View source for Flight airspeed record

{{Short description|Highest speed obtained from an air vehicle}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}

[[File:Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.jpg|thumb|The [[Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird]] is the current record-holder for a crewed [[airbreathing jet engine|airbreathing jet]] aircraft.]]
An '''air speed record''' is the highest [[airspeed]] attained by an [[aircraft]] of a particular class. The rules for all official aviation records are defined by [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]] (FAI),<ref name="FAI">{{cite web|url=http://www.fai.org/|title=FAI portal|access-date=24 April 2015}}</ref> which also ratifies any claims. Speed records are divided into a number of classes with sub-divisions. There are three classes of aircraft: landplanes, [[seaplane]]s, and [[amphibious aircraft|amphibians]], and within these classes there are records for aircraft in a number of weight categories. There are still further subdivisions for [[Reciprocating engine|piston-engined]], [[turbojet]], [[turboprop]], and [[Rocket engine|rocket-engined]] aircraft. Within each of these groups, records are defined for speed over a straight course and for closed circuits of various sizes carrying various payloads.

==Timeline==
[[File:Flight airspeed records over time.svg|thumb|center|upright=2.5|Flight speed records over time, taken from the table below.]]
<span style="color:gray">Gray text</span> indicates unofficial records, including unconfirmed or unpublicized war secrets.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! width="12%" rowspan="2" | Date
! width="12%" rowspan="2" | Pilot
! colspan="3" | Airspeed
! width="15%" rowspan="2" | Location
! width="25%" rowspan="2" | Notes
|-
! width="5%" | mph
! width="5%" | km/h
! width="15%" | Aircraft
|-
| 17 December 1903 || rowspan="2" | {{flagicon|United States}} [[Wilbur Wright]] || 6.82 || 10.98 || ''[[Wright Flyer]]'' || [[Kitty Hawk, North Carolina|Kitty Hawk]], North Carolina, US || This figure is groundspeed, not airspeed. The Wrights' first flight covered just over 120&nbsp;ft (37 m) and about 12 seconds into a gusty wind. The Wrights estimated airspeed at 31&nbsp;mph (50&nbsp;km/h).
|-
| 5 October 1904 || 37.85 || 60.23 || [[Wright Flyer III]] ||[[Huffman Prairie]], Ohio, US ||
|-
|12 November 1906 || {{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Alberto Santos-Dumont]] || 25.65 || 41.292 || [[Santos-Dumont 14-bis|Santos-Dumont ''14-bis'']] ||Bagatelle Castle, Paris, France ||First officially recognized airspeed record.<ref name="Cooper p619">Cooper ''Flight'' 25 May 1951, p. 619.</ref><ref name="Munson">{{cite book|last1=Munson|first1=Kenneth|title=Jane's Pocket Book of Record-breaking Aircraft|date=1978|publisher=Macmillan|location=New York, New York, US|isbn=0-02-080630-2|edition=First Collier Books Edition 1981|ref=Munson}}</ref>{{rp|7}}
|-
| 26 October 1907 || {{flagicon|France}} [[Henri Farman]] || 32.73 || 52.700 || [[Voisin (aircraft)|Voisin-Farman I]] || [[Issy-les-Moulineaux]], France || <ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="Munson" />{{rp|9}}
|-
| 25 May 1909 || {{flagicon|France}} [[Paul Tissandier]] || 34.04 || 54.810 || Wright Model A || [[Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques|Pau]], France || <ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="Munson" />{{rp|11}}
|-
| 23 August 1909 || {{flagicon|United States}} [[Glenn Curtiss]] || 44.367 || 69.821 || [[Curtiss No. 2]] || rowspan="3" | [[Reims]], France || 1909 [[Gordon Bennett Trophy (aeroplanes)|Gordon Bennett Cup]].<ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="Curtiss">Bowers 1979</ref>{{rp|37–38}}
|-
| 24 August 1909 || rowspan="2" | {{flagicon|France}} [[Louis Blériot]] || 46.160 || 74.318 || rowspan="2" | [[Blériot XI]] || <ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="Munson" />{{rp|13}}
|-
| 28 August 1909 || 47.823 || 76.995 || <ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="Munson" />{{rp|13}}
|-
| 23 April 1910 || {{flagicon|France}} [[Hubert Latham]] || 48.186 || 77.579 || [[Antoinette VII]] || Nice, France || <ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="Munson" />{{rp|18}}
|-
| 10 July 1910 || {{flagicon|France}} [[Léon Morane]] || 66.154 || 106.508 || Blériot || Reims, France || <ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="Munson"/>{{rp|13}}
|-
| 29 October 1910 || rowspan="2" | {{flagicon|France}} [[Alfred Leblanc]] || 68.171 || 109.756 || Blériot XI || New York, New York, US ||<ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="Munson" />{{rp|13}}
|-
| 12 April 1911 || 69.442 || 111.801 || Blériot || Pau, France ||<ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="Munson" />{{rp|14}}
|-
| 11 May 1911 || {{flagicon|France}} [[Édouard Nieuport]] || 73.385 || 119.760 || [[Nieuport IIN]] || [[Chalon, Isère|Châlons]], France ||<ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="Munson" />{{rp|25}}
|-
| 12 June 1911 || {{flagicon|France}} Alfred Leblanc || 77.640 || 125.000 || Blériot || ||<ref name="Cooper p619"/>
|-
| 16 June 1911 || rowspan="2" | {{flagicon|France}} Édouard Nieuport || 80.781 || 130.057|| rowspan="2" | Nieuport IIN || rowspan="2" | Châlons, France ||<ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="Munson" />{{rp|25}}
|-
| 21 June 1911 || 82.693 || 133.136 || <ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="Munson" />{{rp|25}}
|-
| 13 January 1912 || rowspan="7" | {{flagicon|France}} [[Jules Védrines]] || 87.68 || 145.161 || rowspan="10" |[[Deperdussin Monocoque]] || rowspan="5" | Pau, France ||<ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="Munson" />{{rp|27}}
|-
| 22 February 1912 || 100.18 || 161.290 ||<ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="Munson" />{{rp|27}}
|-
|29 February 1912 || 100.90 || 162.454 ||<ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="Munson" />{{rp|27}}
|-
|1 March 1912 || 103.62 || 166.821 || <ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="Munson" />{{rp|27}}
|-
|2 March 1912 || 104.29 || 167.910 || <ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="Munson" />{{rp|27}}
|-
|13 July 1912 || 106.07 || 170.777|| Reims, France || <ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="Munson" />{{rp|27}}
|-
|9 September 1912 || 108.14 || 174.100 || Chicago, Illinois, US || <ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="Munson" />{{rp|27}}
|-
