Fighter jets are known for their speed. America’s latest aircraft, like the F-22 Raptor, can hit Mach 2 or roughly 1,500 mph, while the F-35 Lightning II reaches top speeds of Mach 1.6 or 1,200 mph. Mach numbers are hard to visualize. The best way to judge a fighter jet’s abilities is letting it fly across the continental United States and comparing it with the time of an average commercial flight.
The most popular commercial route in the U.S. is between New York-JFK and Los Angeles International which sits on both coasts of the country. The two airports are around 2,475 miles apart, with an average flight time between the two cities of five to six hours. Airliner speeds vary greatly depending on factors like wind, passenger load, and traffic.
The Boeing 737, one of the most popular airliners in the world, has a cruise rate of 460 knots or 530 mph for the Max 8 variant, or about Mach 0.69. An F-22 flying at maximum speed can fly from New York to Los Angeles in about 1 hour and 37 minutes, while the F-35 will take around 2 hours and 4 minutes to complete the flight.
Other jets can fly fast too
The F-22 and F-35 prioritize stealth over speed, so we should look at some other planes in the United States’ inventory. The F-16 Fighting Falcon has a top speed of Mach 2.0 or 1,535 mph while the F-15EX Eagle II can fly continuously at Mach 2.5 or 1,918 mph. Taking the same route, they can fly between NY and LA in 1 hour and 18 minutes and 1 hour and 37 minutes, respectively.
Most of these jets do not have the range to fly between the two cities on a single tank, especially at maximum power. Only the F-15EX Eagle II can potentially make the hop without refueling with its 2,992-mile ferry range, but that is likely not with the airplane at peak capacity.
The SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance jet holds the highest speed record for any crewed aircraft at Mach 3.3 or 2,193.2 mph. If it takes the same route, it can cross the United States in 1 hour and 8 minutes. It can do so without refueling, as it has a range of 3,682 miles on a single tank of JP-7.
