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{{Short description|none}} <!-- This short description is INTENTIONALLY "none" - please see WP:SDNONE before you consider changing it! -->
A number of aircraft have been claimed to be the '''fastest propeller-driven aircraft'''. This article presents the current record holders for several sub-classes of propeller-driven aircraft that hold recognized, documented speed records in level flight. [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]] (FAI) records are the basis for this article.<ref name="FAI">[https://web.archive.org/web/20071007145139/http://records.fai.org/general_aviation/current.asp?id1=21&id2=3 "FAI official database"] ''[[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]]''. Retrieved: 5 September 2007.</ref> Other contenders and their claims are discussed, but only those made under controlled conditions and measured by outside observers. Pilots during [[World War II]] sometimes claimed to have reached [[supersonic]] speeds in propeller-driven fighters during emergency dives, but these speeds are not included as accepted records. Neither are speeds recorded in a dive during high-speed tests with the [[Supermarine Spitfire]], including Squadron Leader J.R. Tobin's 606&nbsp;mph (975&nbsp;km/h, Mach 0.89) in a 45° dive in a Mark XI Spitfire (date unknown) and Squadron Leader Anthony F. Martindale's breaking 620&nbsp;mph (998&nbsp;km/h, Mach 0.92) in the same aircraft in April 1944.<ref>[http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20160505-the-spitfires-that-nearly-broke-the-sound-barrier ''The Spitfires That Nearly Broke The Sound Barrier'', BBC]</ref> Flight Lieutenant [[Edward Powles]]' 690&nbsp;mph (1110&nbsp;km/h, Mach 0.96) in Spitfire PR.XIX PS852 during an emergency dive while carrying out spying flights over China on 5 February 1952 is also discounted. This would otherwise be the highest speed ever recorded for a piston-engined aircraft.<ref>[http://planesandpilotsofww2.totalh.net/Gustin/spit1946.html?i=1 Spitfire Timeline]</ref>
A number of aircraft have been claimed to be the '''fastest [[Propeller aircraft|propeller-driven aircraft]]'''. This article presents the current record holders for several sub-classes of propeller-driven aircraft that hold recognized, documented speed records in level flight. [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]] (FAI) records are the basis for this article.<ref name="FAI">[https://web.archive.org/web/20071007145139/http://records.fai.org/general_aviation/current.asp?id1=21&id2=3 "FAI official database"] ''[[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]]''. Retrieved: 5 September 2007.</ref> Other contenders and their claims are discussed, but only those made under controlled conditions and measured by outside observers.
 
Pilots during [[World War II]] sometimes claimed to have reached [[supersonic]] speeds in propeller-driven fighters during emergency dives, but these speeds are not included as FAI accepted records. They are also extremely unlikely, due to the complex aerodynamic problems of propeller driven aircraft approaching the speed of sound.
{{TOC limit|limit=2}}
 
Also not formally accepted by the FAI, which was not present due to wartime conditions, are speeds recorded in a dive during high-speed tests with the [[Supermarine Spitfire]], including Squadron Leader J.R. Tobin's {{cvt|606|mph}} in a 45° dive in a Mark XI Spitfire (date unknown) and Squadron Leader Anthony F. Martindale's breaking {{cvt|620|mph}} (Mach 0.92) in the same aircraft in April 1944.<ref>[http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20160505-the-spitfires-that-nearly-broke-the-sound-barrier ''The Spitfires That Nearly Broke The Sound Barrier'', BBC]</ref> It should however, be noted that while not FAI certified, the results from Martindale's flight are more than claims. The [[Royal Aircraft Establishment]] was a scientific body with the capability to record such events. Martindale's aircraft was fully instrumented with calibrated equipment and had an observation camera recording the flight instruments. Other recording instruments were also fitted. The aircraft lost its propeller and reduction gearbox and was substantially damaged during the test but Martindale managed to successfully land the aircraft, so the data could be recovered and post flight calculations verified the readings.<ref>Journal of Aeronautical History Draft 2 Paper No. 2016/03 The Aerodynamics of the Spitfire J. A. D. Ackroyd p 78</ref>
 