| 17 June 1913 || rowspan="3" | {{flagicon|France}} [[Maurice Prévost]] || 111.69 || 179.820 || rowspan="3" | Reims, France ||<ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="Munson" />{{rp|31}}
|-
| 27 September 1913 || 119.19 || 191.897 ||<ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="Munson" />{{rp|31}}
|-
| 29 September 1913 || 126.61 || 203.850 ||<ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="Munson" />{{rp|31}}
|-
| style="color:gray" | 1914 || style="color:gray" | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Norman Spratt]] || style="color:gray" | 134.5 || style="color:gray" | 216.5 || style="color:gray" | [[Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.4]] || || style="color:gray" | Unofficial
|-
| style="color:gray" | August 1918 || style="color:gray" | {{flagicon|United States}} [[Roland Rohlfs]] || style="color:gray" | 163 || style="color:gray" | 262.3 || style="color:gray" | [[Curtiss Wasp]] || style="color:gray" | || style="color:gray" |Not officially recognised.<ref name="Curtiss" />{{rp|140}}
|-
| style="color:gray" | 1919 || style="color:gray" | {{flagicon|France}} [[Joseph Sadi-Lecointe]] || style="color:gray" | 191.1 || style="color:gray" | 307.5 || style="color:gray" | [[Nieuport-Delage NiD 29]]V || style="color:gray" | || style="color:gray" |Not officially recognised.
|-
| 7 February 1920 || {{flagicon|France}} Joseph Sadi-Lecointe || 171.0 || 275.264 || [[Nieuport-Delage NiD 29|Nieuport-Delage NiD 29V]]|| rowspan="2" |[[Vélizy – Villacoublay Air Base|Villacoublay]], France. ||<ref name="Fight 20 p1274">[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1920/1920%20-%201272.html?tracked=1 The Royal Aero Club of the U.K.: Official Notices to Members]". ''[[Flight International|Flight]]'', No. 625 Volume XII 16 December 1920. p. 1274.</ref> First official record post World War 1.<ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="Munson" />{{rp|33}}
|-
| 28 February 1920 || {{flagicon|France}} [[Jean Casale]] || 176.1 || 283.464 || rowspan="2" | [[SPAD S.XX|SPAD S.20bis]] ||<ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="Munson" />{{rp|37}}<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1920/1920%20-%200256.html?tracked=1 "Speed Records in France"]. ''Flight'', 4 March 1920.</ref>
|-
|9 October 1920 || {{flagicon|France}} [[Bernard Barny de Romanet|Bernard de Romanet]] || 181.8 || 292.682 || rowspan="2" | [[Buc, Yvelines|Buc]], France ||<ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="Munson" />{{rp|37}}<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1920/1920%20-%201088.html?tracked=1 "Meeting at Buc"]. ''Flight'', 14 October 1920, pp. 1090–1091.</ref>
|-
|10 October 1920 || rowspan="2" | {{flagicon|France}} Joseph Sadi-Lecointe || 184.3 || 296.694 || rowspan="2" | [[Nieuport-Delage NiD 29|Nieuport-Delage NiD 29V]]||<ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="Munson" />{{rp|33}}
|-
|20 October 1920 || 187.9 || 302.529 || Villacoublay, France ||<ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="Munson" />{{rp|33}}
|-
|4 November 1920 || {{flagicon|France}} Bernard de Romanet || 191.9 || 309.012|| [[SPAD S.XX]] || Buc, France ||<ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1920/1920%20-%201164.html?tracked=1 "De Romanet Breaks Records"]. ''Flight'', 11 November 1920, p. 1166.</ref>
|-
| 12 December 1920 || rowspan="2" | {{flagicon|France}} Joseph Sadi-Lecointe || 194.4 || 313.043 || [[Nieuport-Delage NiD 29|Nieuport-Delage NiD 29V]]|| Villacoublay, France ||<ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="Munson" />{{rp|33}}
|-
| 26 September 1921 || 205.2 || 330.275 || [[Nieuport-Delage Sesquiplan]] || Ville Sauvage, France ||<ref name="Munson" />{{rp|39}}<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1921/1921%20-%200710.html "Some Records Homologated"]. ''Flight'', 3 November 1921, p. 710.</ref>
|-
| 13 October 1922 || rowspan="2" | {{flagicon|United States}} [[Billy Mitchell]] || 222.88 || 358.836 || Curtiss R || Detroit, Michigan, US ||<ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref name="eighteen p75">''Flight'' 7 February 1924, p. 75.</ref>
|-
| 18 October 1922 || 224.28 || 360.93 || [[Curtiss R-6]] || Selfridge Field, Detroit, Michigan, US ||<ref name="Munson" />{{rp|41}}<ref name="Curtiss" />{{rp|232–3}}<ref>"[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1923/1923%20-%200026.html American World's Speed Record Homologated]". ''Flight'', 11 January 1923, p. 26.</ref>
|-
| 15 February 1923 || {{flagicon|France}} Joseph Sadi-Lecointe || 232.91 || 375.00 || [[Nieuport-Delage NiD 42]]S||Istres, France ||<ref name="eighteen p75"/>
|-
| 29 March 1923 || {{flagicon|United States}} [[Russell Maughan|1st Lt. Russell L. Maughan]] || 236.587 || 380.74 || Curtiss R-6 || Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio, US ||<ref name="Munson" />{{rp|41}}<ref name="Curtiss" />{{rp|233}}<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1923/1923%20-%200356.html "Records Homologated"]. ''[[Flight International|Flight]]'', 28 June 1923, p. 356.</ref>
|-
| 2 November 1923 || {{flagicon|United States}} Lt. Harold J. Brow || 259.16 || 417.07 || rowspan="2" | [[Curtiss R2C-1]] || rowspan="2" | Mineola, New York, US ||<ref name="Munson" />{{rp|43}}<ref name="Curtiss" />{{rp|235}}
|-
| 4 November 1923 || {{flagicon|United States}} [[Alford J. Williams|Lt. Alford J. Williams]]|| 266.59 || 429.02 ||<ref name="Munson" />{{rp|43}}<ref name="Curtiss" />{{rp|235}}<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1923/1923%20-%200776.html ''Flight'']. 27 December 1923, p.776.</ref>
|-
| 11 November 1924 || {{flagicon|France}} {{Ill|Florentin Bonnet|fr}} || 278.37 || 448.171 || [[Bernard SIMB V.2|Bernard-Ferbois V.2]] || ||<ref name="Cooper p619"/>
|-
| 4 November 1927 || rowspan="2" | {{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}} [[Mario de Bernardi]] || 297.70 || 479.290 || [[Macchi M.52]] seaplane|| rowspan="2" | [[Venice]], Italy || Database ID 11828<ref name=FAI /><ref name="Cooper p619"/>
|-
| 30 March 1928 || 318.620 || 512.776 || [[Macchi M.52bis]] seaplane|| Database ID 11827<ref name=FAI /><ref>Robertson, F.A. de V. "[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1928/1928%20-%201043.html The Attempt on the World's Speed Record]". ''Flight'', 8 November 1928, pp. 965–967.</ref>
|-
| style="color:gray" | August 1929 || style="color:gray" | {{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}} [[Giuseppe Motta (pilot)|Giuseppe Motta]] || style="color:gray" | 362.0 || style="color:gray" | 582.6 || style="color:gray" | [[Macchi M.67]] seaplane || style="color:gray" | || style="color:gray" |Unofficial
|-
