List of supersonic aircraft

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A supersonic aircraft is an aircraft which can exceed the speed of sound (Mach 1.0) in level flight.

TypeCountryClassRoleDateStatusNo.Notes
Aeritalia F-104S ItalyTurbojetFighter1966Production246Interceptor
AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo TaiwanTurbofanFighter1989Production137
AIDC T-5 Brave Eagle TaiwanTurbofanTrainer2020Production4
Atlas Cheetah South AfricaTurbojetFighter1986Production60
Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow CanadaTurbojetFighter1958Prototype5Interceptor
BAC 221 United KingdomTurbojetExperimental1964Prototype1 Fairey Delta 2 adapted to test the ogival delta wing for Concorde.
BAC TSR-2 United KingdomTurbojetAttack1964Prototype1Tactical Strike/Reconnaissance (TSR)
Bell X-1 United StatesRocketExperimental1947Prototype7First supersonic aircraft.
Bell X-2 United StatesRocketExperimental1952Prototype2
Boeing X-32 United StatesV/STOLExperimental2000Prototype2
Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet United StatesTurbofanMultirole1995Production608
Boeing EA-18G Growler United StatesTurbofanPatrol2004Production172Electronic warfare (EW)
Bristol 188 United KingdomTurbojetExperimental1962Prototype2
British Aerospace EAP United KingdomTurbofanExperimental1986Prototype1Developed into the Eurofighter Typhoon
CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder Multi-NationalTurbofanMultirole2003Production164Pakistan-China
Chengdu J-7 ChinaTurbojetFighter1966Production2400
Chengdu J-10 ChinaTurbofanMultirole1998Production548
Chengdu J-20 ChinaTurbofanFighter2011Production50
Concorde Multi-NationalTurbojetTransport1969Production20SST. Anglo-French
Convair B-58 Hustler United StatesTurbojetBomber1956Production116Strategic.
Convair F-102 Delta Dagger United StatesTurbojetFighter1953Production992Interceptor
Convair F2Y Sea Dart United StatesTurbojetFighter1953Prototype5Seaplane. Interceptor
Convair F-106 Delta Dart United StatesTurbojetFighter1959Production340Interceptor
Dassault MD.550 Mirage FranceTurbojetFighter1956Prototype1Interceptor
Dassault Mirage III FranceTurbojetFighter1958Production1422Interceptor. Active only in Pakistan Air Force
Dassault Mirage IIIV FranceV/STOLFighter1965Prototype2
Dassault Mirage IV FranceTurbojetBomber1959Production66Strategic nuclear.
Dassault Mirage 5 FranceTurbojetAttack1967Production582
Dassault Mirage F1 FranceTurbojetFighter1966Production720
Dassault Mirage F2 FranceTurbofanAttack1966Prototype1
Dassault Mirage G FranceTurbojetMultirole1967Prototype3
Dassault Mirage 2000 FranceTurbofanFighter1978Production601
Dassault Mirage 4000 FranceTurbofanFighter1979Prototype1
Dassault Rafale FranceTurbofanMultirole1986Production240
Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard FranceTurbojetAttack1974Production85
Dassault Super Mystère FranceTurbojetMultirole1955Production180
Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket United StatesRocketExperimental1948Prototype3Dual jet and rocket powerplants,
Douglas X-3 Stiletto United StatesTurbojetExperimental1951Prototype1
English Electric Lightning United KingdomTurbojetFighter1957Production337Interceptor
Eurofighter Typhoon Multi-NationalTurbofanFighter1994Production661
EWR VJ 101 West GermanyV/STOLFighter1963Prototype2
Fairey Delta 2 United KingdomTurbojetExperimental1954Prototype2First aircraft to pass 1,000 mph.
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon United StatesTurbofanFighter1974Production4604
General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark United StatesTurbofanFighter1964Production563Also bomber and EW Variants.
Grumman F-11 Tiger United StatesTurbojetFighter1954Production200
Grumman F11F-1F Super Tiger United StatesTurbojetFighter1956Prototype2
Grumman F-14 Tomcat United StatesTurbofanFighter1970Production712
Guizhou JL-9 ChinaTurbojetTrainer2003Production
HAL Tejas IndiaTurbofanMultirole2001Production40
Helwan HA-300 EgyptTurbojetFighter1964Prototype3Interceptor
HESA Azarakhsh IranTurbojetFighter1997Prototype6
HESA Saeqeh IranTurbojetFighter2004Production12
Hongdu L-15 ChinaTurbofanTrainer2005Prototype
IAI Kfir IsraelTurbojetMultirole1973Production220