Flight Lieutenant [[Edward Powles]]' {{cvt|690|mph}} in a photo-reconnaissance Spitfire PR.XIX PS852 during an emergency dive while carrying out spying flights over China on 5 February 1952 is also discounted. This would otherwise be the highest speed ever recorded for a piston-engined aircraft.<ref>[http://planesandpilotsofww2.totalh.net/Gustin/spit1946.html?i=1 Spitfire Timeline]</ref>
 
==Propeller versus jet propulsion==
[[File:Turbofan3 Labelled.gif|thumb|300px|alt=Animation of turbofan, which shows flow of air and the spinning of blades.|High-bypass turbofan. The front fan is an enclosed propeller providing air thrust while the turbojetturbine behind provides exhaust thrust.]]
Aircraft that use [[propeller (aircraft)|propeller]]s as their prime propulsion device constitute a historically important subset of aircraft, despite inherent limitations to their speed. Aircraft powered by piston engines get virtually all of their thrust from the propeller driven by the engine. A few piston engined aircraft derive some thrust from the engine's exhaust gases, and there are certain hybrid types like the [[Motorjet]] that use a piston engine to drive the compressor of a jet engine, which supplies the primary thrust (although some types also have a propeller powered by the piston engine for low speed efficiency). All aircraft prior to [[World War II]] (except for a tiny number of early [[Jet aircraft#Historical examples|jet aircraft]] and [[List of rocket planes#Rocket planes with conventional take off|rocket aircraft]]) used [[reciprocating engines|piston engines]] to drive propellers, so all [[Flight airspeed record]]s prior to 1944 were necessarily set by propeller-driven aircraft. Rapid advances in first [[Liquid-propellant rocket|liquid-fueled rocket engine]]-powered aircraft – with [[Messerschmitt Me 163#Me 163A|a {{cvt|1004 |km/h}} record set in October 1941]] by a German example — and [[Axial compressor|axial-flow]] [[jet engine]] technology during World War II meant that no propeller-driven aircraft would ever again hold an absolute air speed record. Shock wave formation in propeller-driven aircraft at speeds near [[Mach number|sonic]] conditions, impose limits not encountered in [[jet engine|jet]] aircraft.
 
Jet engines, particularly [[turbojets]], are a type of [[gas turbine]] configured such that most of the work available results from the thrust of the hot exhaust gases. Turbofans, both the [[Turbofan#High-bypass turbofan|high-bypass]] versions used in all modern commercial [[jetliners]], and the low-bypass versions in most modern military aircraft, produce a combination of jet thrust from the exhaust of burnt fuel, and air thrust from what amounts to an internal propeller. High-bypass turbofan engines achieve most of their thrust from a fan driving air backwards through the engine casing, and driven by a gas turbine, which also contributes jet thrust via its exhaust. The two are in one large engine casing with the fan (propeller) at the front and the jet engine behind, with both turbine exhaust and fan-driven air exiting the rear of the engine casing. [[Turboprop]] engines are similar, but use an external propeller rather than an internal fan (propeller) inside an engine casing. The hot exhaust gas from a turboprop engine gives a small amount of thrust, however the propeller is the main source of thrust.
 