| 10 September 1929 || {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[George Stainforth|George H. Stainforth]] || 336.3 || 541.4 || [[Gloster VI]] seaplane|| rowspan="2" | [[Calshot]], UK || Database ID 11829<ref name=FAI /><ref>James 1971, p.188.</ref>
|-
| 12 September 1929 || {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Augustus Orlebar]] || 357.7 || 575.5 || rowspan="2" | [[Supermarine S.6]] seaplane ||Database ID 11830<ref name=FAI /><ref>Andrews and Morgan 1987, p.194.</ref>
|-
| 13 September 1931 || {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} George H. Stainforth || 407.5 || 655.8 || [[Lee-on-the-Solent|Lee-on-the-Solent, UK]] || Database ID 11831<ref name=FAI /><ref>Andrews and Morgan 1987, p. 201.</ref>
|-
| 10 April 1933 || rowspan="2" | {{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}} [[Francesco Agello]] || 423.6 || 682.078 || rowspan="2" | [[Macchi M.C.72]] seaplane || rowspan="2" |[[Desenzano del Garda]], Italy ||Database ID 11836<ref name=FAI /><ref name="Cooper p619"/>
|-
| 23 October 1934 || 440.5 || 709.209 || Database ID 4497, current piston-engined seaplane speed record.<ref name=FAI /><ref name="Cooper p619"/>
|-
| 13 September 1935|| {{flagicon|United States}} [[Howard Hughes]] || 354.4 || 567.12 || [[Hughes H-1 Racer]]|| [[Santa Ana, California|Santa Ana]], California, US|| FAI Database ID 8748<ref>[https://www.fai.org/record/8748] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314115908/http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=8748|date=14 March 2016}} FAI record No.8748</ref>
|-
| 11 November 1937 || {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} Dr. [[Hermann Wurster]]|| 379.63 || 610.95 || [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]] V.13 || [[Augsburg]], Germany || FAI Database ID 8747<ref>[https://www.fai.org/record/8747] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314115920/http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=8747|date=14 March 2016}} FAI Record No.8747</ref>
|-
| 30 March 1939 || {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} [[Hans Dieterle]]|| 466.6 || 746.60 || [[Heinkel He 100]] V8 || [[Oranienburg]], Germany || FAI Database ID 8744<ref>[https://www.fai.org/record/8744] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314111653/http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=8744|date=14 March 2016}} FAI Record No.8744</ref>
|-
| 26 April 1939 || {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} [[Fritz Wendel]] || 469.220 || 755.138 || [[Messerschmitt Me 209]] V1 || Augsburg, Germany ||Piston-engined record [[Darryl Greenamyer|until 1969]]<ref>[https://www.fai.org/record/8743] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314112202/http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=8743|date=14 March 2016}} FAI Record No.8743</ref>
|-
| style="color:gray" | 2 October 1941 || style="color:gray" | {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} [[Heini Dittmar]] || style="color:gray" | 623.65 || style="color:gray" | 1,003.67 || style="color:gray" | [[Messerschmitt Me 163#Me 163A|Messerschmitt Me 163A]] "V4" || style="color:gray" | [[Peenemünde Airfield|Peenemünde-West, Germany]] || style="color:gray" | Rocket powered – [[World War II]] secret, not an Official FAI record but over the {{cvt|3|km}} FAI distance<ref name="Kasmann">Käsmann, Ferdinand C.W., Die schnellsten Jets der Welt, {{ISBN|3-925505-26-1}}, 1994</ref>{{rp|122}}<ref>[http://www.sportflug-noervenich.de/html/heini_dittmar.php Heini Dittmar] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080218141548/http://www.sportflug-noervenich.de/html/heini_dittmar.php |date=18 February 2008 }}</ref><ref>Wolfgang Späte, Der streng geheime Vogel Me 163 p.32,33 {{ISBN|3-89555-142-2}}, 1983</ref>
|-
| style="color:gray" | 1944 || style="color:gray" | {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} [[Heinz Herlitzius]]|| style="color:gray" | 624 || style="color:gray" | 1,004|| style="color:gray" | [[Messerschmitt Me 262]] S2|| style="color:gray" | [[Leipheim|Leipheim, Germany]] ||style="color:gray" | World War II secret, not an Official FAI record. Steep dive.<ref name="Kasmann" />{{rp|122}}
|-
| style="color:gray" | 6 July 1944 || style="color:gray" | {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} Heini Dittmar || style="color:gray" | 702 || style="color:gray" | 1,130 || style="color:gray" | [[Messerschmitt Me 163#Later versions|Messerschmitt Me 163B]] "V18" || style="color:gray" | [[Lechfeld Air Base|Lagerlechfeld, Germany]] || style="color:gray" | Rocket powered – World War II secret, not an Official FAI record.  Dive, details unknown.<ref name="Kasmann" />{{rp|122}}
|-
| 7 November 1945 || {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Hugh Wilson (RAF officer)|H. J. Wilson]] || 606.4 || 975.9 || [[Gloster Meteor|Gloster Meteor F Mk.4]]|| [[Herne Bay, Kent|Herne Bay]], UK ||EE454 ''Britannia'', first official record post World War II.<ref name="Munson" />{{rp|107}}<ref name="Mason fighter p340">Mason 1992, p. 340.</ref>
|-
| 7 September 1946 || {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Edward Mortlock Donaldson]] || 615.78 || 990.79 || [[Gloster Meteor|Gloster Meteor F Mk.4]]|| [[Littlehampton]], UK ||<ref name="Mason fighter p340"/> EE530, a long-span Mk 4.<ref name="Munson" />{{rp|107}}
|-
| 19 June 1947 || {{flagicon|United States}} Col. [[Albert Boyd]] || 623.74 || 1,003.60 || [[P-80 Shooting Star|Lockheed P-80R Shooting Star]] || rowspan="3" | [[Edwards Air Force Base|Muroc]] (Edwards AFB), California, US|| <ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-080123-063.pdf
| title = Milestones in Aerospace History at Edwards AFB
| access-date = 14 July 2008
| last = Young
| first = James O.
| year = 2007
| publisher = Air Force Flight Test Center History Office
| archive-date = 10 July 2008
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080710125541/http://www.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-080123-063.pdf
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>
|-
| 20 August 1947 || {{flagicon|United States}} Cmdr. Turner Caldwell || 640.663 || 1,031.049 || rowspan="2" | [[Douglas D-558-1 Skystreak]] ||First record flight to exceed secret October 1941 Me 163A V4 figure<ref name="Frnc Doug p438">Francillon 1979, p.438.</ref>
|-
| 25 August 1947 || {{flagicon|United States}} Major [[Marion Eugene Carl]] USMC || 650.796 || 1,047.356 ||<ref name="Frnc Doug p438"/>
|-
