SR-71 Blackbird

Originally designed for spying, SR-71 Blackbird holds the record as the world’s fastest plane. Even though it’s half a century old, no other plane has managed to beat it so far! What makes it super fast is the “engine nacelle”, or more concretely the bypass tubes installed in it. They kick on when the plane passes Mach 2.2, funneling the air to the afterburner.

It allows the Blackbird to run with much higher efficiency, which makes the speed higher and less fuel consuming. All in all the trick is in the mechanism of the air flowing through the plane. Not only can this plane develop a remarkable speed of 2,190 miles, but it can also fly higher than any other plane. The Blackbird’s ceiling is higher than 25,908 meters and it’s the highest altitude it can reach.