==Turboprops==
[[File:Piaggio P-180 Avanti Rennes 2010 (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Piaggio P.180 Avanti]]|left]]The [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale|FAI]] lists a [[Piaggio P.180 Avanti]] as the fastest propeller-driven aircraft with a speed of {{Convert|927.4|km/h|mph kn|abbr=on}} "over a recognized course", in this case [[Fort Worth]] to [[Atlanta]], set on 6 Feb 2003 by Joseph J. Ritchie.<ref>{{cite web |title=FAI record 7627 |date=10 October 2017 |url=https://fai.org/record/7627 |access-date=4 September 2020 |ref=fai-recognized-course}}</ref>[[File:Russian Bear 'H' Aircraft MOD 45158140.jpg|thumb|[[Tupolev Tu-95]]MS]]Previously, the ''Guinness Book of World Records'' listed the Soviet [[Tupolev Tu-95]] and [[Tupolev Tu-142|Tu-142]] bombers as "the fastest propeller-driven aircraft in standard production form", with a maximum level speed of {{Convert|925|km/h|mph kn|abbr=on}} or Mach 0.82.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Fastest aircraft, propeller-driven {{!}} Guinness World Records |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/fastest-aircraft-propeller-driven |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930075707/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/fastest-aircraft-propeller-driven |archive-date=2021-09-30 |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=[[Guinness World Records]]}}</ref>[[File:XF-84H.jpg|thumb|[[Republic XF-84H Thunderscreech|XF-84H "Thunderscreech"]]|left]]Even earlier, in 1997, the ''Guinness Book of World Records'' listed the [[Republic XF-84H Thunderscreech]] experimental [[United States Air Force|USAF]] fighter as the fastest propeller-driven aircraft, with a speed of {{Convert|1003|km/h|mph kn|abbr=on}} or Mach 0.83.<ref name="Guinness">Young 1997, p. 137.</ref> While it may have been designed as the fastest propeller-driven aircraft, this goal was never realized due to severe stability problems.<ref>Hendrix 1977, p.408.</ref> This record speed is also inconsistent with data from the [[National Museum of the United States Air Force]], which gives a top speed of "only" {{Convert|840|km/h|mph kn|abbr=on}} or Mach 0.70.<ref name="usaf">[http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=588 "XF-84H Fact sheet."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306035004/http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=588 |date=2013-03-06 }} ''[[USAF]]''. Retrieved: 3 April 2009.</ref>[[File:McDonnell XF-88B in flight.jpg|thumb|[[McDonnell XF-88 Voodoo|McDonnell XF-88B]]]]
The [[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale|FAI]] lists a [[Piaggio P.180 Avanti]] as the fastest propeller-driven aircraft with speed of 927.4 km/h “over a recognized course”, in this case [[Fort Worth]] to [[Atlanta]], set on 6 Feb 2003 by Joseph J. Ritchie.<ref>{{cite web |title=FAI record 7627 |url=https://fai.org/record/7627 |accessdate=4 September 2020 |ref=fai-recognized-course}}</ref>
 
Overall, probably the fastest aircraft ever ''equipped with'' (but not driven exclusively by) an operating propeller was the experimental McDonnell XF-88B, which is a variant of the jet-powered [[McDonnell XF-88 Voodoo]] made by installing the [[Allison T38]] turboprop engine in its nose while retaining its original [[turbojet]] engines.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Becker |first=John Vernon |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OVjp4CxuMhQC&pg=PA136 |title=The High-speed Frontier: Case Histories of Four NACA Programs, 1920-1950 |date=1980 |publisher=Scientific and Technical Information Branch, National Aeronautics and Space Administration |volume=NASA SP-445 |location=Washington, D.C. |page=136 |language=en |chapter=IV |asin=B0006E40HY |lccn=80607935 |oclc=1017203631}}</ref> This unusual aircraft was intended to explore the use of propellers in high-speed flight and, when operating in conjunction with the turbojet engines, has achieved speeds of approximately Mach 0.90 in level flight. In a dive, it has achieved supersonic speeds, up to slightly above Mach 1.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hammack |first1=Jerome B. |last2=Kurbjun |first2=Max C. |last3=O'Bryan |first3=Thomas C. |date=1957-07-10 |title=Flight Investigation of a Supersonic Propeller on a Propeller Research Vehicle at Mach Numbers to 1.01 |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19930090296 |journal=NACA Research Memorandums |series= |language=en |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics |page=11 |s2cid=118005344}}</ref>
[[File:McDonnell XF-88B in flight.jpg|thumb|left|[[McDonnell XF-88B]] experimental fighter]]
Probably the fastest aircraft ever fitted with an operating propeller was the experimental McDonnell XF-88B, which was made by installing an [[Allison Engine Company|Allison]] T38 [[turboshaft]] engine in the nose of a pure jet-powered [[XF-88 Voodoo]]. This unusual aircraft was intended to explore the use of high-speed propellers and achieved supersonic speeds.<ref>[http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-445/ch4-8.htm "NASA History pages."] ''[[NASA]]''. Retrieved: 4 September 2007.</ref> This aircraft is not considered to be propeller-driven since most of the thrust was provided by two jet engines.
 
