Cool planes. The best passenger aircraft in the world: Reliable, comfortable, mass-produced
People have long conquered the air. Now military force States are measured not only by weapons, but also by the supply of fighters. Fast planes civil aviation in a matter of hours they can transport you to the other side of the Earth. Some can even afford to buy such a vehicle and surf the skies. At all times, aviation has attracted the most different people. Some people love to fly, while others love to create ever more advanced machines for this.
It is not surprising that there are all kinds of ratings. After all, various transport ships differ from each other, some even in such a developed age evoke admiration and respect. The best aircraft in the world can be classified according to different parameters. But common denominator still exists here, that is, they are unique in their industry.
For an airplane, the interior is not as important as its speed. After all, you can make any sofas and windows inside; the question of how to lift it all into the air is much more serious. The larger the plane, the more powerful it should be, and therefore the slower it should move. But not always. You can give the following ranking of the fastest aircraft:
- X-43A. Perhaps this is the best plane in the world, if main characteristic- speed. The only downside is that the model is still experimental, although it is supersonic. This unit reaches 11 thousand km per hour.
- X-15. And this is already the best military aircraft in the world, on which rocket engines were first installed. No comments needed – 7 thousand kilometers per hour.
- Black Bird. American military plane. Reaches 3500 km/h, can dodge missiles, and is considered very maneuverable.
- XB-70. In the USA it is also called Valkyrie. This is the real pride of the country, its symbol. Despite the fact that the speed here is lower than that of previous models (3100 km/h), this bomber is maneuverable, comfortable and looks simply gorgeous.
- MIG-25. Soviet aircraft They are not inferior to Western ones, and in speed too. This unit is rightfully considered a masterpiece of engineering. Classification: fighter-interceptor. It reaches a speed of about 3000 km/h.
- The MIG-31 has a slightly slower speed, but has an amazing range. He is also not afraid of difficult weather conditions.
- TU-144. Civil aviation cannot be ignored either. After all, this plane is supersonic, but at the same time it is comfortable and a large number seats. Speed – up to 2500 km/h.
- Concodor. A civil aviation aircraft, which, due to its design (resembles an elongated arrow), develops supersonic speed. Over the entire period, only 6 copies were produced.
Of course, there are still many fast aircraft in civil aviation, but few of them reach supersonic speed.
Beautiful civil aviation aircraft
Among the planes that people fly every day, there are also celebrities. Some of them differ in size, others in characteristics, and others in convenience. The following list can be given:
- "Ruslan". This heavy and spacious aircraft is designed for long-distance flights;
- AN-22 is the world's largest turbine-propeller aircraft;
- The Airbus A340 is the world's longest four-engine aircraft;
- The An-225 is the largest unit in the world; it lifts a mass of 640 tons into the air.
About the last point we can also say that it is inactive, has 4 motors and the largest wingspan in the world.
The coolest planes in the world
The title of cool units is taken by the most expensive, luxurious and comfortable models. At all times, they are used by presidents, stars, and politicians. Such vehicles are prohibitively expensive, sometimes costing millions of dollars. The following list can be given:
- Falcon 900 Ex. This model costs about 35 million, and the President of Ghana flies on it. The advantage of the vehicle is that it is equipped with hidden fuel tanks and can fly over distances of about 8,000 kilometers. Powerful engines, advanced electronics, speed of about 1000 km/h;
- IL-96-300 - aircraft of the President of the Russian Federation. It has four turbo engines, security systems, various radars and electronics. All the best modern equipment engineers tried to install it on board. The special model exists in 1 copy. Although there may be more than 250 people on board, usually only the head of state flies there;
- The Airbus A319 belongs to the President of Brazil. On board is a real mini-palace with luxurious seating and entertainment. At the same time vehicle It uses fuel very economically and emits a minimum of waste into the air;
- Airplane doomsday. This is what they call a special unit (there are 4 of them in the world) for the US President. This is, perhaps, also the most mysterious aircraft in the world, because nothing is known about its characteristics and interior decoration. Now all that is clear is that he can remain intact during a terrorist attack, nuclear explosion or a collision with an asteroid.
Doomsday plane
There are large number aircraft that exceeded the speed limit of Mach 2 (2448 km/h). Some of them are research vehicles, but most- These are combat or reconnaissance vehicles.
