List of vehicle speed records
The following is a list of speed records for various categories of vehicles. In any category, as with many world records, there may be some dispute over the criteria for a record-setting event, the authority of the organization certifying the record, and the actual speed achieved. Note significant figures: unless otherwise indicated, trailing zeros to the left of a decimal point are not significant.
Land vehicles
![](../I/m/ThrustSSC.jpg)
![](../I/m/Sunswift_IVy.jpg)
By type of vehicle
Category | Speed (km/h) | Speed (mph) | Vehicle | Operator | Date | Certifying entity | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Land speed record1 | 1,227.985 | 763.035 | ThrustSSC | Andy Green | 15 Oct 1997 | FIA | [1] |
Wheel-driven1 | 737.794 | 458.444 | Vesco Turbinator | Don Vesco | 18 Oct 2001 | FIA | [2] |
Motorcycle2 | 605.698 | 376.363 | Ack Attack | Rocky Robinson | 25 Sep 2010 | FIM | [3] |
Diesel-powered3 | 563.998 | 350.452 | JCB DieselMax | Andy Green | 23 Aug 2006 | FIA | [2] |
Electric-powered3 | 495.140 | 307.666 | Buckeye Bullet 2.5 | Roger Schroer | 24 Aug 2010 | FIA | [2] |
Steam-powered3 | 238.679 | 148.308 | Inspiration | Don Wales | 25 Aug 2009 | FIA | [2] |
Wind-powered4 | 203.09 | 126.19 | Ecotricity Greenbird | Richard Jenkins | 26 Mar 2009 | NALSA | [4] |
Human-powered5 | 144.17 | 89.58 | AeroVelo Eta | Todd Reichert | 17 Sep 2016 | IHPVA | [5] |
Solar-powered6 | 91.332 | 56.751 | Sky Ace TIGA | Kenjiro Shinozuka | 20 Aug 2014 | GWR | [6] |
Radio-controlled car | 325.12 | 202.02 | RC Bullet | Nic Case | 25 Oct 2014 | GWR | [7][8] |
Tracked vehicle | 82.23 | 51.10 | S2000 Scorpion Peacekeeper | 26 Jan 2002 | GWR | [9] |
- 1.^ Average over two subsequent runs in opposite directions over a 1 mile (1.6 km) course, with flying start[10]
- 2.^ Average over 1 kilometre (0.62 mi), with a flying start
- 3.^ Average over two subsequent runs in opposite directions over a 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) course, with flying start[10]
- 4.^ Average over three seconds
- 5.^ Unpaced on a level surface; average over 200 metres (660 ft), with flying start (For other cycling records, see cycling records)
- 6.^ For vehicles powered entirely by solar power, without batteries
By surface
Category | Speed (km/h) | Speed (mph) | Vehicle | Operator | Date | Certifying entity | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
On ice | 335.7 | 208.6 | Audi RS 6 | Janne Laitinen | 9 Mar 2013 | FIA | [11] |
On the Moon | 18.0 | 11.2 | Apollo 17 Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV-003) | Eugene Cernan | 31 Jul 1972 | (unofficial) | [12] |
On Mars | 0.18 | 0.11 | Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity | Jet Propulsion Laboratory, with semi-autonomous control | Jul 2004 | GWR | [13] |
Rail vehicles
![](../I/m/Rocket_sled_track.jpg)
Category | Speed (km/h) | Speed (mph) | Vehicle | Operator | Date | Certifying entity | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rocket sled | 10,326 | 6,416 | Super Roadrunner | (unmanned) | 29 Apr 2003 | USAF | [14] |
Maglev rocket sled | 1,019 | 633 | USAF rocket sled (unnamed) | (unmanned) | 4 Mar 2016 | USAF | [15] |
Rocket sled (manned) | 1,017 | 632 | Sonic Wind No. 1 | John Stapp | 10 Dec 1954 | USAF | [16] |
Maglev train (manned) | 603 | 375 | SCMaglev L0 Series Shinkansen | 21 Apr 2015 | GWR | [17] | |
Wheeled train | 574.8 | 357.2 | TGV POS V150 | 3 Apr 2007 | [18][19] | ||
Steam train | 202.6 | 125.9 | LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard | Joseph Duddington and Thomas Bray | 3 Jul 1938 | [20][21][22] |
Aircraft
![](../I/m/X-15_in_flight.jpg)
![](../I/m/Lockheed_SR-71_Blackbird.jpg)
Aircraft speed records are based on airspeed, rather than ground speed.