[[File:XF-84H.jpg|thumb|[[XF-84H]] "Thunderscreech"]]
An oft-cited contender for the fastest propeller-driven aircraft is the [[XF-84H Thunderscreech]]. This aircraft is named in [[Guinness World Records]], 1997, as the fastest in this category with a speed of 623&nbsp;mph (1,002&nbsp;km/h, Mach 0.83).<ref name="Guinness">Young 1997, p. 137.</ref> While it may have been ''designed'' as the fastest propeller-driven aircraft, this goal was not realized due to its inherent instability.<ref>Hendrix 1977, p. 408. Quote: The XF-84H never achieved its designer's dreams of being the first propeller-driven aircraft to attain supersonic flight. In fact, it never flew over 450 kt indicated, since at that speed, it developed an unhappy practice of 'snaking', apparently losing longitudinal stability. ''NOTE: 450 kt=518 mph''</ref> This record speed is also inconsistent with data from the [[National Museum of the United States Air Force]], which gives a top speed of 520&nbsp;mph (837&nbsp;km/h, Mach 0.70),<ref name="usaf">[http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=588 "XF-84H Fact sheet."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306035004/http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=588 |date=2013-03-06 }} ''[[USAF]]''. Retrieved: 3 April 2009.</ref> slower than the current record.
 
==Piston engines==
[[File:77 F8F-2 Bearcat (N-777L) Rare Bear 2014 Reno Air Races.jpg|thumb|left|77 [[Grumman F8F Bearcat|Grumman F8F]]-2 Bearcat (N-777L) Rare Bear world speed record holder at the 2014 Reno Air Races]]
The more "traditional" class of propeller-driven aircraft comprises those powered by piston engines, which include nearly all aircraft from the Wright brothers up through World War II. Today piston engines are used almost exclusively on light, general aviation aircraft. The official speed record for a piston plane was held by a modified Grumman [[F8F Bearcat|Grumman F8F Bearcat]], the ''[[Rare Bear]]'', with a speed of {{convertcvt|528.315|mph|abbr=on}} on 21 August 1989 at [[Las VegasReno, New Mexico]]Nevada, [[United States|United States of America]].<ref>[http://www.RareBear.com "'Rare Bear' web site."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206003547/http://www.rarebear.com/ |date=2006-12-06 }} ''Rare Bear Air Race Team'', 2008. Retrieved: 13 November 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/performance/q0023.shtml www.AeroSpaceWeb.org "Aircraft speed records."] ''Aerospaceweb''. Retrieved: 13 November 2007.</ref> This record was retired as a new weight class based system was introduced to allow more pilots to set new records across a wider range of aircraft. On September 2, 2017, Steve Hinton Jr, in the modified [[North American P-51 Mustang]] ''[[Voodoo (aircraft)|Voodoo]]'' set the new record of {{convertcvt|531.53|mph|abbr=on}} in the C-1e class (the same weight class Rare Bear would fall into). This record is also the fastest for any propeller driven piston aircraft.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Measures |first1=Harry |title=Setting a world air speed record in P-51 Mustang 'Voodoo' |url=http://vintageaviationecho.com/voodoo-speed-record |website=The Vintage Aviation Echo |access-date=13 February 2022 |date=31 October 2017}}</ref>
 
==Electric==
The FAI record for the fastest piston-powered aircraft over a long-distance circuit is the 2000-km record of {{convert|447.5|mph|abbr=on}} set on 22 May 1948 by [[Jacqueline Cochran]] in a [[North American P-51 Mustang|P-51C]]. (She also holds the 100-km record of 469.55&nbsp;mph, set in December 1947.) Higher speed records exist; some are unofficial and some were officially-timed one-way trips aided by tailwinds. Examples of the latter: a B-29 averaged {{convert|450|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}} from [[Bob Hope Airport|Burbank]] to [[Floyd Bennett Field]] (2460&nbsp;mi in 5.455 hours) on 11 December 1945, and Joe DeBona averaged {{convert|561.57|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}} from Los Angeles LAX to New York Idlewild (2475&nbsp;mi (3981.5&nbsp;km) in 4.405 hours) in a P-51 on 30 March 1954. On September 12, 2003, the modified P-51 ''[[Dago Red]]'', piloted by Skip Holm, averaged 507.105&nbsp;mph (816.1 km/h) during the 6 lap (c.50 miles) Reno Air Races Friday Gold Race.
[[Rolls-Royce ACCEL|Rolls-Royce Accel ''Spirit of Innovation'']] piloted by Steve Jones broke the official electric plane speed record by flying at an average speed of 555.9km/h (345.4 mph) over a 3km course on 19 Nov 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2022-01-21|title=Rolls-Royce all-electric aircraft breaks world records|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-derbyshire-60068786|access-date=2022-01-27}}</ref>
 