| style="color:gray" | 14 October 1947 || style="color:gray" | {{flagicon|United States}} [[Chuck Yeager]] || style="color:gray" | 670.0 || style="color:gray" | 1,078 || style="color:gray" | [[Bell X-1]] ([[List of X-1 flights#XS-1 flights|flight #50]]) || style="color:gray" | Muroc, California, US || style="color:gray" | Rocket powered – [[Cold War]] secret, not an official FAI C-1 record
|-
| style="color:gray" | 6 November 1947 || style="color:gray" | {{flagicon|United States}} Chuck Yeager || style="color:gray" | 891.0 || style="color:gray" | 1,434 || style="color:gray" | Bell X-1 ([[List of X-1 flights#XS-1 flights|flight #58]]) || style="color:gray" | Muroc, California, US || style="color:gray" | Rocket powered – Cold War secret, not an official FAI C-1 record, first to exceed secret July 1944 Me 163B V18 record
|-
| 15 September 1948 || {{flagicon|United States}} Maj. [[Richard L. Johnson]], USAF || 670.84 || 1,079.6 || [[F-86 Sabre|North American F-86A-3 Sabre]] || [[Cleveland, Ohio|Cleveland]], Ohio, US ||<ref name="Cooper p619"/><ref>{{cite book|author=Jackson, Robert|title=F-86 Sabre: The Operational Record|publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press|year=1994}}</ref>
|-
| 18 November 1952 || {{flagicon|United States}} [[J. Slade Nash]]|| 698.505 || 1,124.13 || [[F-86D Sabre|North American F-86D Sabre]] || [[Salton Sea]], California, US ||<ref name="Allward p24">Allward 1978, p. 24.</ref>
|-
| 16 July 1953 || {{flagicon|United States}} William Barnes || 715.745 || 1,151.88 || [[North American F-86D Sabre]]|| Salton Sea, California, US ||<ref name="Allward p24-5">Allward 1978, pp. 24–25.</ref>
|-
| 7 September 1953 || {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Neville Duke]] || 727.6 || 1,171 || [[Hawker Hunter|Hawker Hunter Mk.3]] || Littlehampton, UK ||<ref name="Mason fighter p370">Mason 1992, p. 370.</ref>
|-
| 26 September 1953 || {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Mike Lithgow]] || 735.7 || 1,184 || [[Supermarine Swift|Supermarine Swift F4]] || Castel Idris, [[Tripoli, Libya]] ||<ref name="Mason fighter p366">Mason 1992, p. 366.</ref>
|-
| 3 October 1953 || {{flagicon|United States}} [[James B. Verdin]], US Navy || 752.9 || 1,211.5 || [[F4D Skyray|Douglas F4D Skyray]]|| Salton Sea, California, US ||<ref name="Frnc Doug p476">Francillon 1979, p.476.</ref>
|-
| 29 October 1953 || {{flagicon|United States}} [[Frank K. Everest]] USAF || 755.1 || 1,215.3 || [[North American F-100 Super Sabre]]|| Salton Sea, California, US ||
|-
| 20 August 1955 || {{flagicon|United States}} [[Horace A. Hanes]]|| 822.1 || 1,323 || [[North American F-100 Super Sabre|North American F-100C Super Sabre]]|| [[Palmdale, California|Palmdale]], California, US ||
|-
| 10 March 1956 || {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Peter Twiss]] || 1,132 || 1,822 || [[Fairey Delta 2]] || [[Chichester]], UK ||<ref name="Taylor Fairey p432">Taylor 1974, p. 432.</ref>
|-
|12 December 1957 || {{flagicon|United States}} [[USAF]] || 1,207.6 || 1,943.5 || [[F-101 Voodoo#Variants|McDonnell F-101A Voodoo]] || rowspan="2" | Muroc, California, US ||<ref name="Frnc Doug p544">Francillon 1979, p. 544.</ref>
|-
|16 May 1958 || {{flagicon|United States}} Capt. Walt Wayne Irwin, USF || 1,404.012 || 2,259.538 ||[[F-104 Starfighter#Variants|Lockheed YF-104A Starfighter]] ||<ref name="Munson" />{{rp|147}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fai.org/record/9063|title=FAI Record No.9063|date=10 October 2017 }}</ref>
|-
| 5 October 1959 || {{flagicon|France}} Maj. [[André Turcat]] || 1,441.6 || 2,320 || [[Nord 1500 Griffon]] || France ||<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gaillard|first1=Pierre|title=Les oubliés du Salon de l'Aeronautique (5): les experimentaux |journal=Le Fana de l'Aviation |date=August 1985 |issue=189 |pages=35–37 |issn=0757-4169 |language=fr|trans-title=The Forgotten Ones of the Paris Air Show, Part 5: The Experimental Ones}}</ref>
|-
| 31 October 1959 || {{flagicon|USSR}} Col. [[Georgi Mosolov]] || 1,484 || 2,388 || [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21|Mikoyan-Gurevich Ye-6/3 or Ye-66]] || USSR ||<ref name="MiG p298,0">Belyakov and Marmain 1994, pp. 298, 300.</ref>
|-
| 15 December 1959 || {{flagicon|United States}} Maj. Joseph Rogers, USAF || 1,525.9 || 2,455.7 || [[Convair F-106 Delta Dart]] || Muroc, California, US ||The record should have gone to civilian (former military) pilot [[Charles E. Myers|Charles Myers]], who flew a Delta Dart at {{convert|1544|mph|disp=flip}} in 1959, but Cold War pressures dictated that the award go to an active-military pilot.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Taylor|first1=Michael|title=Obituary Colonel Joseph 'Joe' W. Rogers, USF (Ret) Record-breaking Famed Aviator Dies at Age 81|url=http://www.f-106deltadart.com/speedrecord_joe_rogers.htm| publisher= F-106 Delta Dart – The Ultimate Interceptor| access-date=28 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| last1=Grazier| first1=Dan| title=POGO Remembers Chuck Myers, "Fighter Mafia" Veteran| url=http://www.pogo.org/straus/issues/military-people-and-ideas/2016/pogo-remembers-chuck-myers.html| website=www.POGO.org |access-date=28 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite book| last1=Samuel| first1=Wolfgang| title=In Defense of Freedom: Stories of Courage and Sacrifice of World War II Army Air Forces Flyers|date=2015|publisher=University Press of Mississippi|isbn=978-1-62846-217-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-YzdBwAAQBAJ}}</ref>
|-
| 22 November 1961 || {{flagicon|United States}} Robert B. Robinson, US Navy || 1,606.3 || 2,585.1 || [[F-4 Phantom II|McDonnell-Douglas F4H-1F Phantom II]] || Muroc, California, US ||<ref name="Munson" />{{rp|165}}<ref name="Frnc Doug p572">Francillon 1979, p. 572.</ref>
|-
| 7 July 1962 || {{flagicon|USSR}} Col. Georgi Mosolov || 1,665.9 || 2,681 || [[Mikoyan-Gurevich Ye-166|Mikoyan Gurevich Ye-166]]|| USSR ||<ref name="Janes 65 p346">Taylor 1965, p. 346.</ref><ref name="MiG p274-5">Belyakov and Marmain 1994, pp. 274–275.</ref> Name adopted for record attempt, a version of a [[Ye-152]]  a.k.a. E-166.<ref name="Munson" />{{rp|179}}
|-
| 1 May 1965 || {{flagicon|United States}} [[Robert L. Stephens]]<br/>and Daniel Andre || 2,070.1 || 3,331.5 || [[Lockheed YF-12|Lockheed YF-12A]] || Muroc, California, US ||<ref name="Janes 76 p72">Taylor 1976, p. 72.</ref>
|-
| 28 July 1976 || {{flagicon|United States}} Capt. [[Eldon W. Joersz]] (P) and<br/> Maj. George T. Morgan Jr. (RSO) || 2,193.2 || 3,529.6 || [[Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird]] #61-7958|| [[Beale AFB]], US ||<ref name="Janes 88 p[51]">Taylor 1988, p. [51].</ref>
|}