Agree, there is something mesmerizing about flying at supersonic speeds, which all the most capable of achieving. fast planes in the world. Just imagine: you are at an altitude of five kilometers, you hear a clear command “forward” in your headphones and squeeze the throttle back all the way. You feel how a powerful engine accelerates you to speeds unthinkable for any other life form on our planet.
But it’s not about you at all - you’re just a passenger. The plane you are flying on is a true work of art; the work and knowledge of hundreds of designers and engineers was invested into it. Now we will tell you about the ten fastest planes in the world.
Su-27 2876.4 km/h
Su-27 can reach speeds of Mach 2.35. This aircraft is the pinnacle of engineering of the former Soviet Union. This aircraft has two engines and a fly-by-wire control system, first used on Soviet combat aircraft. This machine was created to gain air superiority, and to do this it had to confront the new generation of American aircraft, such as the F-15 Eagle. The Su-27 is armed with a 30mm cannon and has 10 hardpoints for air-to-air missiles that can engage the enemy at medium to short ranges. The Su-27 is a really cool machine, despite the fact that it first took to the skies more than 35 years ago, these fighters are still in service. Numerous modifications of the Su-27 have been created. And the most modern of them are a formidable opponent for any aircraft.
General Dynamics F-111 3060 km/h
Number nine on our list of the fastest aircraft in the world is not a fighter, but a tactical bomber that is capable of reaching speeds of Mach 2.5. This beautiful aircraft was already decommissioned in 1998. It had nine external hardpoints and two bomb bays inside the fuselage. All this allowed him to lift into the air and deliver 14,300 kg of conventional or nuclear bombs, carry air-to-air missiles, or it could be equipped with a multi-barreled rapid-fire cannon. F-111 also called Anteater. The F-111 was the first aircraft to go into production with variable-sweep wings, and this gave the aircraft tangible advantages.
McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle 3065 km/h
This is an American all-weather fighter that is considered one of the most successful aircraft and is still in service with the US Air Force. F-15 Eagle refers to fourth generation, has two engines and excellent thrust-to-weight ratio. All this allows an aircraft weighing 18,000 kg to be accelerated to a speed 2.5 times higher than the speed of sound. The F-15 Eagle made its first flight back in 1976, but it is still considered an important part of the US Air Force's weapons and will remain in service until 2025. The Americans delivered 1,200 copies of these aircraft to their closest allies: Japan, Saudi Arabia and Israel. The current plans of the American command are to continue the production of these vehicles until 2019.
Initially, this aircraft was conceived as a means of gaining air superiority, but then the F-15E Strike Eagle modification was released, which can already be classified as a fighter-bomber. This vehicle can carry Sparrow, Sidewinder, and additional air-to-air missiles fuel tanks or aerial bombs. To achieve this, the F-15E Strike Eagle has 11 hardpoints. In addition, this aircraft is armed with a 20 mm rapid-fire cannon M61A1 Vulcan. It is not surprising that this aircraft has more than 100 confirmed victories in air combat.
MiG-31 3463.92 km/h
This aircraft can reach speeds of Mach 2.83. It was equipped with two powerful engines, which allowed the aircraft to reach supersonic speeds both at high and low speeds. low altitudes. On MiG-31 passive and active radar systems were installed, four similar machines could control a front 900 kilometers long. Mig-31 was armed with:
- automatic 23 mm cannon;
- four heavy air-to-air missiles R-33 or six R-37;
- medium- or long-range air-to-air missiles or special missiles for high-speed targets.
Production of this aircraft was stopped in 1994 and it is not known exactly how many aircraft were made. Presumably, this is 400-500 cars.
XB-70 Valkyrie 3672 km/h
XB-70 Valkyrie- This is a unique aircraft and another creation of the Cold War. Its six engines were supposed to accelerate an aircraft weighing 240 tons to a speed of Mach 3. As a result of this speed, the aircraft structure was heated to 330 °C in some places. The plane needed such a high speed in order to evade Soviet interceptors and, most importantly, to avoid the consequences of a nuclear explosion. After all, the XB-70 Valkyrie is a strategic bomber designed to deliver nuclear weapons. Huge size The aircraft allowed it to lift enough fuel to fly into the territory of the USSR at a distance of 6,900 kilometers and return back without refueling in the air. The plane could carry 14 nuclear bombs. The XB-70 first flew in 1964, and two aircraft were built.
