It seems logical that modern fighter jets would be faster than those that flew half a century ago. But the opposite is true. The Vietnam-era F-4 Phantom could reach Mach 2.2, or about 1,500 mph, while ...

Designed for speed above all else, the F-104 broke every rule of jet design. With razor-thin wings, a rocket-like climb rate, and the world’s first Mach 2 combat engine, it became both a symbol of ...