such as aerodynamic drag were recorded much earlier. Most of the early efforts in aerodynamics were directed toward achieving heavier-than-air flight, which was first demonstrated by Otto Lilienthal in 1891. Since then, the use of aerodynamics through mathematical analysis, empirical approximations, wind tunnel experimentation, and computer simulations has formed a rational basis for the development of heavier-than-air flight and a number of other technologies. Recent work in aerodynamics has focused on issues related to compressible flow, turbulence, and boundary layers and has become increasingly computational in nature.
The Aérospatiale/BAC Concorde is a retired Franco-British supersonic airliner jointly developed and manufactured by Sud Aviation and the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC). Studies started in 1954, and France and the UK signed a treaty establishing the development project on 29 November 1962, as the programme cost was estimated at £70 million . Construction of the six prototypes began in February 1965, and the first flight took off from Toulouse on 2 March 1969. The market was predicted for 350 aircraft, and the manufacturers received up to 100 option orders from many major airlines. On 9 October 1975, it received its French Certificate of Airworthiness, and from the UK CAA on 5 December.
Mach number is a dimensionless quantity in fluid dynamics representing the ratio of flow velocity past a boundary to the local speed of sound. It is named after the Moravian physicist and philosopher Ernst Mach.
The Whitcomb area rule, named after NACA engineer Richard Whitcomb and also called the transonic area rule, is a design procedure used to reduce an aircraft's drag at transonic speeds which occur between about Mach 0.75 and 1.2. For supersonic speeds a different procedure called the supersonic area rule, developed by NACA aerodynamicist Robert Jones, is used.
Supersonic speed is the speed of an object that exceeds the speed of sound (Mach 1). For objects traveling in dry air of a temperature of 20 °C (68 °F) at sea level, this speed is approximately 343.2 m/s. Speeds greater than five times the speed of sound (Mach 5) are often referred to as hypersonic. Flights during which only some parts of the air surrounding an object, such as the ends of rotor blades, reach supersonic speeds are called transonic. This occurs typically somewhere between Mach 0.8 and Mach 1.2.
A jet aircraft is an aircraft propelled by jet engines.
The sound barrier or sonic barrier is the large increase in aerodynamic drag and other undesirable effects experienced by an aircraft or other object when it approaches the speed of sound. When aircraft first approached the speed of sound, these effects were seen as constituting a barrier, making faster speeds very difficult or impossible. The term sound barrier is still sometimes used today to refer to aircraft approaching supersonic flight in this high drag regime. Flying faster than sound produces a sonic boom.
A sonic boom is a sound associated with shock waves created when an object travels through the air faster than the speed of sound. Sonic booms generate enormous amounts of sound energy, sounding similar to an explosion or a thunderclap to the human ear. A decibel is the primary unit measurement of sound. "A thunderclap is incredibly loud, producing levels between 100 and 120 dBA - the equivalent of standing near a jet during take-off."
The Bell X-1 is a rocket engine–powered aircraft, designated originally as the XS-1, and was a joint National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics–U.S. Army Air Forces–U.S. Air Force supersonic research project built by Bell Aircraft. Conceived during 1944 and designed and built in 1945, it achieved a speed of nearly 1,000 miles per hour in 1948. A derivative of this same design, the Bell X-1A, having greater fuel capacity and hence longer rocket burning time, exceeded 1,600 miles per hour in 1954. The X-1 aircraft #46-062, nicknamed Glamorous Glennis and piloted by Chuck Yeager, was the first manned airplane to exceed the speed of sound in level flight and was the first of the X-planes, a series of American experimental rocket planes designed for testing new technologies.
A supersonic transport (SST) or a supersonic airliner is a civilian supersonic aircraft designed to transport passengers at speeds greater than the speed of sound. To date, the only SSTs to see regular service have been Concorde and the Tupolev Tu-144. The last passenger flight of the Tu-144 was in June 1978 and it was last flown in 1999 by NASA. Concorde's last commercial flight was in October 2003, with a November 26, 2003 ferry flight being its last airborne operation. Following the permanent cessation of flying by Concorde, there are no remaining SSTs in commercial service. Several companies have each proposed a supersonic business jet, which may bring supersonic transport back again.
The Miles M.52 was a turbojet-powered supersonic research aircraft project designed in the United Kingdom in the mid-1940s. In October 1943, Miles Aircraft was issued with a contract to produce the aircraft in accordance with Air Ministry Specification E.24/43. The programme was highly ambitious for its time, aiming to produce an aircraft and engine capable of unheard-of speeds of at least 1,000 miles per hour (1,600 km/h) during level flight, and involved a very high proportion of cutting-edge aerodynamic research and innovative design work.
Transonic flow is air flowing around an object at a speed that generates regions of both subsonic and supersonic airflow around that object. The exact range of speeds depends on the object's critical Mach number, but transonic flow is seen at flight speeds close to the speed of sound, typically between Mach 0.8 and 1.2.
Supercruise is sustained supersonic flight of a supersonic aircraft with a useful cargo, passenger, or weapons load without using afterburner. Many supersonic military aircraft are not capable of supercruise and can only maintain Mach 1+ flight in short bursts with afterburners. Aircraft such as the SR-71 Blackbird are designed to cruise at supersonic speed with afterburners enabled.
Hans Guido Mutke was a fighter pilot for the German Luftwaffe during World War II. He was born in Neisse, Upper Silesia.
An airplane or aeroplane is a fixed-wing aircraft that is propelled forward by thrust from a jet engine, propeller, or rocket engine. Airplanes come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and wing configurations. The broad spectrum of uses for airplanes includes recreation, transportation of goods and people, military, and research. Worldwide, commercial aviation transports more than four billion passengers annually on airliners and transports more than 200 billion tonne-kilometers of cargo annually, which is less than 1% of the world's cargo movement. Most airplanes are flown by a pilot on board the aircraft, but some are designed to be remotely or computer-controlled such as drones.
In aerodynamics, the critical Mach number of an aircraft is the lowest Mach number at which the airflow over some point of the aircraft reaches the speed of sound, but does not exceed it. At the lower critical Mach number, airflow around the entire aircraft is subsonic. Supersonic aircraft such as Concorde and combat aircraft also have an upper critical Mach number at which the airflow around the entire aircraft is supersonic.
The Sound Barrier is a 1952 British aviation drama film directed by David Lean. It is a fictional story about attempts by aircraft designers and test pilots to break the sound barrier. It was David Lean's third and final film with his wife Ann Todd, but it was his first for Alexander Korda's London Films, following the break-up of Cineguild. The Sound Barrier stars Ralph Richardson, Ann Todd, John Justin and Nigel Patrick. It was known in the United States as Breaking Through the Sound Barrier and Breaking the Sound Barrier.
A supersonic aircraft is an aircraft capable of supersonic flight, that is, flying faster than the speed of sound. Supersonic aircraft were developed in the second half of the twentieth century. Supersonic aircraft have been used for research and military purposes, but only two supersonic aircraft, the Tupolev Tu-144 and the Concorde, ever entered service for civil use as airliners. Fighter jets are the most common example of supersonic aircraft.
Quiet Spike was a collaborative program between Gulfstream Aerospace and NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center to investigate the suppression of sonic booms. The patent was published with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in 2004 and is owned by Gulfstream Aerospace.
The Gulfstream X-54 is a proposed research and demonstration aircraft, under development in the United States by Gulfstream Aerospace for NASA, that is planned for use in sonic boom and supersonic transport research.