Bell X-2 Starbuster 3911.9 km/h
BellX-2 is an experimental American aircraft that was created to study flight conditions on high speeds. The first flight of the machine took place in 1954, and two years later the program was discontinued. It was on this plane that they studied how the plane behaves at speeds above Mach 2. It was on this plane that an incredible speed of Mach 3,196 was achieved at that time, but after reaching this speed, the pilot made a sharp maneuver and the plane went out of control. After this incident the program was discontinued.
MiG-25 3916.8 km/h
MiG-25 was created to intercept American reconnaissance aircraft, such as the SR-71, flying at high altitudes at relatively low speeds. To be able to perform such tasks, the MiG-25 had unique characteristics: The aircraft's speed was 3.2 times the speed of sound, and it could hit targets at an altitude of up to 25 kilometers. None of the MiG-25s ever shot down an SR-71, but these machines performed well in several conflicts, for example, in the Iran-Iraq war. The MiG-25 was armed with 4 air-to-air missiles. This aircraft is still in service in several countries. In total, approximately 1,100 vehicles were built.
Lockheed YF-12 4100.4 km/h
YF-12 was developed as a prototype aircraft that could reach a speed of 3.35 times the speed of sound. to his appearance it is no different from the SR-71 Blackbird, except that the YF-12 is armed with three air-to-air missiles. It was this aircraft that served as the prototype for the creation of the SR-71 Blackbird. In addition, both of these aircraft were developed by the same designer - the famous Clarence “Kelly” Johnson. The program was soon discontinued, but this aircraft forever remained in aviation history as the owner of several titles, which, however, were soon taken away from it by the SR-71 Blackbird.
SR-71 Blackbird 4102.8 km/h
After testing, the aircraft was used by both the US Air Force and NASA. The military used the Blackbird as a strategic reconnaissance aircraft, and NASA used it for research purposes. First flight SR-71 Blackbird committed in 1964. A total of 32 cars were produced. They were actively used for espionage against the USSR, Cuba and other countries. The SR-71 Blackbird was the first aircraft to use stealth technology. But the main defense of the aircraft was its speed: it easily evaded interceptors and missiles. The main problem during its creation was high temperature, to which the plane warmed up in flight. The SR-71 requires special fuel and can only be refueled in flight.
North American X-15 8200.8 km/h
This is the fastest manned aircraft in the world. Its maximum speed is Mach 6.7. It was built to hold research work on the study of hypersonic manned flights. X-15 has a rocket engine, it starts from the side strategic bomber. This aircraft has already reached an altitude of 107 km, a speed of Mach 6.7 and has completed a suborbital space flight. The plane lands on its own, on the bottom of a dry lake.
Planes that break the sound barrier
The air force is one of the most important components of the defense capability of each country. Every day, scientists around the world work to create faster and more efficient combat aircraft. Our review today presents 19 of the most best models fighters who have already proven themselves in combat.
1. American fighter-attack aircraft - Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
This model is a modernized version of a military aircraft F/A-18. The sample weighs 14.5 tons, and one full tank will be enough to fly 3,300 kilometers. The aircraft is equipped powerful engine F404, thanks to which the maximum speed can reach 1915 km/h. The Super Hornet costs about $67 million.
2. German monoplane fighter - Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Wurger
The presented model performed well in the Luftwaffe during the Second World War. Kurt Tank is the developer of a fighter called the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Wurger, which was created specifically for air force Germany. The aircraft made its first flight back in 1939.
3. American light fighter - Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon
This model was developed back in 1974, but was put into operation at the end of 1979. The sample length is 15 meters. The sample is equipped with a powerful General Electric F110 engine. Price General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is about 19 million US dollars.
4. Swedish multi-role fighter - Saab JAS 39 Gripen
The presented model has been in service with the Swedish Air Force since 1997. The weight of this sample is 6622 kilograms, while the flight range from one full tank reaches 3250 kilometers. The creator of the aircraft is Saab AB. Costs Saab JAS 39 Gripen approximately 60 million US dollars.
5. Fighter - Su-30MKI (Flanker-H)
The modernized model of the aircraft weighs 18,400 kilograms, while its flight range from one full tank reaches 3,000 kilometers. This model made its first flight in 2000. The fighter is equipped with a powerful AL-31F engine. Price Su-30MKI is 25 million US dollars.
6. Two-seat fighter - McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle
This model was created on the basis of the F-15D combat training fighter. This aircraft can be used for patrolling and providing cover. ground forces. The sample is equipped with a powerful Pratt & Whitney F100 engine, thanks to which the maximum flight speed can reach 2655 kilometers per hour. Price McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle is approximately US$31 million.
