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In March 1969, Concorde completed its first test flight, 50 years after the first non-stop transatlantic flight. A lot of history has happened since those two dates, with technology improving and getting better and better.
in April 2019the plane with the largest wingspanof the world flew over the Mojave desert. Records like this have been broken many times over the years.
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We're here to bring you some of the best planes to have flown in decades.
Wright's Aviator
Of course, no list of awesome planes would be complete without the original plane. The Wright Flyer was essentially the first to take to the skies.
Designed by Orville and Wilbur Wright, this aircraft was the first heavier-than-air aircraft to make a successful flight in 1903. This ushered in the future of air travel.
avro vogel
Another perhaps the most important aircraft of all time is the Avro Avian. This humble plane has been a part of some major aviation adventures.
The 594 Avian III variant of this aircraft was organized by Amelia Earhart and set the record for the "first Atlantic flight by a woman" in 1928. Of course, she was just a passenger during that flight, but she would later fly from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland. North by their own means in 1932.
Blériot XI
The weird and wonderful Blériot XI is another aircraft that made aviation history when it all began. In 1909, Louis Blériot set the record for the first flight across the English Channel in a heavier-than-air aircraft in one of these aircraft.
Even if the Wright brothers had first flown six years earlier, it was still a daring effort in treacherous waters.
hurricane peddler
Although the Supermarine Spitfire may be the most iconic of all warplanes, the Hawker Hurricane was actually the aircraft that did the most damage to the German Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain.
This aircraft was so successful that it flew and fought on every major battlefield during World War II. Today there are only 12 hurricanes left airworthy.
Vought V-173
The Flying Pancake was an experimental aircraft built for the US Navy during World War II. It featured a weird and wonderful wing design that was supposed to help with lift. The compact design of this aircraft made it highly maneuverable and quite solid in terms of structural integrity.
The unusual shape of this aircraft also led to several false reports of UFO sightings in the areas where it conducted test flights. It was never fully maintained, but it was an interesting proof of concept design that aided the development of future aircraft.
douglas dc-3
The Douglas DC-3 was the world's first successful airliner, taking off for the first time in 1935. It was a low-wing, twin-engine monoplane, seating just 28 people, but it was also reliable, easy to fly, and easy to maintain.
The aircraft was also adapted for military use during World War II when it was designated the C-47 and Dakota. It was popular and earned a place in aircraft history.
Messerschmitt Me 262
Wartime inevitably forces more rapid technological innovations, and the German armed forces were certainly adept at developing cutting-edge technology. The Me 262 was the world's first operational jet fighter aircraft. It first flew in 1941, but did not enter production or use until mid-1944.
It was not without its flaws, but the Messerschmitt Me 262 certainly posed a clear and real threat to the Allied air forces. They were the fastest aircraft in the sky at the time, and as such had the ability to exact a deadly toll. Fortunately for the Allies, production was delayed and the use of these jets hampered by shortages of fuel, spare parts, and trained pilots. Around 1,400 Me 262s were produced, but only around 200 were operational at any time during the war.
Gloster-Meteorito
The Me262 may have been the first jet aircraft of World War II, but it wasn't the last or the only one. We British also had our own fighter plane, the Gloster Meteor. This aircraft first flew in 1943 but did not enter service until about three months after the Me262. It proved a successful hunter and almost 4,000 Meteors were produced between 1943 and 1955.
After the war, the Meteor set and broke its own land speed records, reaching a top speed of 606 mph in 1945 and 616 mph in 1946. By comparison, the Me262 had a top speed of 559 mph and became obsolete a few years ago. years as more and more jet planes appeared around the world. The meteor would eventually be replaced by that one.hawker hunterYGloster-speer.
Concorde
Concorde was a supersonic turbojet aircraft that first took off in 1969. These aircraft were a collaboration between the French and British and were only flown by Air France and British Airways between 1976 and 2003 when the aircraft were retired.
Capable of flying at twice the speed of sound, these magnificent flying machines were considered the pinnacle of luxury at the time. So much so that seats on board the plane were only available to the wealthiest passengers.
B-2 stealth bomber
The iconic Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit (also known as the stealth bomber) first took off in 1989. Only 21 of these distinctive ships were ever built.
Costing around $2 billion each, these bombers used stealth technology and could carry up to 80 JDAM bombs or 16 B83 nukes. As potentially terrifying as it is unusual, the importance of this aircraft cannot be denied.