==Official records versus unofficial==
The [[Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird]] holds the official Air Speed Record for a crewed [[airbreathing jet engine]] aircraft with a speed of {{cvt|3530|km/h|mph}}. The record was set on 28 July 1976 by [[Eldon W. Joersz]] and George T. Morgan Jr. near Beale Air Force Base, [[California]], [[United States|USA]]. It was able to take off and land unassisted on conventional runways.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://records.fai.org/general_aviation/current.asp?id1=21&id2=4|title=Current air speed record|access-date=18 October 2006|url-status= dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927002329/http://records.fai.org/general_aviation/current.asp?id1=21&id2=4|archive-date=27 September 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref> SR-71 pilot [[Brian Shul]] claimed in ''The Untouchables'' that he flew in excess of [[Mach number|Mach]] 3.5 on 15 April 1986, over [[Libya]], in order to avoid a [[missile]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Shul|first=Brian|title=The Untouchables|year=1994|publisher=Mach One|isbn=0929823125|page=173}}</ref>

Although the official record for fastest piston-engined aeroplane in level flight was held by a [[Grumman F8F Bearcat]], the ''Rare Bear'', with a speed of {{cvt|528.31|mph|disp=flip}}, the unofficial record for fastest piston-engined aeroplane in level flight is held by a British [[Hawker Sea Fury]] at {{cvt|547|mph|disp=flip}}. Both were demilitarised and modified fighters, while the fastest stock (original, factory-built) piston-engined aeroplane was unofficially the [[Supermarine Spiteful]] F Mk 16, which "achieved a speed of 494m.p.h. at 28,500ft during official tests at Boscombe Down" in level flight.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-03-06 |title=seafire {{!}} spitfire {{!}} 1953 {{!}} 1321 {{!}} Flight Archive |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1953/1953%20-%201321.html |access-date=2023-04-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306205558/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1953/1953%20-%201321.html |archive-date=6 March 2016 }}</ref> The unofficial record for fastest piston-engined aeroplane (not in level flight) is held by a [[Supermarine Spitfire]] Mk.XIX flown by Flight Lieutenant [[Edward Powles|Edward "Ted" Powles]], which was calculated to have achieved a speed of {{cvt|690|mph|disp=flip}} in a dive on 5 February 1952.

