Record
Breaking and Extreme Air Vehicles
See:
Record breaking land vehicles
Record breaking sea vehicles
Record breaking air vehicles
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.
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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.
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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.
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Largest Helicopter Mil Mi-26
The Mil Mi-26 is the largest and most powerful
helicopter in existence. 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. |
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.
Article on the Airbus A380
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Smallest Monoplane, Baby Bird
The Baby Bird was the smallest manned single wing aircraft
in the world. |
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 survived.
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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. |
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. |
Concept Aircraft
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