Category | Speed (km/h) | Speed (mph) | Mach number7 | Vehicle | Pilot | Date | Certifying entity | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unmanned aerial vehicle | 21,245 | 13,201 | ~20 | HTV-2 | (unmanned) | 22 Apr 2010 | (unofficial) | [23] |
Manned rocket-powered aircraft | 7,270 | 4,520 | 6.7 | North American X-15A-2 | William J. Knight | 3 Oct 1967 | GWR | [24][25] |
Manned air-breathing craft | 3,530 | 2,190 | 3.33 | Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird #61-7958 |
Eldon W. Joersz | 28 Jul 1976 | FAI | [26] |
Propeller-driven aircraft | 870 | 540 | 0.82 | Tupolev Tu-114 | Ivan Soukhomline | 1960 | FAI | [27][28] |
Piston-engined propeller-driven aircraft | 850.24 | 528.31 | 0.69 | Grumman F8F Bearcat Rare Bear |
Lyle Shelton | 21 Aug 1989 | FAI | [29][30] |
Helicopter8 | 400.87 | 249.09 | 0.33 | Westland Lynx 800 G-LYNX |
John Egginton | 11 Aug 1986 | FAI | [31] |
Glider (sailplane)9 | 306.8 | 190.6 | 0.25 | Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4DM | Klaus Ohlmann and Matias Garcia Mazzaro | 22 Dec 2006 | FAI | [32] |
Electric aircraft10 | 324.02 | 201.34 | 0.26 | Rutan Long-EZ (N89CY) | William M. Yates | 23 Nov 2013 | FAI | [33] |
Airship | 115 | 71 | 0.09 | Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik LZ N07-100 (DLZFN) |
Steve Fossett and Hans-Paul Ströhle | 27 Oct 2004 | FAI | [34] |
Human-powered aircraft | 44.32 | 27.54 | 0.036 | Musculair 2 | Holger Rochelt | 2 Oct 1985 | FAI | [35] |
- 7.^ Mach number depends on ambient temperature, and thus altitude, as well as speed; it is not a direct measure of speed.
- 8.^ Unofficial helicopter speed records by the Sikorsky X2 (460 km/h on 15 September 2010) and the Eurocopter X3 (472 km/h on 7 June 2013) would surpass this record if accepted.
- 9.^ Average speed over an out-and-return course of 500 km
- 10.^ Over a 3-kilometer course
Watercraft
![](../I/m/SpiritOfAustraliaModelBloweringDam.jpg)
Category | Speed (knots) |
Speed (km/h) |
Speed (mph) |
Vehicle | Operator | Date | Certifying entity | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Water speed record | 275.98 | 511.11 | 317.59 | Spirit of Australia | Ken Warby | 8 Oct 1978 | UIM | [36][37] |
Propeller-driven water speed record | 226.78 | 420.00 | 260.97 | Problem Child | Daryl Ehrlich | 22 Nov 2009 | IHBA GWR |
[38][39] |
Wind-powered watercraft | 65.45 | 121.21 | 75.32 | Vestas Sailrocket 2 | Paul Larsen | 24 Nov 2012 | WSSRC | [40][41] |
Hovercraft11 | 74.2 | 137.4 | 85.4 | Universal UH19P Jenny II | Bob Windt | 1 Jan 1995 | WHF GWR |
[42] |
Human-powered watercraft | 18.5 | 34.3 | 21.3 | Decavitator | Mark Drela | 27 Oct 1991 | IHPVA | [43][44] |
Human-powered submarine | 8.035 | 14.881 | 9.247 | Omer 5 | Sebastien Brisebois and Joel Brunet | 28 Jun 2007 | ISR | [45] |
Ground effect vehicle12 (GEV) | 350 | 650 | 400 | Korabl Maket (Naval Prototype) "Caspian Sea Monster" | ca. 1966–1980 | (unofficial) | [46] | |
Underwater vehicle | There is no officially recognized speed record for underwater craft, due to the secretive nature of military vessels. In 1968, a Russian November class submarine reportedly tracked an American carrier group traveling at 31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph).[47] Unmanned torpedo speed claims range from 60 knots (110 km/h; 69 mph) for the British Spearfish torpedo[48] to 200 knots (370 km/h; 230 mph) for the Russian VA-111 Shkval.[49] |
- 11.^ Measured over 1 km with a flying start
- 12.^ Ground effect vehicles (a.k.a. "Wing-In-Ground effect vehicles") are classified as maritime ships, rather than aircraft, by the International Maritime Organization.[50]
Spacecraft
![](../I/m/ApolloX_CommandModule_London.jpg)
In order to unambiguously express the speed of a spacecraft, a frame of reference must be specified. Typically, this frame will be fixed to the celestial body with the largest gravitational influence on the spacecraft, as this is the most relevant frame for most purposes.[51] Velocities in different frames of reference are not directly comparable; the matter of the "fastest spacecraft" depends on the reference frame. Because of the influence of gravity, maximum velocities are usually attained just after launch, at entry, or at time of closest approach to a massive body.