The last new speed record ratified before the outbreak of [[World War II]] was set on 26 April 1939 with a [[Messerschmitt Me 209|Me 209]] V1, at {{cvt|755|km/h}}. The chaos and secrecy of World War II meant that new speed breakthroughs were neither publicized nor ratified. In October 1941, an unofficial speed record of {{cvt|1004|km/h}} was secretly set by a [[Messerschmitt Me 163#Me 163A|Messerschmitt Me 163A]] "V4" rocket aircraft. Continued research during the war extended the secret, unofficial speed record to {{cvt|1130|km/h}} by July 1944, achieved by a [[Messerschmitt Me 163#Later versions|Messerschmitt Me 163B]] "V18". The first new official record in the post-war period was achieved by a [[Gloster Meteor]] F Mk.4 in November 1945, at {{cvt|606|mph|disp=flip}}. The first aircraft to exceed the unofficial October 1941 record of the Me 163A V4 was the [[Douglas D-558-1 Skystreak]], which achieved {{cvt|641|mph|disp=flip}} in August 1947. The July 1944 unofficial record of the Me 163B V18 was officially surpassed in November 1947, when [[Chuck Yeager]] flew the [[Bell X-1]] to {{cvt|891|mph|disp=flip}}.

The official speed record for a [[seaplane]] moved by piston engine is {{cvt|709.209|km/h}}, which attained on 24 October 1934, by [[Francesco Agello]] in the [[Macchi M.C.72|Macchi-Castoldi M.C.72]] seaplane ("idrocorsa") and it remains the current record.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aeronautica.difesa.it/archiviovetrine_news/Pagine/Agelloprimatovelocita.aspx|title=Agello Airspeed record, Air Force portal|access-date=31 August 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304033802/http://www.aeronautica.difesa.it/archiviovetrine_news/Pagine/Agelloprimatovelocita.aspx|archive-date=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> It was equipped with the [[Fiat AS.6]] engine (version 1934) developing a power of {{cvt|3100|hp|kW|order=flip}} at 3,300 rpm, with coaxial counter-rotating propellers. The original record holding Macchi-Castoldi M.C.72 MM.181 seaplane is at the Air Force Museum at [[Vigna di Valle]] in Italy.

