It was a year of progress for an industry intent on becoming greener with alternative-energy aircraft and more sustainable fuel.

Each year, a few categories come and go within our list of the best aircraft of the last 12 months. This year, we added space flight. What once seemed like science fiction or merely the realm of aeronautic science is now becoming a commercial reality. This last year saw Virgin Galactic and SpaceX perform successful missions into space—and back. Expect more leaps forward in the next 12 months.

It is an interesting time for not only space travel, but private aviation, too. While larger and larger jets are flying farther and faster, smaller personal jets and enthusiast aircraft are thriving as well. And let’s not forget the vertical takeoff and landing craft that shifted into hyperdevelopment mode. There’s never been a more exciting time to be airborne.