Relative to the Sun
Category | Speed (km/h) | Speed (mph) | Vehicle | Crew | Date | Certifying entity | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Speed relative to the Sun | 252,792 | 157,078 | Helios 2 | (unmanned) | 17 Apr 1976 | NASA | [52] |
Relative to Earth
Category | Speed (km/h) | Speed (mph) | Vehicle | Crew | Date | Certifying entity | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Earth escape | 58,536 | 36,373 | New Horizons | (unmanned) | 19 Jan 2006 | NASA | [53] |
Earth reentry | 46,100 | 28,600 | Stardust | (unmanned) | 15 Jan 2006 | NASA | [54] |
Manned Earth reentry | 39,897 | 24,791 | Apollo 10 CSM Charlie Brown | Thomas Stafford, John W. Young, and Eugene Cernan |
26 May 1969 | NASA | [55] |
Relative to Mars
Category | Speed (km/h) | Speed (mph) | Vehicle | Crew | Date | Certifying entity | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mars atmospheric entry | 27,000 | 17,000 | Mars Pathfinder | (unmanned) | 4 July 1997 | NASA | [56] |
Relative to Jupiter
Category | Speed (km/h) | Speed (mph) | Vehicle | Crew | Date | Certifying entity | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jupiter orbit insertion | 209,000 | 130,000 | Juno | (unmanned) | 04 Jul 2016 | NASA | [57][51] |
Deorbit (atmospheric entry) into Jupiter | 173,736 | 107,955 | Galileo | (unmanned) | 21 Sep 2003 | NASA | [58] |
See also
References
- ↑ "FIA Records List Cat. C" (PDF). Federation Internationale de L'automobile.
- 1 2 3 4 "FIA Records List Cat. A" (PDF). Federation Internationale de L'automobile. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ↑ "Short distance record attempt / Tentative de records de courte distance: Cook Motorsports Private Land Speed Shootout – Bonneville Salt Flats, USA (September 20-25, 2010)". Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ↑ Dill, Bob (April 5, 2009). "Measurement Report: Speed Record Attempt Made by Richard Jenkins in the Yacht Greenbird on March 26, 2009".
- ↑ "IHPVA Official Speed Records". International Human Powered Vehicle Association.
- ↑ "Fastest solar-powered vehicle". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ↑ Vieira, Peter (October 29, 2014). "World Record! Nic Case Breaks the 200mph Barrier". RC Car Action. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
- ↑ "Fastest battery-powered remote-controlled model car (RC)". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
- ↑ "Fastest Tank". Guinness World Records. Guinness World Records Limited. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- 1 2 "D12.3.1 Average Speed". 2016 Appendix D – Regulations For Land Speed Record Attemps. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. December 17, 2015. p. 5.
- ↑ "Audi RS6 sets new ice-speed record". Top Gear. BBC. March 15, 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
- ↑ "Eugene Cernan". Cook County Clerk's Office. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ↑ "NASA Curiosity Rover lands - our top ten Mars-related records". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ↑ "Test sets world land speed record". U.S. Air Force. April 30, 2003. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ↑ Jenson, Randahl J. "633 mph -- nothing to mach". Holloman Air Force Base. United States Air Force. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
- ↑ "Base re-enacts rocket sled test". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. South Carolina. wire reports. December 12, 2004. p. A5.