==Other air speed records==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! rowspan="2" width=13%| Date
! rowspan="2" | Pilot
! colspan="2" | Airspeed
! rowspan="2" | Aircraft
! rowspan="2" | Comments
|-
!mph
!km/h
|-
| 2 October 1985 || Holger Rochelt || 27.54 || 44.32 || [[Musculair|Musculair 2]] || Fastest human-powered aircraft<ref>{{cite web|title=Human-powered aeroplane speed record over a closed circuit|date=10 October 2017 |url=http://www.fai.org/record/389|publisher=[[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale|FAI]]|access-date=23 June 2020}}</ref>
|-
|22 December 2006 || [[Klaus Ohlmann]] & Matias Garcia Mazzaro || 190.6 ||306.8 || [[Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4|Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4DM]] || Fastest (non-powered) [[glider (sailplane)|glider]] over 500&nbsp;km<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 2006|title=Open Class Gliders: Speed over an out-and-return course of 500 km|url=http://www.fai.org/record/14392}}</ref>
|-
| 11 August 1986 || Trevor Egginton || 249 || 400.87 || [[Westland Lynx]] || Fastest helicopter<ref name="sbac-record">{{cite web |url=http://www.sbac.co.uk/community/cms/content/preview/news_item_view.asp?i=12405&t=0 |title=Lynx – The World's Fastest Helicopter 20 Years On |publisher=[[Society of British Aerospace Companies|SBAC]] |date=11 August 2006 |access-date=30 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819024635/http://www.sbac.co.uk/community/cms/content/preview/news_item_view.asp?i=12405&t=0 |archive-date=19 August 2010 }}</ref><ref name=FAI_Absolute>"[http://www.fai.org/record/11659 Rotorcraft Absolute: Speed over a straight 15/25 km course]". Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). Note search under E-1 Helicopters and "Speed over a straight 15/25 km course". Accessed: 26 April 2014.</ref><ref name="hmfriends">{{cite web|url=http://www.hmfriends.org.uk/glynxbig.htm |title=Westland Lynx AH.Mk1, G-LYNX/ZB500 |publisher= Friends of The Helicopter Museum |access-date=30 April 2009}}</ref>
|-
| 31 December 1988 || L.P. Krantov || 258.8 || 415 || [[Tupolev Tu-134|Tupolev Tu-134A]] || Highest landing speed for a civil aircraft<ref>Л. Л. Селяков. [http://www.svavia.ru/info/lib/sel_chsm13.html "Человек, среда, машина"]. Самолет Ту-134А №65011.</ref>
|-
| 11 June 2013 || Hervé Jammayrac || 293 || 472 || [[Eurocopter X3]] || Fastest propeller [[compound helicopter]]<ref>{{cite magazine |author = Jason Paur |title = X3 Helicopter Sets Speed Record at Nearly 300 MPH |magazine = Wired |url = https://www.wired.com/autopia/2013/06/eurocopter-x3-speed-record/ |access-date= 27 February 2014 }}</ref>
|-
| 15 September 2010 || Kevin Bredenbeck || 299 || 481 || [[Sikorsky X2]] || Fastest compound helicopter, shallow dive (unofficial)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/09/15/347379/sikorsky-x2-hits-250kt-goal.html |title=Sikorsky X2 hits 250kt goal |author= Croft, John |publisher = Flight International |date= 15 September 2010 |access-date=16 September 2010 }}</ref>
|-
| 19 March 1989 || Unknown pilot || 316 || 509 || [[Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey]]<ref>Wall, Robert. [http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/asd/2010/06/24/02.xml&headline=U.S.%20Marines%20See%20MV-22%20Improvements "U.S. Marines See MV-22 Improvements."]{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''Aviation Week'', 24 June 2010.</ref><ref>Norton, Bill. ''Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey, Tiltrotor Tactical Transport'', page 111. Earl Shilton, Leicester, UK: Midland Publishing, 2004. {{ISBN|1-85780-165-2}}.</ref> || [[Tiltrotor]]
|-
| 15 April 1969 || Unknown pilot || 316 || 509 || [[Bell 533]] || Compound jet helicopter<ref>Robb, Raymond L. (2006). ''[http://www.vtol.org/pdf/summer06robb.pdf Hybrid helicopters: Compounding the quest for speed] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927042104/http://www.vtol.org/pdf/summer06robb.pdf |date=27 September 2006 }}'', page 43. Vertiflite, Summer 2006. [[American Helicopter Society]]. Size: 25 pages in 2MB</ref><ref>Spenser, Jay P. "Bell Helicopter". ''Whirlybirds, A History of the U.S. Helicopter Pioneers'', p. 274. University of Washington Press, 1998. {{ISBN|0-295-98058-3}}.</ref>
|-
| 19 November 2021 || Steve Jones || 345.4 || 555.9 || [[Rolls-Royce ACCEL|Rolls-Royce Accel ‘Spirit of Innovation’]] || Fastest electric-only aeroplane<ref>{{Cite news|date=2022-01-21|title=Rolls-Royce all-electric aircraft breaks world records|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-derbyshire-60068786|access-date=2022-01-27}}</ref>
|-
|6 February 2003
|Joseph J. Ritchie, [[Steve Fossett]]
|576.3
|927.4
|[[Piaggio P.180 Avanti]]
|[[Fastest propeller-driven aircraft]] of any type.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-10-10 |title=Joseph J. Ritchie (USA) (7627) {{!}} World Air Sports Federation |url=https://www.fai.org/record/7627 |access-date=2024-01-13 |website=www.fai.org |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| 2 September 2017 || Steve Hinton Jr. || 531.53 || 855.41 || [[North American P-51 Mustang|P-51]] [[Voodoo (aircraft)|"Voodoo"]] || Fastest straight-line piston-engined aircraft in level flight<ref>{{cite news |url= http://aviationweek.com/nbaa-2017/aviation-partners-sets-world-record-without-winglets |title= Aviation Partners Sets World Record – Without Winglets |date= 10 October 2017 |author= John Morris |work= Aviation Week Network}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Measures |first1=Harry |title=Steve Hinton, Jr breaks Absolute Propeller-Driven Piston Powered 3-Km speed record |url=http://vintageaviationecho.com/steve-o-prop-record/ |website=The Vintage Aviation Echo |date=3 September 2017 |access-date=9 August 2018}}</ref>

|-
| 9 April 1960 || Ivan Sukhomlin, Konstantin Sapielkine || 545.07 || 877.21 || [[Tupolev Tu-114]] || Fastest propeller-driven airliner-size aircraft, per [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale|FAI]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-10-10 |title=Ivan Soukhomline (URS) (3664) {{!}} World Air Sports Federation |url=https://www.fai.org/record/3664 |access-date=2024-01-13 |website=www.fai.org |language=en}}</ref>
Both [[Tupolev Tu-116|Tu-116]] and [[Tupolev Tu-142|Tu-142]] claim higher maximum speeds.
|-
| 5 February 1952 || Flight Lieutenant [[Edward Powles]] || 690 || 1,110.447 || [[Supermarine Spitfire]] PR.XIX PS852|| Reached (Mach 0.96) during an emergency dive while carrying out spying flights over China, the highest speed ever recorded for a piston-engined aircraft (though not in level flight).<ref>[http://planesandpilotsofww2.totalh.net/Gustin/spit1946.html?i=1 Spitfire Timeline]</ref>
|-
| 14 October 2012 || [[Felix Baumgartner]] || 844 || 1,358 || None (jumped from a [[Red Bull Stratos|helium balloon gondola]]) || Fastest unpowered descent of a human<ref>"[http://www.fai.org/records/news-of-records/37017-baumgartners-records-ratified-by-fai Baumgartner's Records Ratified by FAI !]" [http://www.fai.org/record/16669 Record] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215231303/http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=16669 |date=15 December 2013 }} ''FAI'', 14 October 2012. Accessed: 18 November 2013.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.redbullstratos.com/science/aeronautical-records/|title = Governing Body 'FAI' Officially Confirms Red Bull Stratos World Records | access-date =3 December 2013}}</ref>
|-

| 7 February 1996 || Captain Leslie Scott || 1,249 || 2,010 || [[Concorde]] || Fastest passenger plane on a regular route<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/60at60/2015/8/1996-fastest-flight-across-the-atlantic-in-a-commercial-aircraft-392882/|title = 1996: Fastest Flight Across the Atlantic in a Commercial Aircraft |date = 18 August 2015 | access-date =1 June 2021}}</ref>
|-

