The X-43 accelerates to nearly Mach 9.8, November 16, 2004.

NASA's supersonic combustion ramjet, or scramjet, screamed into aviation history on November 16, 2004 when it accelerated to nearly Mach 9.8, or 7,000 miles per hour. NASA's oldest aircraft, a modified B-52, carried the the X-43 aloft. Mated to a Pegasus booster rocket, the X-43 was released, then ascended to 110,000 feet. The X-43 separated from the booster and flew to nearly Mach 10. Credit: NASA

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