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These five aircraft represent the most advanced technology in military flying. The newest are the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-22 Raptor.

Five military jets

AV-8B HARRIER II

A vertical/short take-off and landing (VST0L) attack piane. The Harrier can swivel its jet nozzles downward and take-off straight up in the air. Top speed about Mach 0.98.

F-15E STRIKE EAGLE

A U.S. fighter and ground attack piane, the F-15E madę its first flight in 1986 and is still in service. It has a crew of one pilot and one weapons officer. Top speed Mach 2.5.

F-117 Nighthawk

A stealthy attack piane designed to be invisible to enemy radar. The Nighthawk madę its first flight in 1981 but has now retired from active service. Top speed Mach 0.9.

Eurofighter Typhoon

A twin-engine European fighter. The Typhoon madę its first flight in 1994 and entered service with the German Air Force in 2003. Top speed Mach 2+.

F-22 Raptor

A twin-engine jet fighter designed to replace the F-15, the Raptor entered service in 2005.

Top speed Mach 2+.

Air frame: Titanium alloy is used for the air frame (body) to enable the piane to withstand high temperatures

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Mach numbers

Engine: Two Pratt & Whitney J58 jet engines specially developed for the Blackbird

name	Mach no.	fact
subsonic	below Mach 1	modern airliners usually travel at Mach 0.75-0.8
sonie	Mach 1	this is the speed of sound— 768 mph (1,236 kph)
transonic	between Mach 0.8 and 1.2	the region either side of the speed of sound
supersonic ^1	between Mach 1.2 and 5	some military jets are supersonic
hypersonic	over Mach 5	a few experimental aircraft are hypersonic
		- grsar-ni-

I don t I believe it ■

Fast planes heat up as they hurtle through the air. Concorde grew up to 25 cm (10 in) ionger during a flight, because it flew so fast and heated up so much. Of course, it shrank back to its original length when it cooled down again.

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4-3		d	B o
CD		o	&
O		o	LO
n 3 4-3	4	0 1	CO )-4 CD	100
i	s	OJ	T3
a	a	s	B	(A

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FAST FACTS

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