| 3 October 1967 ||[[William Joseph Knight|William 'Pete' Knight]]|| 4,519 || 7,274 || [[North American X-15]] || [[Rocket plane]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flyfighterjet.com/jetflights/fastest-plane-in-the-world.html|title=Fastest Plane in the World|work=FlyFighterJet.com - Fly a Jet, Fighter Jet Rides in Supersonic MiG-29|access-date=24 April 2015}}</ref>
|-
| 16 November 2004 || Uncrewed || 6,755|| 10,870 || [[NASA X-43]]A || Air-launched [[hypersonic]] [[scramjet]]; fastest free-flying air-breathing vehicle<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/fastest-aircraft-air-breathing-engine |title= Fastest aircraft, air-breathing engine: X-43 |date= 16 Nov 2004 |work= Guinness World Records}}</ref> 
|-
|22 April 2010 || Uncrewed || 13,201 ||21,245 || [[HTV-2 Falcon]] || Air-launched hypersonic [[glider (aircraft)|glider]]; fastest uncrewed aerial vehicle<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lockheedmartin.co.uk/us/products/falcon-htv-2.html|title=Falcon HTV-2|access-date=24 April 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504120242/http://www.lockheedmartin.co.uk/us/products/falcon-htv-2.html|archive-date=4 May 2016}}</ref>
|-
| 14 November 1981|| [[Joe H. Engle]] || 17,500 || 28,000 || [[Space Shuttle Columbia]] || Fastest manually controlled flight in atmosphere during [[atmospheric reentry]] of [[STS-2]] mission.
|-
|15 November 1988
|Uncrewed
|18,019
|29,000
|[[Buran (spacecraft)|Buran]]
|The fastest unmanned (but capable of carrying up to 8-10 people) spaceplane ever built {{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}, weighing 100 tons or more.
|}

Flying between any two airports allow a large number of [[Combinatorics|combinations]], so setting a speed record ("speed over a recognised course") is fairly easy with an [[General aviation|ordinary aircraft]], although there are many administrative requirements for recognition.<ref name=fmRecord>{{cite web|url=http://www.flyingmag.com/technique/proficiency/any-pilot-can-set-speed-record |title=Any Pilot Can Set a Speed Record|work=Flying Magazine |date=30 September 2015 |access-date=4 October 2015 }}</ref><ref>"[http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=17439 FAI Record ID #17439 - Albuquerque - Amarillo, C-1b (Landplanes: take off weight 500 to 1000 kg)]{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}" ''FAI'' Record date 8 April 2015. Accessed: 4 October 2015.</ref><ref>[https://naa.aero/applications-downloads/records-downloads Records Downloads], NAA.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Flight altitude record]]
* [[Fastest propeller-driven aircraft]]
* [[List of vehicle speed records]]
* [[Lockheed X-7]] - Mach 4.31 (2,881&nbsp;mph) in the 1950s
* [[Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet]]
* [[World record]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

* Allward, Maurice. ''Modern Combat Aircraft 4: F-86 Sabre''. London: Ian Allan, 1978. {{ISBN|0-7110-0860-4}}.
* Andrews, C.F. and E.B. Morgan. ''Supermarine Aircraft since 1914''. London:Putnam, 1987. {{ISBN|0-85177-800-3}}.
* Belyakov, R.A. and J. Marmain. ''MiG: Fifty Years of Secret Aircraft Design''. Shrewsbury, UK:Airlife, 1994. {{ISBN|1-85310-488-4}}.
* Bowers, Peter M. ''Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947''. London:Putnam, 1979. {{ISBN|0-370-10029-8}}.
* Cooper, H.J. [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1951/1951%20-%200986.html "The World's Speed Record"]. ''[[Flight International|Flight]]'', 25 May 1951, pp.&nbsp;617–619.
* [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1924/1924%20-%200073.html?tracked=1 "Eighteen Years of World's Records"]. ''Flight'', 7 February 1924, pp.&nbsp;73–75.
* Francillon, René J. ''McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920''. London:Putnam, 1979. {{ISBN|0-370-00050-1}}.
* James, Derek N. ''Gloster Aircraft since 1917''. London:Putnam, 1971. {{ISBN|0-370-00084-6}}.
* Mason, Francis K. ''The British Fighter since 1912''. Annapolis Maryland, US: Naval Institute Press, 1992. {{ISBN|1-55750-082-7}}.
* Munson, Kenneth and John William Ransom Taylor ''Jane's Pocket Book of Record-breaking Aircraft''. New York New York, US: Macmillan, 1978. {{ISBN|0-02-080630-2}}.
* Taylor, H. A. ''Fairey Aircraft since 1915''. London:Putnam, 1974. {{ISBN|0-370-00065-X}}.
* [[John W. R. Taylor|Taylor, John W. R.]] ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66''. London:Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1965.
* Taylor, John W. R. ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976–77''. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1976. {{ISBN|0-354-00538-3}}.
* Taylor, John W. R. ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988–89''. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Defence Data, 1988. {{ISBN|0-7106-0867-5}}.
* [[Richard Organ, Ron Page, Don Watson, Les Wilkinson|Organ, Richard]] ''Avro Arrow: The Story of the Avro Arrow From Its Evolution To Its Extinction''. Erin, ON, Canada: Boston Mills Press, 1980. {{ISBN|978-1550460476}}.

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061206205339/http://records.fai.org/general_aviation/ Web site] of the [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]] (FAI)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090303203339/http://speedrecordclub.com/outair.php Speed records time line]
* [http://speedrecordclub.com/ Speed Record Club] - The Speed Record Club seeks to promote an informed and educated enthusiast identity, reporting accurately and impartially to the best of its ability on record-breaking engineering, events, attempts and history.
* [http://www.groundspeedrecords.com Ground Speed Records] - Breakdown of speed records by aircraft type

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