Lockheed SR-71 Amsel
Another of the most iconic aircraft of the last few decades is the unmistakably impressive SR-71 Blackbird. A high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft originally commissioned in 1966. This aircraft not only served in the US Air Force, but was also used by NASA until 1999.
This aircraft also holds the world record for "fastest air-breathing manned aircraft", a record it has held since 1976.
Lockheed AC-130 Specter attack helicopter
The AC-130 is a heavily armed variant of the C130 transport aircraft. This huge monster of a plane first took off in 1966.
It is designed to provide short-range support to ground forces and military forces on the ground. With considerable firepower, including everything up to an M102 105mm howitzer and other smaller caliber weapons, it was a force to be reckoned with.
Only 47 of these planes were built, but they served during the Vietnam War until the War on Terror before being retired in 2015.
Cessna 172 Skyhawk
The legendary Cessna Skyhawk holds the record as the most popular fixed-wing aircraft in history.
More than 44,000 of these aircraft have been built and it is also considered to be one of the most reliable, affordable and stable aircraft out there. It is an aircraft trusted by flight schools around the world and instantly recognizable by its design.
Superfortaleza Boeing B-29
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress was a technological marvel of the World War II era. It featured state-of-the-art technology for the time, including a pressurized cabin, a computer-controlled analogue fire control system, and more.
One particular model of this aircraft, the Enola Gay, is perhaps one of the most famous (or infamous) aircraft to fly. It was this giant bomber that dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki that ended the war in 1945.
McDonnell XF-85 Kobold
The McDonnell XF-85 Goblin was a prototype fighter developed for the US Air Force at the end of World War II. It was built in a compact form to be used from the bomb bay of a large bomber. The idea was that these planes could take off from their mother ship and attack enemy planes to defend the main convoy.
The long-range fighters of the time could not cover the same distance as the heavy strategic bombers that were being built and deployed, so these parasite fighters were seen as a possible solution. Unfortunately, the prototype design was deemed too inferior to the enemy fighters it would face, so the project was abandoned.
Antonov An-225 Mriya
The Antonov An-225 Mriya is an absolute monster of a plane. This is a strategic airlift cargo aircraft first developed in the 1980s. It used to hold the record for the longest wingspan of any aircraft (88 meters), but has since been surpassed by an aircraft from the manufacturer. .stratolaunch.
Nonetheless, the Antonov An-225 Mriya remains an important piece of aviation history. It could reach an impressive top speed of 830 km/h and carry around 640 tons of cargo. Based on these statistics, you may not be surprised that at 285 tons, this aircraft is also the heaviest aircraft ever built. The fact that it can fly is a marvel of aeronautical engineering.
Der Beluga-Airbus
Officially a super transporter, the Beluga Airbus is also completely unusual, conjuring visions of the whale from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, although hopefully this plane is better at staying airborne.
The Beluga Airbus is a wide-body variant of an Airbus airliner. It was specifically designed to carry larger than normal cargo. This weird and wonderful looking plane made its first flight in 1995 and has flown multiple times since. It has even played a role in transporting various spacecraft. We just think it looks fantastically cheerful. However, it is brilliantly designed andHis nose even opens to let out his impressive load..
MD-160 Ekranoplan of the Lun class
This is an Ekranoplan MD-160 Lun class. A special type of aircraft known asground effect vehicle- built to have the capacity of a large ship but the speed of an airplane. Essentially a faster and more efficient method of transporting cargo, it can theoretically cruise over water at high speeds thanks to the power of eight forward jet engines.
This type of design also allows aircraft of this design to fly below enemy radar while staying far enough above the water's surface to avoid sea mines that would pose problems for normal vessels.It's videoit explains the design much more in depth and shows just how fascinating these planes are.
Bartini Beriev VVA-14
This brilliant plane looks like something out of a sci-fi movie, but it's actually an amphibious vertical takeoff aircraft built for the Soviet Union in the 1970s. The Bartini Beriev VVA-14 had an Italian designer and was built to counter the threat Perceived from the US Polaris missile submarines, it was built to take off from water and fly at high altitudes or above the sea surface (similar to the Lun-class Ekranoplan MD-160).
This plane had only three crew members and could fly up to 472 miles per hour at a maximum range of 1,522 miles.
