Comments on: A commercial jet can break the sound barrier?

By: dale5of7

dale5of7 — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:45:59 +0000

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.
References :

By: fargodakota

fargodakota — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:35:59 +0000

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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By: wbpinhead

wbpinhead — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:16:59 +0000

If you put the plane into a steep dive it could make it.
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By: law.wire

law.wire — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:48:59 +0000

The Concorde
References :
wikipedia

By: missinglincoln

missinglincoln — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:27:59 +0000

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

By: frankclau

frankclau — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:18:59 +0000

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

By: Kipper

Kipper — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:31:59 +0000

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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By: shepherdofgarrett

shepherdofgarrett — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:06:59 +0000

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

By: prince uranus

prince uranus — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 06:53:59 +0000

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.
References :
my incredible brain

By: tonalc1

tonalc1 — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 06:21:59 +0000

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