Quiz - Supersonic flight
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Quiz - Supersonic flight
Hi Chaps
The supersonic thread has got me interested.............
So here is a quiz -
What were the first three (different) British aircraft to achieve in excess of Mach 1 (and I dont mean in level flight) and when?
Best regards
Paul
The supersonic thread has got me interested.............
So here is a quiz -
What were the first three (different) British aircraft to achieve in excess of Mach 1 (and I dont mean in level flight) and when?
Best regards
Paul
- Dyl Roberts
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A Spitfire, or any other WW2 aircraft, couldn't actually get anywhere near to Mach 1. However, the control problems associated with 'compressibility' led some pilots to believe that they were.Dyl Roberts wrote:Not too sure about the three, but I did watch a documentary about how they kept loosing Spitfires during WWII due to controll restriction of supersonic flight, so I'd say the spit would be one of the first, as they were going supersonic unknowingly.
If the DH108 was the first, I'd bet the Hunter is one of the top 3. As for the other, Supermarine Swift maybe? :think:
James
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Correct.It was one of the 60 series powered Merlin Spits too.Vixus wrote:The Spitfire reached Mach 0.92 in a dive, the fastest ever in a prop aircraft. There were stories of control reversal due to supersonic speeds though.
The prop and gearbox were ripped off and a successful "dead-stick"
landing made.
Can't remember who the pilot was but I'll try and find out.
*Addition*
Summer 1943,Spit PRIX flown by Sqn Ldr James Tobin,recorded Mach 0.92(650 TAS) between 25000' and 30000'.
Prior to that Phil Lucas touched 575mph(0.76) during a full throttle dive
at 20000' in the prototype Tempest.
Mark :-({|=
Last edited by migman29 on 02 May 2006, 18:57, edited 1 time in total.
You could see him thinking "Bleedin'pilots,don't know nuffin.All glammer" He's probably right.
A/C.2 Webber,Manston,1941,First Light by Geoff Wellum.
A/C.2 Webber,Manston,1941,First Light by Geoff Wellum.
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