Supersonic and Hypersonic History timeline

By Gambit
  • Eugen Albert Sänger publishes Raketenflugtechnik including the Silverbird

    Eugen Albert Sänger publishes Raketenflugtechnik including the Silverbird

    A German-Austrian rocket pioneer publishes "Rocket Flight Engineering" which included the 1st rocket plane design, the Silverbird, a hypersonic bomber concept with a max speed of Mach 13.
  • Dyna-Soar X-20 by Boeing - Supersonic Concept

    Dyna-Soar X-20 by Boeing - Supersonic Concept

    A reusable space vehicle for strategic bombing hypersonic glide missions as a space-plane capable of LEO.
  • Sänger I - Two Stage to Orbit Concept

    Sänger I - Two Stage to Orbit Concept

    In due part of Mr. Sänger's intense lobbying for spaceplane designs in the German industry Messerschmidt-Boelkow-Bloehm (MBB) took up the cause.Max velocity: Mach 6.
  • XB-70 Valkyrie

    XB-70 Valkyrie

    Prototype of nuclear-armed supersonic bomber for USAF. Max velocity: Mach 3+. Developed by NAA.
  • SR-71 - Supersonic Spy Plane

    SR-71 - Supersonic Spy Plane

    Produced by Lockheed, the brain child of Kelly Johnson, operated by the USAF and NASA. Incredibly ahead of it's time able to achieve speeds Mach 3+. Used mainly for aerial reconnaissance. Also known as the Blackbird.
  • Tupolev Tu-144: Soviet Union Supersonic Passenger Airliner

    Tupolev Tu-144: Soviet Union Supersonic Passenger Airliner

    The 1st supersonic airliner to fly, the brain child of Aleksey Tupolev. retired due to high operational costs and political issues. Max velocity: Mach 2.27.
  • Concorde - European Supersonic Airliner

    Concorde - European Supersonic Airliner

    A joint effort between Britain and France, the second (and only other) supersonic airliner to fly. Retired in 2003 due to high operational costs and lack of routes due to noise issues. Max velocity: 2.04.
  • Space Shuttle Orbiter - USA

    Space Shuttle Orbiter - USA

    A reusable orbital spacecraft system that rode on rockets to reach space and the ISS. Operated by NASA from 1977 to 2011. Used to carry payloads and passengers into LEO and re-enter the atmosphere as a glider at Mach 27.
  • Sänger II Spaceplane Program adopted in Germany

    Sänger II Spaceplane Program adopted in Germany

    Sought to address two concerns for European flight, the 1st to develop a hypersonic transport aircraft, the 2nd to develop a robust space transportation system able to keep Europe independent in the industry. Max velocity: Mach 7.

  • Aurora - Hypersonic Aircraft Concept

    The SR-91, top secret project in the USA, thought to be the successor to SR-71, rumored max velocity of Mach 5+.

  • SR-72 : Successor to the SR-71

    Hypersonic UAV concept being developed by Lockheed and DARPA for the USAF. Max velocity: Mach 6.
  • ZEHST - Zero Emission Hypersonic Transport

    ZEHST - Zero Emission Hypersonic Transport

    Planned hypersonic passenger airline to succeed the Concorde, development underway between European and Japanese agencies.