IAI Lavi IsraelTurbofanMultirole1986Prototype3
IAI Nammer IsraelTurbofanFighter1991Prototype1
IAI Nesher IsraelTurbojetMultirole1971Production61
KAI T-50 Golden Eagle Republic of KoreaTurbofanTrainer2002Production200
Lockheed A-12 United StatesTurbojetPatrol1962Production15Hybrid turbojet-ramjet engines. Reconnaissance
Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird United StatesTurbojetPatrol1964Production32Hybrid turbojet-ramjet engines. Reconnaissance
Lockheed YF-12 United StatesTurbojetFighter1963Prototype3Interceptor
Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor United StatesTurbofanFighter1997Production195
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II United StatesTurbofanMultirole2006Production820
Lockheed F-104 Starfighter United StatesTurbojetFighter1954Production2578Interceptor
Lockheed Martin X-35 United StatesTurbofanExperimental2000Prototype2
Martin Marietta X-24A United StatesRocketExperimental1969Prototype1
McDonnell F-101 Voodoo United StatesTurbojetFighter1954Production807
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II United StatesTurbojetMultirole1958Production5195
McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle United StatesTurbofanFighter1972Production1723 F-15E Strike Eagle multirole variant
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet United StatesTurbofanMultirole1978Production1480
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 Soviet UnionTurbojetFighter1953Production2172
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Soviet UnionTurbojetFighter1955Production11496
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 Soviet UnionTurbojetFighter1967Production5047
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 Soviet UnionTurbojetFighter1964Production1186Interceptor
Mikoyan MiG-27 Soviet UnionTurbojetAttack1970Production1075
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 Soviet UnionTurbofanFighter1977Production1600
Mikoyan MiG-31 Soviet UnionTurbofanFighter1975Production519Interceptor
Mikoyan MiG-35 RussiaTurbofanFighter2007Prototype8
Mikoyan Project 1.44 RussiaTurbofanExperimental2000Prototype1
Mitsubishi F-1 JapanTurbofanFighter1971Production77
Mitsubishi F-2 JapanTurbofanMultirole1995Production98
Mitsubishi T-2 JapanTurbofanTrainer1975Production90
Mitsubishi X-2 Shinshin JapanTurbofanExperimental2016Prototype1
Myasishchev M-50 Soviet UnionTurbojetBomber1959Prototype1
Nanchang J-12 ChinaTurbojetFighter1970Prototype8
Nanchang Q-5 ChinaTurbojetAttack1965Production1300
Nord Gerfaut FranceTurbojetExperimental1953Prototype2
Nord Griffon FranceTurbojetExperimental1955Prototype2Dual turbojet-ramjet powerplant
North American A-5 Vigilante United StatesTurbojetFighter1958Production120Interceptor
North American F-100 Super Sabre United StatesTurbojetFighter1953Production2294
North American F-107 United StatesTurbojetAttack1957Prototype3
North American X-15 United StatesRocketExperimental1959Prototype3
North American XB-70 Valkyrie United StatesTurbojetBomber1964Prototype2Strategic bomber
Northrop F-5 United StatesTurbojetFighter1959Production2603
Northrop T-38 Talon United StatesTurbojetTrainer1959Production1189
Northrop HL-10 United StatesRocketExperimental1966Prototype1
Northrop M2-F3 United StatesRocketExperimental1970Prototype1
Northrop YF-17 United StatesTurbojetFighter1974Prototype2
Northrop F-20 Tigershark United StatesTurbofanFighter1982Prototype3
Northrop YF-23 United StatesTurbofanFighter1990Prototype2
Panavia Tornado Multi-NationalTurbofanMultirole1974Production992
Republic XF-91 Thunderceptor United StatesTurbojetFighter1949Prototype2Interceptor
Republic F-105 Thunderchief United StatesTurbojetAttack1955Production833
Rockwell B-1 Lancer United StatesTurbofanBomber1974Production104Strategic bomber
Rockwell-MBB X-31 United StatesTurbofanExperimental1990Prototype2
Saab 35 Draken SwedenTurbojetFighter1955Production651
Saab 37 Viggen SwedenTurbofanFighter1967Production329
Saab JAS 39 Gripen SwedenTurbofanMultirole1988Production271
Saunders-Roe SR.53 United KingdomRocketFighter1957Prototype2Interceptor. Mixed powerplant (jet + rocket)
SEPECAT Jaguar Multi-NationalTurbofanAttack1968Production543
Shenyang J-6 ChinaTurbojetFighter1958Production4500
