40 Years Of Progress -- What has happened to the airplane in four decades is graphically revealed hare of a an Air Force North American F-86 Sabre jet flying by a 1912 model pusher biplane. The Sabre holds the official speed record of 670 miles per hour and is powered with a turbo jet engine with a horsepower rating of 9,000 as compared to 80 horsepower and a cruising speed of 60 miles an hour for the biplane built and flown by Billy Parker. February 29, 1952. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).