7. French multi-role fighter - Dassault Rafale
French company Dassault Aviation is the creator of a 15 meter fighter called - Dassault Rafale. Maximum speed This model reaches 2130 km/h, and the flight range from one fully filled tank is 3700 kilometers.
8. Experimental aircraft - Sukhoi Su-35
This fighter weighs 18,400 kilograms, while its flight range from one fully filled tank is 3,600 kilometers. The model is equipped with a powerful AL-31F engine, thanks to which the maximum speed of the aircraft reaches 2500 km/h. Costs Su-27M about 65 million US dollars.
9. Multirole fighter - Eurofighter Typhoon
This model was created by the company Eurofighter GmbH in 1986. The aircraft weighs 11 tons, and its flight range from one fully filled tank is 3,790 kilometers. The maximum permissible speed of the aircraft is 1838 km/h.
10. Fighter-bomber - Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II
American company Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company is the creator of a stealth fighter called - Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. This model is equipped with a powerful Pratt & Whitney F135 engine, thanks to which the maximum speed can reach 1930 km/h and the flight range is 2220 kilometers. The sample made its first flight in 2006.
11. American attack aircraft - Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk
This model is developed by the company Lockheed Martin. This sample is designed to penetrate the system undetected air defense enemy and destruction of strategically important targets. The aircraft is equipped with a powerful General Electric F404 engine, thanks to which the maximum speed of the aircraft can reach 993 kilometers per hour. Price Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk is about 100 million US dollars.
12. Multi-role fighter - Mig 21
This model is equipped with a turbojet engine, thanks to which the maximum speed of the aircraft can reach 2175 kilometers per hour. The sample made its first flight back in 1955. Mig-21 is one of the most common supersonic aircraft around the world.
13. English fighter - Supermarine Spitfire
This model is one of the best fighters World War II. This sample equipped with powerful engines such as: Rolls-Royce Merlin, Rolls-Royce Griffon, thanks to which the maximum speed of the aircraft can be 584 kilometers per hour. The aircraft made its first flight back in 1936.
14. Russian fighter - MiG-35
This model is equipped with a powerful RD-33 engine, thanks to which the maximum speed of the aircraft can reach 2600 km/h. The sample made its first flight in 2007. One full tank aircraft enough for 2000 kilometers.
15. Multirole fighter - Chengdu J-10
This model is a development of a Chinese company Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group.
The presented sample is equipped with a turbofan engine, thanks to which the maximum flight speed of the aircraft can reach 2327 kilometers per hour. The aircraft made its first flight in 1998. Price Chengdu J-10 is 28 million US dollars.
16. British fighter - Hawker Siddeley Harrier
This model is a development of the Hawker Siddeley company, which in 1960 created a fighter called Hawker Siddeley Harrier. The maximum permissible flight speed of this sample is 1175 kilometers per hour.
17. American fighter - North American P-51 Mustang
This model was created by designer Edgar Schmüd together with the company North American Aviation. This model is equipped with a powerful twelve-cylinder engine, thanks to which the maximum speed of the aircraft can reach 703 kilometers per hour.
18. Russian fighter - Su-47 Berkut
This model is equipped with powerful engines such as AL-31F, D-30, thanks to which the maximum speed of the aircraft can reach 2650 km/h. The sample weighs 16,380 kilograms, and the flight range from one fully filled tank is 3,300 kilometers. The Su-47 Berkut costs about 70 million US dollars.
19. Multi-role fighter - Su-27
This model is equipped with a powerful AL-31F engine, thanks to which the maximum flight speed can reach 2500 km/h. The sample weighs 16,380 kilograms, and the flight range from one fully filled tank is 3,530 kilometers. Costs Su-27 approximately 30 million US dollars.
And aircraft lovers will probably be interested in looking at these
Since the purpose of using aviation is not uniform, it would not be correct to name only one. We divide the concept of “best” into several categories: safe, expensive, fast and effective.
The best passenger aircraft
The Boeing 747 can easily be called the best passenger aircraft in history. This is not the safest, however, it is one of the most used and popular aircraft that still covers the airspace. Main features of the aircraft:
- It appeared back in 1969 and became the first to take flights to long-distance routes.
- More than 1.5 thousand copies have already been released.
- Cost - 260 million dollars.
- A distinctive feature is the “hump” of the upper deck.