Shenyang J-8 ChinaTurbojetFighter1969Production408Interceptor
Shenyang J-11 ChinaTurbofanFighter1998Production440
Shenyang J-15 ChinaTurbofanFighter2009Production50
Shenyang J-16 ChinaTurbofanMultirole2012Production172
Shenyang J-31 ChinaTurbofanMultirole2012Prototype
Sukhoi Su-7 Soviet UnionTurbojetFighter1955Production1847
Sukhoi Su-9 Soviet UnionTurbojetFighter1956Production1150Interceptor
Sukhoi Su-11 Soviet UnionTurbojetFighter1958Production108Interceptor
Sukhoi Su-15 Soviet UnionTurbojetFighter1962Production1290Interceptor
Sukhoi Su-17 Soviet UnionTurbojetAttack1966Production2867
Sukhoi Su-24 Soviet UnionTurbojetAttack1967Production1400
Sukhoi Su-27 Soviet UnionTurbofanFighter1977Production680
Sukhoi Su-30 Soviet UnionTurbofanMultirole1989Production630
Sukhoi Su-33 Soviet UnionTurbofanFighter1987Production35
Sukhoi Su-34 Soviet UnionTurbofanAttack1990Production147
Sukhoi Su-35 RussiaTurbofanMultirole2008Production154
Sukhoi Su-37 RussiaTurbofanFighter1996Prototype1
Sukhoi Su-47 RussiaTurbofanFighter1997Prototype1
Sukhoi Su-57 RussiaTurbofanFighter2010Prototype16
Sukhoi T-4 Soviet UnionTurbojetBomber1972Prototype1Strategic bomber
Tupolev Tu-22 Soviet UnionTurbojetBomber1959Production311Strategic bomber
Tupolev Tu-22M Soviet UnionTurbofanBomber1969Production497Strategic bomber
Tupolev Tu-28 Soviet UnionTurbojetFighter1961Production198Interceptor
Tupolev Tu-144 Soviet UnionTurbojetTransport1968Production16SST
Tupolev Tu-160 Soviet UnionTurbofanBomber1981Production36Strategic bomber
Vought F-8 Crusader United StatesTurbojetFighter1955Production1219
Xian JH-7 ChinaTurbofanMultirole1988Production270
Yakovlev Yak-27 Soviet UnionTurbojetPatrol1960Production165Reconnaissance
Yakovlev Yak-28 Soviet UnionTurbojetMultirole1958Production1180
Yakovlev Yak-38 Soviet UnionV/STOLFighter1971Production231
Yakovlev Yak-141 Soviet UnionV/STOLFighter1987Prototype4

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aerodynamics</span> Branch of dynamics concerned with studying the motion of air

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Concorde</span> Type of aircraft

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mach number</span> Ratio of speed of object moving through fluid and local speed of sound

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Area rule</span> Aerodynamic concept

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supersonic speed</span> Speed that exceeds the speed of sound

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jet aircraft</span> Aircraft class powered by jet propulsion engines

A jet aircraft is an aircraft propelled by jet engines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sound barrier</span> Sudden increase of undesirable effects when an aircraft approaches the speed of sound

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonic boom</span> Shock wave from flying at the speed of sound

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."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bell X-1</span> Experimental rocket-powered aircraft, the first airplane to break the sound barrier in level flight

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supersonic transport</span> Type of commercial airliner (SST)

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miles M.52</span> 1942 British supersonic jet project

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transonic</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hans Guido Mutke</span>

Hans Guido Mutke was a fighter pilot for the German Luftwaffe during World War II. He was born in Neisse, Upper Silesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Airplane</span> Powered, flying vehicle with wings

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Critical Mach number</span>

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.

<i>The Sound Barrier</i> 1952 British film

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supersonic aircraft</span> Aircraft that travels faster than the speed of sound

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quiet Spike</span> 2000s aerospace program

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.

References

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