The fastest planes which can chase the sun around the world
Published on Sep 23, 2025 at 8:10 PM (UTC+4)
by Callum Tokody
Last updated on Sep 23, 2025 at 8:10 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Only two of the fastest planes in aviation history, the SR-71 Blackbird and the Concorde, ever approached the speed needed to match Earth’s rotation.
These supersonic jets served different purposes but proved that sustained flight at extreme speeds was possible.
The Concorde carried paying passengers across oceans, while the SR-71 Blackbird operated in military reconnaissance.
Their records raised the question of whether any aircraft could stay in daylight by flying fast enough to follow the sun.
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Racing the sun at supersonic speeds
Keeping ahead of Earth’s rotation requires flying faster than 1,037 miles per hour, the speed of the planet at the equator.
The Concorde met that threshold with ease, cruising at Mach 2 during its commercial service.
In 1995, it circled the globe in just over 31 hours.
Multiple refueling stops slowed the trip, preventing the aircraft from holding daylight the entire way.
The SR-71 Blackbird achieved even higher performance.
It flew at Mach 3 and could refuel in the air, giving it far greater reach than other supersonic jets.
In 1971, it flew more than 15,000 miles in just over 10 hours, averaging 1,400 miles per hour.
That record made it the only proven aircraft fast and efficient enough to keep pace with the sun.
Other supersonic jets, such as the MiG-25 Foxbat, were capable of similar top speeds but lacked the efficiency to operate over long distances.
What comes after the fastest planes
Neither the Concorde nor the SR-71 Blackbird flies today.
The Concorde left service in 2003, while the SR-71 Blackbird retired in 1999.
New supersonic jets are in development, including Boom Supersonic’s Overture, which is expected to reach Mach 1.7.
Military fighters like the Dassault Rafale and F-22 Raptor can supercruise above Mach 1.4 without afterburners, and with aerial refueling, they could in theory match the pace needed to follow the sun.
Strict rules on supersonic flight over populated areas limit where such missions could happen.
The technical challenge goes beyond speed. Endurance, range, and fuel logistics are equally critical to make continuous daylight flight possible.
The fastest planes of the past, the Concorde and the SR-71 Blackbird, proved that supersonic jets could reach the required pace.
Whether modern designs can combine that speed with efficiency will determine if another generation of aircraft can fly fast enough to stay with the sun.
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Callum Tokody is a content writer at Supercar Blondie, where he covers the latest in the automotive world with a focus on design and performance. Callum has a background in automotive journalism and has contributed to a range of publications in Australia and the UK. Outside of work, he’s a design enthusiast with a soft spot for anything with a V8 and a good story.
