Since the dawn of aviation, certain planes have made history with their innovative design, record-breaking feats, and pioneering achievements. Here, we celebrate 15 outstanding aircraft that have earned their place in the hall of fame, inspiring generations with their legacy and continuing to awe and inspire us today.

Wright Flyer (1903)

It was the first powered, heavier-than-air aircraft to achieve controlled, sustained flight. Constructed by Wilbur and Orville Wright in Dayton, Ohio, it was assembled in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The machine was flown four times on December 17, 1903, to distances of 120, 175, 200, and 852 feet. It used a 12-horsepower gasoline engine to power two pusher propellers.

Spirit of St. Louis (1927) 

Charles Lindbergh flew on the Spirit of St. Louis for the first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean. The flight was from Long Island, New York, to Le Bourget, near Paris, from May 20 to 21, 1927. The Spirit of St. Louis had no radio, and an extension of the nose cowling replaced the windshield so Lindbergh could only see directly from the side windows.

Supermarine Spitfire (1938) 

A British fighter plane that played a vital role in World War II. It had a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, producing 1,030 horsepower. Designed by R. J. Mitchell, who also built the Schneider Trophy seaplanes, the Spitfire had a higher performance than the Hurricane, the other main RAF fighter. Around 70 Spitfires remain airworthy, and many more are displayed worldwide in aviation museums. 

Douglas DC-3 (1936)

In just 18 hours, the DC-3 could cross the United States from New York to Los Angeles, with only three stops along the way. Production of the civilian DC-3 ended in 1943, with a total of 607 aircraft produced, while many military versions were also manufactured. It had the ability to use grass or dirt runways and could contain 21 to 32 passengers or 6,000 pounds of cargo. 

Boeing B-29 Superfortress (1942) 

Having the ability to fly at high altitudes, the Superfortress was ideal for strategic bombing, but it also proved effective in low-altitude night incendiary bombing and naval mine laying. Despite being retired in the early 1960s, the B-29 remained in service for over a decade, with a total of 3,970 aircraft built during its production run.

de Havilland Comet (1952) 

The de Havilland DH.106 Comet made history as the world’s first commercial jet airliner, launching in 1949 and entering service in 1952. Developed and manufactured by de Havilland in the UK, the Comet had an aerodynamically clean design, featuring four de Havilland Ghost turbojet engines buried in the wing roots. This aircraft also saw various military adaptations, including VIP transport, medical evacuation, and surveillance roles.

Boeing 707 (1958) 

An early American long-range narrow-body airliner, it made its maiden flight on December 20, 1957. Boeing 707 hosted a larger fuselage cross-section, accommodating six-abreast economy seating. As the first jetliner to achieve widespread acceptance, the 707 dominated passenger air transport in the 1960s and has remained a common sight in the skies through the 1970s.

X-15 (1959) 

The United States Air Force and NASA jointly operated the X-15 as part of the X-plane series, a program dedicated to experimental aircraft. On October 7, 1967, William J. Knight piloted the X-15 to its highest speed, reaching an astonishing 4,520 miles per hour, or Mach 6.7, at an altitude of 102,100 feet. The X-15 remains the official record holder for the fastest speed ever attained by a crewed, powered aircraft.

SR-71 Blackbird (1964) 

Building on the success of the Lockheed A-12, the Lockheed Corporation made the SR-71 Blackbird a strategic supersonic reconnaissance aircraft. Its reduced radar cross-section made it harder to detect. NASA operated the SR-71 Blackbird until 1999, utilizing its unique capabilities for research purposes. In 1976, the SR-71 Blackbird set a world record as the fastest air-breathing manned aircraft.

Concorde (1969) 

In a historic collaboration, Great Britain and France joined forces to develop the Concorde. On March 2, 1969, it took to the skies for its maiden test flight. The Concorde is capable of reaching incredible speeds of up to Mach 2.04 (1,354 miles per hour). A fatal crash in 2000 and escalating costs sealed the Concorde’s fate, and it made its final flight in 2003.

Airbus A320 (1988) 

When it was introduced in April 1988, the A320 became the first civil aircraft to utilize fly-by-wire technology, a feature that would become a standard in modern aviation. As part of the A320 family, which includes the A318, A319, and A321, the A320 has become the highest-selling airliner of all time, with over 18,000 orders and 11,000 deliveries.

B-2 Spirit (1997)

The B-2 Spirit, commonly referred to as the Stealth Bomber, is a heavy strategic bomber developed by Northrop and manufactured between 1987 and 2000. In 1997, the B-2 entered service, and it saw its first combat action in the Kosovo War two years later, dropping conventional, non-nuclear ordnance. As of 2024, the United States Air Force operates a fleet of nineteen B-2s, expected to remain in service until 2032, when the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider will replace them.

F-22 Raptor (2005)

At $150 million per unit and a total program cost of $67.3 billion, the F-22 represents a significant investment in military capability. Developed by Lockheed Martin and Boeing, the F-22 Raptor is a fifth-generation, twin-engine stealth tactical fighter aircraft. The Raptor’s advanced computer system can process over 10 billion calculations per second, making it one of the fastest computers in the world.

Airbus A380 (2007)

The A380 was one of the most expensive aircraft development programs in history (about $25 billion). Launched on December 19, 2000, the Airbus A380 is the world’s largest passenger airliner and the only full-length double-deck jet airliner. As of December 2022, 237 A380s were in service with 16 operators worldwide. With a maximum certified capacity of 853 passengers, the A380 is a behemoth of the skies. 

Boeing 787 Dreamliner (2009)

Despite early teething issues with its lithium-ion batteries, including onboard fires, the 787 has established a strong safety record with no fatalities or hull losses as of May 2024. Certified in August 2011, the Dreamliner was delivered to its launch customer, ANA, in September 2011 and entered commercial service on October 26, 2011. The twinjet can carry up to 248 passengers over 7,305 nautical miles.