How Fast Is Mach 2 & Can Any Aircraft Get There?

Speed has always been a defining characteristic of aviation – and when Capt. Charles E. Yeager broke the sound barrier in 1947 at Mach 1 in a Bell X-1 rocket-propelled experimental aircraft, it signified a monumental leap in progress. However, the pursuit of reaching Mach 2, or twice the speed of sound, took aviation to new heights, leading to the development of legendary aircraft that could soar at incredible speeds.