Fastest?

[Gern]

I'm trying to find out which was the fastest fighter aircraft to see active service during WWII. According to a variety of websites I've visited there seem to be three contenders: the Me 163 Komet, Dornier 355 Pfeil and the Spitfire. Does anyone have a definitive answer?

[boatman]

I'm trying to find out which was the fastest fighter aircraft to see active service during WWII. According to a variety of websites I've visited there seem to be three contenders: the Me 163 Komet, Dornier 355 Pfeil and the Spitfire. Does anyone have a definitive answer?

WELL Dave i would say the german comet but thats just a guess but jakko will know
chrisb

[AlanG]

Fastest overall or prop, jet, rocket?

[AlanG]

Me 163 - 954km/hr (Rocket)
Do 335 - 770km/hr (Prop)
Me262 - 870km/hr (Jet)


Spitfire Mk.22/24 was 726km/hr

[Gern]

Fastest overall or prop, jet, rocket?

I just want to know the fastest - whatever sort of propulsion.

[Gern]

Me 163 - 954km/hr (Rocket)
Do 335 - 770km/hr (Prop)
Me262 - 870km/hr (Jet)


Spitfire Mk.22/24 was 726km/hr

So your list would read: Me 163, Me 262, Do 355.

I'd go along with that, but as I said, different websites have different answers so it's all a bit confusing for poor numptys like me! :upside:

[Tim Marlow]

Me 163 - 954km/hr (Rocket)
Do 335 - 770km/hr (Prop)
Me262 - 870km/hr (Jet)


Spitfire Mk.22/24 was 726km/hr

Interesting Alan, and pretty much how I would have ranked them from memory. Some sites do have the DH Hornet as slightly faster than the Do 335, but there is only a couple of mph in it. Not a production specimen, but the RAE recorded a Spitfire diving at about 1000kph as well…..apparently that one broke the prop and swept the wings back a bit though :surprised:

[Guest]

ISTR there being a propeller plane from the Second World War that could just about hit the sound barrier in a dive? But I don’t remember which one that was. Though if “fastest” means “in level flight” then that doesn’t count, of course.

[Tim Marlow]

That was the spitfire Jakko. Mach 0.92.

[Miko]

Depends who you ask and on your definition of a fighter, was the Komet really a fighter or more an interceptor? The Me262 must be the fastest at over five hundred miles per hour, beyond any piston prop driven aircraft, I've read names like Republic P47 Thunderbolt and North American P51 Mustang and Lockheed P38 Lightning?
Although in a dive there was nothing to match the Spitfire with that beautiful elliptical wing and it's high critical mach number

Miko

[Guest]

That was the spitfire Jakko. Mach 0.92.

I’m thinking there was an American one as well, but it’s been so long I read about it that I don’t remember which one I might be thinking of.

[Tim Marlow]

Probably the P-47 Jakko, its size allowed excellent acceleration in a dive and its terminal speed was apparently in excess of 960kph. It was a great escort fighter because it was so big the bombers could hide behind it……

[Gern]

Probably the P-47 Jakko, its size allowed excellent acceleration in a dive and its terminal speed was apparently in excess of 960kph. It was a great escort fighter because it was so big the bombers could hide behind it……

Apparently the pilots quite liked it too. If attacked by an enemy aircraft, they could run and hide behind their seat!