But the Boeing 777, or as it is also called “Three Sevens,” as if, in accordance with its lucky name, is recognized as the safest aircraft in the world. Unfortunately, such a plane did crash in Ukraine in 2014, however, the fault was not in its design. This is a wide-body aircraft, the main features of which are:
- The longest flight in the air is 21,601 km of distance covered.
- Equipped with the most powerful in the world jet engines General Electric GE90.
- Costs about $300 million.
- Accommodates up to 550 passengers.
- Not a single passenger of the 3 Sevens died on board.
The most expensive planes in the world
Officially, the most expensive private jet is the Airbus A380, which rests in the hangar of Saudi Arabia's Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. This is a few controversial issue, since there are rumors about the cost of the Boeing 767 bought and converted by Abramovich, but let’s trust the facts.
The main characteristics of the expensive plane in the world:
- its cost is over half a million dollars;
- only 15-20 people can fit on board;
- this is a real house on wings: there are bedrooms, a bathhouse, gyms, banquet rooms, etc.;
- the maximum distance covered is 15.4 thousand km.
- From these facts it is difficult to guess that this is also the most economical aircraft of similar size. Moreover, it is one of the most major representatives passenger carriers.
The most expensive military aircraft in the world
But the most expensive aircraft in the world is not a passenger aircraft - it is a bomber manufactured using stealth technologies. There are 20 of these in the world and all of them are in service with the United States. The main reason for creating the B-2 Spirit was Cold War, and if it had not ended, such deadly carriers of nuclear and simple weapons, as you can see in the photo above, there would be more than a hundred. The unit cost is 2.1 billion dollars! Each plane is named after some geographical feature, and the first is called the Spirit of America.
The fastest plane in the world
The best planes can't help but fly fast. Of course, production samples will not soon reach record speeds, but individual experimental cases prove that humanity can do anything. Thus, developed in the USA, the X-15 rocket plane was able to reach a speed of 7272 km/h, piloted by Joe Walker. The active flight that day in 1963 was only 85.8 seconds, but this was enough to reach an altitude of more than 107 km. Main task This super-high-speed rocket is a study of the capabilities of winged vehicles on the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere and space.
Also owned by American developers is the X-43A, developed by NASA specialists. The maximum speed achieved by this drone is 11,200 km/h, which is at the moment is the official record. It was possible to achieve such indicators only the third time. During the attempts, 2 planes sank in Pacific Ocean to avoid collision with land.
The best military aircraft
The legend of the USSR, still in service in Russia, Kazakhstan and China, is the MiG-31. It is not always included in ratings of the best fighters, however, it is one of those models that has proven itself in practice, and not in theory. Main features of a supersonic interceptor:
- flight range - from 2.2 to 2.48 km;
- capable of intercepting missiles;
- the only fighter that independently uses missiles that have a long range;
- equally effective in any weather conditions and time of day.
Interestingly, 4 such interceptors are enough to control the air over a distance of 900 km. This device was used initially for testing, later for combat duty near Sakhalin Island and for combat purposes during Chechen war. More than 500 units have been produced so far.
The real threat for others aircraft creates a European fighter Eurofighter Typhoon, or Typhoon. Its main disadvantage is its helplessness in attacking terrestrial targets, however, as regards air protection, it is by far the best device for achieving such strategic objectives. The cost of eliminating air threats is $120 million and is currently equipping the air forces of England, Germany, Spain and Italy, Austria, Saudi Arabia and Oman. The high cost, in comparison with other fourth-class fighters, is associated with the use of radio-absorbing materials in the design.
Military experts are constantly debating which aircraft is better: the Typhoon or the Russian Su-35? In order not to offend either of these two masterpieces of aircraft construction, the Russian super-maneuverable crew is also included in the rating the best aircraft. Its advantage over the European fighter is its universal application: the Su-35 is ready to protect both the air and the ground. In addition, its turbojet engine allows it to reach supersonic speeds without using afterburner, which theoretically allows this device to enter the fifth generation. A total of 34 such fighters were produced. A very strong advantage of the presented lethal work of art is its maneuverability - vector engines literally allow the Su-35 to dance in the air, gliding and rotating in one place.
- This is the only fifth-generation fighter in service (US Air Force).
- This is the most expensive military aircraft - almost more than 146 million dollars.
- Flies at supersonic speeds.
- Covered with radio-absorbing materials.
- Universal.
The leader of our rating was used in battle only once, in Syria. There are many rumors around the only representative of the fifth generation about his high cost, low adaptability to bad weather conditions, but there is no factual evidence of this.