- ↑ "Japan's maglev train breaks world speed record with 600km/h test run". The Guardian. United Kingdom: Guardian News and Media Limited. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
- ↑ "French set new rail speed record". BBC. 3 April 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
- ↑ "Fastest train on a national rail system". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
- ↑ "Mallard 75: Celebrating Britain's Steam Record". National Railway Museum. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
- ↑ "Men who served on Mallard prepare to be reunited with famous locomotive". Yorkshire Post. Johnston Publishing. June 30, 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
- ↑ "Fastest steam locomotive". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
- ↑ "Falcon HTV-2". Lockheed Martin. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
- ↑ "Fastest Speed in a Non-Spacecraft Aircraft". Guinness World Records. Guinness World Records Limited. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
- ↑ "American X-Vehicles: An Inventory X-1 to X-50" (PDF). NASA. June 2003. p. 23. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
- ↑ Swopes, Bryan (28 July 2014). "This Day in Aviation: Important Dates in Aviation History". FAI World Record for Altitude in Horizontal Flight Archives. FAI. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
- ↑ "Tupolev Tu-114 Rossiya". Aerospaceweb.org. 17 March 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
- ↑ "FAI official database". FAI. Archived from the original on 7 October 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ↑ Lerner, Preston (November 2009). "The Bear Is Back: The winning-est Bearcat in air racing steps up once more to the starting gate". Air & Space. Smithsonian. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ↑ "Powered Aeroplanes World Records". Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ↑ Swopes, Brian R. "11 August 1986". This Day in Aviation. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ↑ "Gliding World Records". Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ↑ "Powered Aeroplanes World Records". Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ↑ Perret, Anne-Laure (January 10, 2006). "World Class Records" (PDF) (Letter). Letter to National Aeronautic Association. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ↑ "Fai Record File:". FAI. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
- ↑ "UIM World Records". Union Internationale Motonautique. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
- ↑ "Water Speed Record (Fastest Boat)". Guinness World Records. Guinness World Records Limited. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
- ↑ "Fastest propeller-driven boat". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
- ↑ "Top Fuel Drag Boat Problem Child Sets World Record". Red Line Oil. December 15, 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
- ↑ "VESTAS Sailrocket 2 Smashes Speed Record". Blue Water Sailing. November 30, 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ↑ "Vestas Sailrocket Smashes World Speed Sailing Record… Again!". PredictWind.com. November 27, 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ↑ "Fastest Hovercraft". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ↑ Wall, Matthew; Drela, Mark; Finberg, Steve. "Decavitator Human-Powered Hydrofoil". Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
- ↑ "Water". International Human Powered Vehicle Association. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ↑ "9th International Subraces Conclude with New World Speed Records". International Submarine Races. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
- ↑ Committee to Perform a Technology Assessment Focused on Logistics Support Requirements for Future Army Combat Systems (1999). Reducing the Logistics Burden for the Army After Next (Report). National Research Council. p. 68.
"This large aircraft has flown at 650 km/h (350 knots) ..."
- ↑ Tyler, Patrick (1986). Running Critical. New York: Harper&Row. pp. 23–26, 34–46.
- ↑ Tovey, Alan (December 16, 2014). "Already faster than a cheetah, the Navy's two-tonne Spearfish torpedoes are getting an upgrade". The Telegraph. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ↑ "VA-111 Shkval torpedo". Military Periscope. December 1, 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ↑ Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Equipment (DE) (November 2001). "Wing-in-Ground (WIG) craft". International Maritime Organization. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
- 1 2 McKinnon, Mika (July 12, 2016). "Was Juno the fastest spacecraft ever? Only kind of.". '"Astronomy. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ↑ "Aircraft Speed Records". Aerospaceweb.org. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
- ↑ O'Callaghan, Jonathan (May 21, 2013). "Five amazing facts about the New Horizons probe". SpaceAnswers.com. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ↑ Hoover, Rachel; Brown, Alan. "NASA Astronomers to Observe Hayabusa Homecoming". NASA. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ↑ Furniss, Tim (2003). "Chapter 5: Apollo". A History of Space Exploration: And It's Future. Lyons Press. p. 67. ISBN 1-58574-650-9. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ↑ Edquist, Karl T.; Dyakonov, Artem T.; Wright, Michael J.; Tang, Chun Y. (June 25, 2011). "Aerothermodynamic Design of the Mars Science Laboratory Backshell and Parachute Cone" (PDF). American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
- ↑ Kremer, Ken (July 9, 2016). "Welcome to Jupiter– NASA's Juno Achives Orbit Around 'King of the Planets'". Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ↑ Bond, Peter (September 21, 2003). "Galileo spacecraft crashes into Jupiter". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 8 July 2016.