==Other claimants==
[[File:Republic XP-47J three-quarter front view.jpg|thumb|The [[Republic P-47 Thunderbolt#XP-47H / XP-47J|Republic XP-47J]] reached {{convertcvt|813504|km/h|abbr=onmph}} in testing]][[File:Convair XFY-1 in flight.jpg|thumb|[[Convair XFY-1]] "Pogo"]] ▼
The first ever record although not verified, was the 1903 [[Wright Flyer]]. It didachieved {{convertcvt|30|mph|abbr=on}} during its first flight;, a record by the only plane of controlled take-off and landing in existence. The [[Bleriot XI]] then reached {{convertcvt|47|mph|abbr=on}} in 1909. Fabric-covered biplanes of the World War I era and shortly after could do up toreach {{convertcvt|200|mph|abbr=on}}. In 1925 U.S. Army Lt. [[Cyrus K. Bettis]] flying a [[Curtiss R3C]] won the Pulitzer Trophy Race with a speed of {{convertcvt|248.9|mph|abbr=on}}.<ref>Taylor and Munson 1973, p. 243.</ref>
 
Speeds of all-metal [[monoplanes]] of the 1930s jumped into the {{convert|435|mph|abbr=on}} range with the [[Macchi M.C.72]] reaching a top speed of {{convert|440.6|mph|abbr=on}}, still the record for piston-powered seaplanes.<ref>Taylor and Munson 1973, p. 245.</ref> The [[Messerschmitt Me 209|Messerschmitt Me 209 V1]] set a world speed record of almost {{convert|756|km/h|abbr=on}} on 26 April 1939,<ref>Green, 1970, p. 607.</ref> and the Republic XP-47J (a variant of the [[P-47 Thunderbolt]]) is claimed to have reached {{convert|505|mph|abbr=on}} in testing.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}} The [[North American P-51 Mustang variants#P-51H|P-51H Mustang]], 555 made, could go {{convert|487|mph|abbr=on}}. The prototype of the twin-engined [[de Havilland Hornet]] (RR915) (383 built) reached {{convert|485|mph|abbr=on}} as did a prototype [[Hawker Sea Fury|Hawker Fury (LA610)]] when fitted with a [[Napier Sabre|Napier Sabre VII]], and a prototype of the successor to the Supermarine Spitfire, the [[Supermarine Spiteful]] F.16 (RB518), reached {{convert|494|mph|abbr=on}}. The fastest German propeller driven aircraft that flew in WWII (did not see combat) was the twin-[[DB 603]]-powered [[Dornier Do 335]] "Pfeil/Arrow" which had a claimed top speed of {{convert|474|mph|abbr=on}}.<ref>Green, 1970, p.162</ref>▼
 
