Just as with the B-1, the Tu-160 is still in service with the Russian Air Force. However, the Tu-160 was designed to have a greater range than the Tu-144, as such, the speed was reduced. Using technology that Tupolev designed for the Tu-144, the Tu-160 was soon entered into the Soviet Air Force’s fleet.īecause the Tu-160 was designed using technology for a supersonic airliner, the Tu-160 was designed to also fly at supersonic speeds. Seeing the success of the B-1 in America, the Soviets too designed their own supersonic, high altitude bomber.
This aircraft later went ton to become the F-16, a jet that is used in 27 air forces from different countries. During the 0’s the Americans, British, French and Soviets were all designing aircraft that pushed the limits of speed.įollowing what the US military wanted, General Dynamics designed an aircraft that fitted that. Most of the aircraft that will one day replace the F-16, such as the F-35 and F-22, are vastly slower than the F-16. One of the major selling points of the F-16 is that it is one of the fastest aircraft on the market (for a fighter of its age). The F-16 is one of the most produced fighter jets of recent years. When you flew on Concorde, you could literally see the curvature of the Earth! However, because of the sonic boom it made, the Concorde was confined to transatlantic routes only, which made it somewhat of a commercial failure. You could travel from London to New York and back and still be home in time for dinner! In the West, the Concorde is known for being the fastest successful commercial aircraft to have ever flown.īoth BAC and Aerospatiale marketed the Concorde base solely on its speed. The Concorde was one of the biggest achievements of the Cold War.
As jet engine technology progressed, so did top speeds, up until today and beyond! 17. When the jet engine was invented during WWII, fighter jets and later commercial airliners became far faster than they ever had been.
What were the fastest aircraft two decades ago, look like snails compared to the aircraft of today. Since the invention of the first airplane, engineers have tried to push the limits of speed.
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