XF4D Skyray

Image of a plane in the sky with red text on dark blue background.

In the 1950s, this tail-less jet fighter was considered the fastest plane. It was based on data captured in Germany in the 1930s. When it was first tested, it reached 50,000 feet in two minutes and thirty-six seconds. Making the plane tail-less let it reach heights faster and help pilots with maneuvering. It was made with the intent to quickly catch up to opponent planes. It is called the Skyray for its similarity of the sea creature manta ray.