▲Speeds of all-metal [[monoplanes]] of the 1930s jumped into theto {{convertcvt|435440.6|mph|abbr=on}} range with the [[Macchi M.C.72]] reaching a top speed of {{convert|440.6|mph|abbr=on}}, still the record for piston-powered seaplanesfloatplane.<ref>Taylor and Munson 1973, p. 245.</ref> The [[Messerschmitt Me 209|Messerschmitt Me 209 V1]] set a world speed record of almost {{convertcvt|756|km/h|abbr=on}} on 26 April 1939,<ref>Green, 1970, p. 607.</ref> and the Republic XP-47J (a variant of the [[P-47 Thunderbolt]]) is claimed to have reached {{convertcvt|505504|mph|abbr=on}} in testing.<ref>{{CitationCite neededweb|url=http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p47_9.html|title=Republic XP-47J Thunderbolt|author=Joe Baugher|date=March5 2012July 1999|website=USAF Fighters|access-date=10 October 2022}}</ref> TheA [[North American P-51 Mustang variants#P-51H|North American P-51H Mustang]], 555managed made{{cvt|487|mph}}. A prototype [[Republic XP-72]], coulddesigned goas a successor to the P-47, managed {{convertcvt|487490|mph|abbr=on}}.<ref>[Bodie, Warren. "The Whine of the Jug". Wings Magazine (Vol. 4, No. 4), August 1974, pp. 33–39.]</ref> The prototype of the twin-engined [[de Havilland Hornet]] (RR915) (383 built) reached {{convertcvt|485|mph|abbr=on}} as did a prototype [[Hawker Sea Fury|Hawker Fury (LA610)]] monoplane when fitted with a [[Napier Sabre|Napier Sabre VII]], and a prototypeconversionoftheone successor toof the Supermarineprototypes of Spitfire, the [[Supermarine Spiteful]] F.16, (RB518planned successor to the Supermarine Spitfire), reached {{convertcvt|494|mph|abbr=on}}. The fastest German propeller -driven aircraft that flew in WWII (but which did not see combat) was the twin-[[DB 603]]-powered [[Dornier Do 335]] "''Pfeil/'' ("Arrow") which had a claimed top speed of {{convertcvt|474|mph|abbr=on}}.<ref>Green, 1970, p. 162</ref>
▲[[File:Republic XP-47J three-quarter front view.jpg|thumb|The [[Republic P-47 Thunderbolt#XP-47H / XP-47J|XP-47J]] reached {{convert|813|km/h|abbr=on}} in testing]][[File:Convair XFY-1 in flight.jpg|thumb|[[Convair XFY-1]] "Pogo"]]
[[File:Lockheed XFV-1 on ground bw.jpg|thumb|[[Lockheed XFV-1]] "Salmon"]]
 
DuringIn the 1950s two unorthodoxturboprop [[United States Navytailsitter]] fighter prototypes marriedwere turbopropdesigned enginesfor the with a "[[tailsitterUnited States Navy|tailsittingUS Navy]] design", the [[Convair XFY|Convair XFY "Pogo"]] ({{cvt|610|mph}}) and the [[Lockheed XFV]]. Maximum design speeds of ({{convert|610|mph|abbr=on}} at {{convert|15000|ft|abbr=on}} and {{convertcvt|578|mph|abbr=on}}), respectivelybut haveboth been quoted. The Lockheed XFV was fitted with ahad less powerful engineengines than it was designed for and had makeshift non-retractable landing gear for horizontal takeoff and landing;intended<ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/xfv-1.htm "Lockheed FXV data."] ''[[globalsecurity]]''. Retrieved: 24 February 2009.</ref> the Convair's landing gear supported it in a vertical position. It was usually flown with the cockpit open, since the ejection seat was thought unreliable.<ref>[http://collections.nasm.si.edu/code/emuseum.asp?style=browse&currentrecord=1&page=search&profile=objects&searchdesc=xfv&quicksearch=xfv&newvalues=1&newstyle=single&newcurrentrecord=1 "Data for Convair XFY."] ''[[National Air and Space Museum]]''. Retrieved: 24 February 2009.</ref> These aircraft had "compromised in-flight speed" because of theand conflicting demands of vertical and horizontal flight. further compromised flight speeds<ref>Hite, Kennith F., Lieutenant Colonel. [http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/aureview/1968/jul-aug/hite.html "Why the VTOL Fighter?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126061242/http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/aureview/1968/jul-aug/hite.html |date=2017-01-26 }} ''Air University Review'', [[Air University (United States)|US Air Force Air University]], July–August 1968. Retrieved: 15 January 2011.</ref> so they never got close to these numbers.
 
==See also==
Line 38:
* [[List of vehicle speed records]]
* [[Transcontinental flight]]
* [[List of slowest fixed-wing aircraft]]
 
==References==

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fastest_propeller-driven_aircraft"
  




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