Boeing Bird of Prey (YF-118G) vs NASA X-43A
Top speed, range, size and history side by side. Each was built for its own job, so this shows how they differ, not which is better.
The NASA X-43A is faster: 11,000 km/h against 480 km/h for the Boeing Bird of Prey (YF-118G). The Boeing Bird of Prey (YF-118G) flies further: 600 km against 500 km for the NASA X-43A. The Boeing Bird of Prey (YF-118G) has the wider wingspan: 6.9 m against 1.5 m for the NASA X-43A. The Boeing Bird of Prey (YF-118G) is heavier at takeoff: 3.4 tonnes against 1.36 tonnes for the NASA X-43A. The Boeing Bird of Prey (YF-118G) first flew in 1996, 8 years before the NASA X-43A (2004).
| Boeing Bird of Prey (YF-118G) | NASA X-43A |
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| Top speed | 480 km/h (298 mph) | 11,000 km/h (6,835 mph) |
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| Range | 600 km (373 miles) | 500 km (311 miles) |
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| Length | 14.2 m (47 ft) | 3.7 m (12 ft) |
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| Wingspan | 6.9 m (23 ft) | 1.5 m (5 ft) |
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| Max takeoff weight | 3.4 t (7,496 lb) | 1.36 t (2,998 lb) |
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| First flight | 1996 | 2004 |
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| Crew and capacity | 1 pilot | No crew: it is a robot plane |
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| Engines | 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-5C turbofan | 1 × scramjet (an air-breathing engine for hypersonic speed) |
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| Built by | Boeing | NASA |
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| Country | USA | USA |
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