Fastest of the Fast: A Look at Speedy Aircraft

Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Get a quick glance at some of the fastest aircraft in their class.

Cessna TTx Top speed: 235 knots Masks need to be on at 25,000 feet.

Eurocopter X3 Top speed: 255 knots Is this the future of vertical flight?

Piaggio Avanti II Top speed: 400 knots Tri-surface fuel miser is fastest turboprop.

Bombardier Global 6000 Top speed: Mach .89 Jet becomes 6,000 nm cruiser at slower speeds.

Boeing 747 Top speed: Mach .92 After nearly 50 years, this jumbo still wows.

Cessna Citation X Top speed: Mach .935 Midsize speedster will nudge G650 by a hair.

Concorde Top speed: Mach 2.04 The civil speed king is no longer flying.

North American X-15A-2 Top speed: Mach 6+ Hourly operating costs are classified.

Aurora We would tell you how fast, but the NSA might be reading.

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