747FOCAL - Not so sure about that.

I've seen the B727 max quoted as M0.82.

The VC10 used to be M0.92 in the good old days, but is now only 0.88 in an attempt prolong airframe life.

I believe the Convair CV 880/990 Coronado, and possibly a Tupolev (154?) were faster.

And Concorde of course. :D

BP

Brain Potter,

The 727 was originally certified to operate at 0.92 until the gas crunch of the 70s hit and they throttled them back. I have flight test video of one doing 0.97 and the pilots that were flying said they had no doubt they could have gotten real close or even broken the sound barrier in level flight. Maybe the wings would have come off, but who knows. :E

IIRC, we learned how the same way the Soviets learned how....you lot gave us one.