A commercial jet can break the sound barrier?
Author: admin Category: 5
For example a A-320, 767 or maybe a Jumbo.
Not normally, or at least not since the Concorde and TU-144 went out of service.
However, not many people remember that the first supersonic jet airliner was actually a Douglas DC-8. Granted, the aircraft was designed to fly at high-subsonic speeds, and could only break the speed of sound in a dive, but on August 21, 1961 it did just that:
"News Extra - A DC8.org Exclusive!
Wednesday, August 21, 1961
Douglas Passenger Jet Breaks Sound Barrier
DC8.org Newswire
Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. - The Douglas Aircraft Company has broken yet another record with its DC-8 aircraft. Earlier today, during a routine certification test flight, Douglas Chief Pilot Bill Magruder flew the aircraft faster than the speed of sound, making the DC-8 the first Commercial Jet Transport to break the sound barrier. After climbing to an altitude of 52,090 feet, the DC-8-42 series aircraft attained a maximum speed of Mach 1.012 or 660 mph while in a controlled dive through 41,088 feet. The purpose of the flight was to collect data on a new leading-edge design for the wing.
A Lockheed F-104 Starfighter and a North American F-100 Super Sabre accompanied the record setting flight to confirm the data.
Upon completion of flight testing, the record setting aircraft will be delivered to Canadian Pacific Air Lines for regular scheduled service.
In June, the DC-8 set 3 speed records while being operated by Delta Airlines."
September 18th, 2009
not under normal conditions…the concorde was supersonic but all have been retired
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September 18th, 2009
The Concord did before it was grounded after the crash a few years back.
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September 18th, 2009
if there was, i would luv to fly it!
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September 18th, 2009
Commercial jetliners cruise at around 570 MPH. The sound barrier is about 710 MPH.
The 747 continues to be the world’s fastest subsonic jetliner, cruising at Mach 0.85 — or 85 percent of the speed of sound.
References :
http://www.hypertextbook.com/facts/2002/JobyJosekutty.shtml
September 18th, 2009
no, commercial jets cruise at around 500 to 600 miles per hour. thats about two hundred fifty miles an hour shy of the sound barrier.
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my incredible brain
September 18th, 2009
None currently fly that speed. Japan and France are currently working on a replacement for the Concorde and NASA is workking on a space plane
References :
http://www.livescience.com/technology/ ap_050615_heir_concorde.html
oea.larc.nasa.gov/PAIS/HSR-General.html
September 18th, 2009
The Concord used to fly supersonic, before they were retired. Today there are no jets flying commercially, that break the sound barrier.
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September 18th, 2009
Can they? Yes, but then they would most likely break apart, having exceeded their structural limits.
Airliners (other than Concorde and TU-144) have a Mmo (Mach maximum operating speed) well below Mach 1 (speed of sound).
Boeing 777 cruises at Mach .87 and is one of the fastest modern airliners, but still slower than the old Boeing 727s that have a max cruise of Mach .90.
Cessna Citation X is THE fastest civilian aircraft (currently operational) and it cruises at Mach .92, it is a Business Jet but can be certified as a commercial aircraft under part 135.
References :
I am an Airline Transport Pilot
September 18th, 2009
Not normally, or at least not since the Concorde and TU-144 went out of service.
However, not many people remember that the first supersonic jet airliner was actually a Douglas DC-8. Granted, the aircraft was designed to fly at high-subsonic speeds, and could only break the speed of sound in a dive, but on August 21, 1961 it did just that:
"News Extra - A DC8.org Exclusive!
Wednesday, August 21, 1961
Douglas Passenger Jet Breaks Sound Barrier
DC8.org Newswire
Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. - The Douglas Aircraft Company has broken yet another record with its DC-8 aircraft. Earlier today, during a routine certification test flight, Douglas Chief Pilot Bill Magruder flew the aircraft faster than the speed of sound, making the DC-8 the first Commercial Jet Transport to break the sound barrier. After climbing to an altitude of 52,090 feet, the DC-8-42 series aircraft attained a maximum speed of Mach 1.012 or 660 mph while in a controlled dive through 41,088 feet. The purpose of the flight was to collect data on a new leading-edge design for the wing.
A Lockheed F-104 Starfighter and a North American F-100 Super Sabre accompanied the record setting flight to confirm the data.
Upon completion of flight testing, the record setting aircraft will be delivered to Canadian Pacific Air Lines for regular scheduled service.
In June, the DC-8 set 3 speed records while being operated by Delta Airlines."
References :
http://www.dc8.org/library/supersonic/index.php
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1875671366/002-0691806-1434453?v=glance&n=283155
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=3890
September 18th, 2009
The Concorde
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wikipedia
September 18th, 2009
If you put the plane into a steep dive it could make it.
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September 18th, 2009
Under controlled flight no current commercial aircraft can break the sound barrier.
Several current planes do fly above Mach .8, but none go over Mach .9.
One company is building a business jet capable of Mach1, but is not in production as of yet.
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September 18th, 2009
The only commercial supersonic jet was the concorde. (it’s out service now) An airliner COULD go faster than sound, but it’d be more acurate to say that the sound barrier would brake the jet, rather than the jet brakin sound. It’d go mach, but be in a million pieces.– The air buildup in front of a fast jet rapidly increases the closer to Mach (speed of sound) it gets. Our first pilots trying it were killed, cuz it’s like flying into an invisible brick wall. You’ll notice all +mach jets are "needle" shaped. With swept back wings. This spreads the pressure buildup enough for the plane to literally pierce the sound barrier.
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