The race to build the fastest fighter jets on Earth has produced machines that barely seem compatible with human reflexes.

Since the start of military aviation, speed has been a defining factor in how fighters are built and used. Faster speeds ...

The rather short-lived Concorde has set the standard for speed when it comes to civilian aircraft. With a maximum cruise speed of Mach 2.04 (1,350 mph/2,179 kph) at an altitude of 60,000 feet (18,288 ...