While it's no longer in service, the SR-71 remains the undisputed champion of speed for manned aircraft.
It's important to note that there are other aircraft that can achieve higher speeds, but they are either unmanned or experimental:
* X-15 - A rocket-powered aircraft that reached Mach 6.7 (4,520 mph or 7,280 km/h) in 1967.
* X-51A Waverider - An unmanned experimental aircraft that reached Mach 5.1 (3,900 mph or 6,300 km/h) in 2010.
While these aircraft have broken speed records, they are not considered "planes" in the traditional sense, as they are primarily used for research and development.
