Fastest aircraft, jet-powered

The USAF Lockheed SR-71 'Blackbird', a reconnaissance aircraft, is the world's fastest non-experimental jet aeroplane, with a top speed in excess of 3,500 km/h (2,100 mph), also known as Mach 3.3. The aircraft was first flown in its definitive form on 22 December 1964, it is reportedly capable of attaining an altitude of close to 30,000 m (100,000 ft). It has a wing span of 16.94 m (55 ft 7 in) and a length of 32.73 m (107 ft 5 in) and weighs 77.1 tonnes (170,000 lb) at take-off. Its reported range at Mach 3 is 4,800 km (3,000 miles) at 24,000 m (79,000 ft).

The Blackbird was decommissioned by the USAF in 1990, but a few re-entered service for NASA in 1995 for research purposes. However, due to the high cost of maintenance and flight, the future of these aircraft is uncertain.