Convair XFY Pogo
This brilliantly whimsical and unusual aircraft was an experiment in vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) designs. Manufactured specifically for use by the US Navy in the 1960s, it was designed to take off (and land) on small warships. The intention was to allow launches of high-performance fighters without the need for a carrier nearby. The Convair XFY Pogo could be the first line of defense and provide air cover when it goes into action.
Unfortunately, the lifespan of the Convair XFY Pogo was short, as various tests showed that the design had several flaws that made it unsuitable for use. It was difficult to land, difficult to fly, and considerably slower than jet fighters of the time. Therefore, only one version was built and it never entered service. However, it is a fantastic looking plane and thoroughly interesting.
Harrier-Sprungjet
While testing with the Convair XFY Pogo may not have gone well, that same decade saw the Harrier Jump Jet take off for the first time. This jet aircraft was designed with vertical/short takeoff and landing capabilities and was the only successful design of the time to do so. It is designed to be launched from all sorts of locations, including makeshift bases, small forest clearings, and aircraft carriers.
The Harrier would be used by both the UK and US navies and, due to its success, would be in production from 1967 until 2003. The fastest variant of the Harrier, the Sea Harrier FA2, would also be capable of a 735 mph top speed making it a force to be reckoned with.
Grumman X-29
The Grumman X-29 was an experimental aircraft developed in the 1980s. It was used by both the US Air Force and NASA. This aircraft featured a swept-forward wing design, demonstrating that the underlying lift characteristics of the wings would not be adversely affected by such a wing design.
In 1985, this aircraft earned the title of first forward swept-wing aircraft to fly at supersonic speed (Mach 1) in level flight. However, the design of this aircraft made it inherently unstable and it took some clever computer technology to compensate for the instability. These computers made 40 corrections per second to keep the plane flying correctly. The two airworthy versions of this aircraft made a total of 437 flights during its lifetime before being retired in 1992.
White Knight Two Scaled Composites
This awesome vehicle is essentially a cargo plane. The Scaled Composites White Knight Two is an aircraft designed to lift and carrySpaceshipTwo spaceshipsat a suitable initial height. It's also built with a "multi-purpose" design, meaning it can be used for zero-gravity training, science flights, and carrying other payloads as well.
Scaled Composites' White Knight Two was even considered as a wildfire fighting option, using a large, centrally mounted water tank to repeatedly navigate over fire zones. Without a doubt an impressive design and that can reach 70,000 feet on its upper roof.
sun pulse
This gigantic plane is a solar-powered long-haul plane designed by Swiss and first took off in 2009. This plane was privately funded to design and reportedly cost around $170 million.
sun pulseIt is a single-seat monoplane capable of taking off under its own power. The original design was built to stay in flight for up to 36 hours. In 2015, the second variant of this aircraft, aptly named Solar Impulse 2, broke the record forlongest solo flight. She managed to stay airborne for more than 117 hours and 52 minutes without landing or refueling. During that time, the plane traveled 4,481 miles with a top speed of just 87 mph.
Aero Spacelines Super Guppy
The Super Guppy was a version of the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser that had its fuselage modified (lengthened, widened, and inflated) to accommodate large and unusual payloads.
It was further enhanced with upgraded turboprop engines and built to carry 54,000 pounds (24,000 kg) while cruising at speeds of 300 mph (480 km/h). NASA used to use these strange looking planes to transport parts and spacecraft for the Apollo missions.
Campana Boeing V-22 Osprey
The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey is known as the first successful tilt-rotor aircraft. Thanks to its unconventional design, it had both vertical takeoff and landing and short takeoff and landing capabilities.
Design of this aircraft began in the 1980s, but the Osprey did not enter active service until 2007. Despite teething problems, this tilt-rotor aircraft proved to be an incredible success and is capable of impressive flight performance.
Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor
Many have called the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor the world's most capable fighter. The F-22 Raptor is certainly a formidable force, with a stealthy design that makes it the radar equivalent of a "steel marble" and impressive weaponry, too. This is a single-seat, all-weather tactical stealth fighter built to support US air superiority. However, it is also versatile, with the ability to attack in ground attack mode, conduct electronic warfare, and also signal reconnaissance tasks.
Only 195 F-22 Raptors were built between 1996 and 2011, but the program is estimated to have cost nearly $70 million. Since then, the Raptor has been superseded bydie f-35 lightning, but it is still a marvel of aeronautical design.
