Fastest Airliner, Tupolev Tu-144
The Soviet Tupolev Tu-144 was a supersonic airliner
very similar in design and appearance to the Concorde.
Although the Tu-144 actually flew first many joked
about the 'Concordski'. The Tu-144 was the first
passenger airliner to break Mach 2. The last reported
flight of one of the 16 Tu-144's built was in 1987. |
Fastest Combat Jet, Mig 25
The MIG-25 is the fastest combat jet in the world,
in 1967 a MIG-25 traveled at 1,853.61 mph. The only
faster air breathing aircraft is the SR-71 Blackbird.
A MIG-25 also holds the record for air breathing
aircraft at 123,524 ft (37,650 m). MIG-25's are
regularly used by thrill-seekers on adventure holidays. |
Fastest Propeller Aircraft, Tu-95 'Bear'
The Tu-95 'Bear' is the fastest propeller
aircraft. It was the Russian equivalent to the American
B-52 Stratofortress during the Cold War.
The Tu-95 was an extremely loud aircraft due to
its massive contra-rotating propellers. Submarine
crews actually reported hearing diving Tu-95's because
of their distinctive sound. |
First private spaceship, SpaceShipOne
SpaceShipOne (all one word) was the first private
space ship to officially enter space (62 miles up)
and therefore win the Ansari X-prize. A $10 million
USD award given to the first private manned space
ship to complete two flights within 2 week. |
Largest Passenger Aircraft, Airbus A380
The Airbus A380 is the largest and
only full double deck passenger aircraft in production.
It can carry 555 passengers seated in 3 different
classes, or 800 passengers all seated in one economy
class. |
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Smallest Biplane, Bumble Bee II
Bumble Bee II was the smallest manned
biplane in the world. Unfortunately it crashed due
to engine failure on its first flight. Although
severely injured the pilot thankfully survived.
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Smallest
Monoplane, Baby Bird
The Baby Bird was the smallest manned single wing
aircraft in the world. Built in 1980 the aircraft
had a tubular steel fuselage and wooden wings. The
55 horsepower engine turned a suitably tiny 44-inch
propellor. 35 flights were completed in total before
the aircraft was donated to the EAA AirVenture Museum
in 1989. |
Largest Production Helicopter Mil Mi-26
The Mil Mi-26 is the largest and most powerful helicopter
to enter full scale production - only the prototype
Mil
V-12 was larger.
It was designed for both military and civilian use.
The Mi-26 was also the first helicopter to use an
8 bladed main rotor.
As a side note, in 2002 an Mi-26 was shot down by
Chechen rebels, it had around 150 troops on board,
although maximum capacity is rated as 80. |
First
nonstop round the world flight, Rutan Voyager
Built by the man responsible for
SpaceShipOne, Burt Rutan, Voyager was the first
aircraft to fly around the world nonstop.
To achieve its goal Voyager was built from lightweight
composite materials and it had a total of 17 fuel
tanks. |
Fastest
Helicopter Westland ZB500 Lynx
The Westland Lynx ZB500 holds the
record as the worlds fastest helicopter, a slightly
modified version was clocked at 249.1 mph.
UPDATED - 31/07/2010. In July 2010 a Sikorsky
X2 was unofficially clocked at 258 mph. |
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