Supersonic aircraft
Videos
A supersonic aircraft is an aircraft capable of supersonic flight, that is, flying faster than the speed of sound. Supersonic aircraft were developed in the second half of the twentieth century. Super
The interaction of shock waves from two supersonic aircraft, photographed for the first time by NASA using the Schlieren method in 2019.
Bell X-1
A Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird supersonic reconnaissance aircraft
The fuselage of Concorde had an extremely high fineness ratio.
Supercruise
Videos
Supercruise is sustained supersonic flight of a supersonic aircraft without using afterburner. Many supersonic military aircraft are not capable of supercruise and can maintain Mach 1+ flight only in
The English Electric Lightning was one of the first aircraft to exceed the speed of sound in level flight without using afterburning.
The IAI Super Phantom 2000 is one of the first examples of supercruise capable aircraft.
The F-22 Raptor is capable of supercruise above Mach 1.5 (but is seen here with afterburners).