Das Flying-V
While the Flying-V is technically still in its early stages of development and not yet a real aircraft, it could well represent a major future aircraft design that could transform the way we fly. This is a new design currently funded by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.
The design aims to create a more fuel-efficient aircraft that uses "20 percent less fuel than the Airbus A350-900" and can still carry roughly the same number of passengers.
Highlights of this aircraft include a revolutionary design that integrates the passenger cabin, fuel tanks, and cargo hold into the wings. Therefore, a more aerodynamic design is possible and also a reduction in weight, which should make the Flying-V a cleaner touring shaper. We think it looks fantastic.
Airbus zero emission concepts
Another addition to our list that is technically not a flyable aircraft at the moment. this is one ofvarious concept designsby Airbus, which the company hopes can become a reality by 2035.
The goal here is to create "the world's first zero-emission commercial aircraft" with a combination of aerodynamic configurations and hydrogen as the primary fuel to eliminate emissions and include the result of the world's first zero-emission commercial aircraft. Without a doubt a wonderful goal.
opening
If this sounds familiar, that's because you're looking at the first civilian supersonic aircraft since Concorde. The Overture is the work of Boom Supersonic, a US-based startup that plans to have its Supersonic plane in the skies by 2029.
The company claims that this plane will be able to fly at twice the speed of sound and could complete a flight from San Francisco to Tokyo in six hours. It seats 80 passengers and should be one hell of a ride.
X-15
The X-15 was an experimental aircraft used by NASA and the USAF in the 1960s. It was envisioned as a hypersonic rocket-powered aircraft capable of reaching the edge of space while collecting data.
In 1967, the X-15 reached an impressive top speed of 4,520 miles per hour. This set a new world record for the highest speed ever measured by a manned aircraft.
This plane is significant as it was also the world's first operational space plane. Space planes are aircraft that can fly like a plane in our atmosphere and maneuver like a spacecraft in space.
VSS unit
VSS Unity is another important aircraft due to its intended use and record-breaking capabilities.
This is a crewed, rocket-powered, suborbital spaceplane owned and operated by Virgin Galactic. On July 11, 2021, it set a new record as the first private commercial flight into space with Sir Richard Branson on board. It reached an altitude of 86,189 m (282,773 ft), which is above the US limit for outer space (50 miles) but below the official Kármán line, which is the FAI definition of outer space at 100 km above the Earth's surface.
Boeing X-37B
The Boeing X-37B is a space plane with a difference: it's unmanned.
This vehicle takes off vertically but can then return to the ground like an airplane and land on a runway.
The X-37B looks like a small version of the space shuttle and is meant to test technologies for future space travel. Although much of his mission is kept secret.
This space plane is also interesting for its ability to undertake serious space travel, spending a record 717 days in space during a single mission.
goodyear plane
As you can tell from the name, the Goodyear Inflatoplane is just that, a Goodyear inflatable plane.
It was not thought to be possible, but the company produced 12 prototype inflatable aircraft that would be used by the US Army.
Incredibly, the plane took just 12 weeks to build and was cleverly designed, with air continuously circulating around the envelope to keep it inflated. Tests also showed that you could fire six rounds with small caliber ammunition and still hold pressure.
Capable of flying at a top speed of 72 miles per hour, the Inflatoplane could also fly for up to 6 hours at a top altitude of 10,000 feet. Despite this, the aircraft did not prove popular and the project was shelved 16 years after it began.
X-59 QueSST
This is the X-59 QueSST. Designed by Lockheed Martin in collaboration with NASA. It was designed to allow quiet supersonic travel to counter the ban on commercial supersonic travel over land.
The plan is to be able to travel at 925 mph while making no more than 75 PLdB noise (the same as a car door closing). Ultimately, this is expected to allow governments to lift the ban on supersonics, thus cutting travel times in half.
Proper test flights probably won't happen until 2024, but in the meantime, NASA has some nifty time-lapse views.X-59 under construction.
innovations
In 2021, Rolls-Royce introduced the Spirit of Innovation, an all-electric aircraft that it claimed is the fastest in the world. At the time it was a record, reaching a top speed of 387 mph. It was also capable of climbing to 3,000 m (9,842.52 ft) in 202 seconds.
The 400 kW electric motor powering the plane is said to be equivalent to a 535-hp supercar. While the powered plane appears to have enough battery to charge 7,500 phones.
we have seen a lotelectric carsin recent years, but an electric plane is something else.