When it comes to speed and performance, fighter jets are in a league of their own. These highly specialized combat aircraft are built for one thing: speed. In fact, these jets are so fast that they are almost impossible for the average person to ever fly. These high-performance aircraft have a top speed between Mach 1 and Mach 2, also known as supercruise or supersonic flight.
When flying at top speed, most fighter jets can reach speeds of around MACH 1.5 – 1.7. This is double the speed of sound, which means that most fighter jets can break the sound barrier while still climbing! Read on to discover more about how fast do fighter jets fly?
How Fast Can Fighter Jets Fly?
When assessing how fast do fighter jets fly, we need to consider two different speeds. The speed of the aircraft itself, and the speed of the air around the aircraft. The speed of the air is important because this is what causes the sound barrier. While the speed of the aircraft is important when considering how to fly and maneuver the jet, it is the speed of the air around the aircraft that causes the sonic boom.
This is what makes flying a fighter jet such a special experience. Sitting in the pilot’s seat, you may be traveling at Mach 1.5, but the sound around you sounds like a hurricane at Mach 3 – 4! This is what makes flying in a fighter jet so amazing!
How To Measure Speed in Air?
When you think about how fast or slow something is traveling, you usually think about how fast it is traveling in a specific direction. But when it comes to aircraft, it’s important to also think about how speed is measured through the air.
The speed of an aircraft as it flies is referred to as the ground speed. This is the speed of the aircraft relative to the surface below it. The speed of an aircraft through the air, however, is referred to as airspeed. This is the speed of the aircraft relative to the air around it.
Different Types of Fighter Jets
If we look at the speed of fighter jets, we will notice that there are a number of different categories. We can generally break these down into subsonic aircraft, supersonic aircraft, and hypersonic aircraft. Subsonic aircraft – These jets fly below Mach 1. This is the speed of sound, which is around 767 mph (1,235 km/h).
Most commercial passenger jets are subsonic aircraft. Supersonic aircraft – These jets fly at speeds faster than Mach 1. Hypersonic aircraft – These jets fly at speeds faster than Mach 5. While the Air Force is developing a new fighter jet called the SR-71 Blackbird, this is more of a research aircraft than a combat aircraft. It is therefore not a traditional fighter jet. However, it is also the fastest military aircraft ever built.
Why Are Fighter Jets So Fast?
When it comes to speed and performance, fighter jets are in a league of their own. These highly specialized combat aircraft are built for one thing: speed. In fact, these jets are so fast that they are almost impossible for the average person to ever fly.
These high-performance aircraft have a top speed between Mach 1 and Mach 2, also known as supercruise or supersonic flight. When flying at top speed, most fighter jets can reach speeds of around MACH 1.5 – 1.7. This is double the speed of sound, which means that most fighter jets can break the sound barrier while still climbing!
The Limits of Fighter Jet Speed
As we have seen, the speed of fighter jets is quite impressive. But the fact is that no aircraft can fly forever. There are limits to how fast an aircraft can fly. The amount of fuel on board is the biggest limiting factor. At normal cruising speeds, a fighter jet can travel around 450 miles per hour. However, when the throttle is pushed, fuel is burned quicker and a fighter jet can travel as fast as 2,400 miles per hour.
This also means that the aircraft can only fly for a limited distance before it needs to refuel. The speed of an aircraft is also limited by the temperature of the air around it. As an aircraft flies at faster speeds, the air around it heats up. This can cause the air around the aircraft to heat up to the point that it becomes plasma. When this happens, the aircraft can no longer use the air around it for lift.
Conclusion
When it comes to fighter jets, speed is all that matters. These aircraft are built for one thing, and that is speed. When in combat, the ability to outrun your opponent is crucial.
A fighter jet traveling at high speeds can outrun almost any other aircraft. Given the speed and performance of these jets, it is no surprise that they are the ultimate aircraft. When it comes to speed, they truly are in a league of their own.
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