Mach 10 speed has never been achieved by a manned aircraft, though, so it has never been tested. Mach 10 has, however, been achieved by a spacecraft - on November 16, 2004, NASA launched the X-43A, an air-breathing hypersonic vehicle, and was able to reach real Mach 10 while being pushed into the atmosphere.

In 2026, reaching Mach 10 (ten times the speed of sound, or approx. 7,600 mph) remains primarily the domain of experimental unmanned vehicles and spacecraft during re-entry. While no commercial passenger plane currently operates at this speed, the aerospace industry is seeing a "Hypersonic Renaissance." Research projects like the X-43A have successfully demonstrated scramjet technology at speeds exceeding Mach 9. In 2025 and early 2026, firms like Hyperian Aerospace have unveiled designs for "Hyperliners" intended to eventually reach Mach 10 using a combination of hydrogen-powered rocket propulsion and next-gen scramjets. At Mach 10, an aircraft could theoretically fly from New York to London in under 30 minutes. However, the physical challenges are immense: at these speeds, the friction between the air and the aircraft's skin generates temperatures exceeding 3,000°F (1,650°C), requiring advanced carbon-composite materials and active cooling systems that are still being perfected for human-crewed flight. For now, Mach 10 remains a milestone being chased by the military and high-end aerospace labs.