Speed has always been one of the biggest advantages in warfare. From the early days of jet engines to Cold War arms races, nations pushed aircraft to fly faster and higher than ever thought possible.

The Nord Griffon was France’s radical answer to the Cold War need for a super fast interceptor, combining a turbojet and a ramjet in one extraordinary aircraft. With its giant intake, delta wing, and ...

The Macchi-Castoldi MC.72 was Italy’s extraordinary answer to the Schneider Trophy era, built to reclaim national prestige through raw speed after Britain had taken the lead in racing seaplanes.

The fastest military aircraft ever built—from the SR-71 Blackbird to the MiG-25 Foxbat—were designed during the Cold War to outrun missiles, evade defenses, and intercept threats at extreme speeds ...