Imagine zipping across the sky like lightening, imagine reaching your destination before your sound does, imagine arriving before you have even settled. Today, we take a look at the 10 fastest airplanes in the world, whether military or experimental that will one day, hopefully, revolutionize the way we travel.

1. F-4 Phantom 2 – 2,585 km/h, Country USA, First flight 1958, Type/Role Interceptor fighter, Fighter-bomber

This tandem two-seat, twin-engined supersonic aircraft developed by Mcdonnell Aircraft set the absolute world speed record of 2,585 km/h during Operation Skyburner. The record was set on the 5th of December 1961. Currently, around 630 F-4 Phantom 2s are in service around the world.

2. F-111 – 2,655 km/h, Country USA, First flight 1964, Type/Role Fighter-bomber

Developed in the 1960s, the F-111 served the purposes of a strategic bomber, reconnaissance and electronic warfare before it was retired in 1998. Currently, Australia is the only country operating F-111.

3. Ye-152A “Flipper” – 2,681 km/h, Country USSR,First flight 1959, Type/Role Interceptor

The Ye-152A was twin-engined interceptor built on the MiG-21. Supposedly, its prototype set the speed record of 2,681 km/h as only one Ye-152A was ever built.

4. MiG-31 – 3,000 km/h, Country USSR, First flight 1975, Type/Role Interceptor

Built to replace the MiG-25, MiG-31 is a supersonic aircraft serving the purposes of an interceptor. Its design is based on MiG-25. Technically, it could reach speeds in excess of Mach 3 but that would result in the destruction of its engines.

5. XB-70 – 3,309 km/h, Country USA, First flight 1964, Type/Role Strategic bomber, Supersonic research

The XB-70 Valkyrie was a prototype on which B-70 bomber was to be built. Only two of the type were built; one was destroyed and the other one is on display in Ohio. XB-70 was able to fly at 21,000 meters with a speed 3 times greater than the speed of sound.

6. Lockheed YF-12a – 3,332 km/h, Country USA, First flight 1963, Type/Role Interceptor

The YF-12a was a prototype for the Lockheed A-12. 3 variants of the aircraft were built conforming to the only 3 units ever built.

7. X-2 – 3,370 km/h, Country USA, First flight 1955, Type/Role Research aircraft

The Bell X-2 Starbuster was built to research the effects of speeds above Mach 2 on the speeding vessel. 2 units were built and both were destroyed during tests. The X-2 faced the problem of “inertia coupling”, the very problem faced by the earlier X-1A, another research aircraft.

8. Lockheed SR-71 – 3,530 km/h, Country USA, First flight 1964, Type/Role Strategic Reconnaissance

The SR-71 Blackbird was developed from the Lockheed A-12 and only 32 of the type were built. In event of a missile launch against the aircraft from ground, the blackbird would simply accelerate to evade. It set an absolute speed record of 3,520 km/h on 28 July, 1976.

9. X-15 – 7,274 km/h, Country USA, First flight 1959, Type/Role Experimental rocket-powered research aircraft

Only 3 X-15s were built which reached the outer edge of space and brought back invaluable scientific data. The second unit, X-15A-2 set a speed record of 7,274 km/h on 28 June, 1964.

10. X-43 – 12,144 km/h, Country USA, First flight 2001, Type/Role Unmanned experimental aircraft

With one X-43 already destroyed, the remaining two set records for the fastest free flying air-breathing aircraft in the world. The X-43 scramjet set a speed record of 12,144 km/h on November 16, 2004 during its third flight. The speed achieved by this jet aircraft, approximately Mach 10, is only second to the space shuttle’s.