Can a 747 go supersonic?

Did you know that a cargo-carrying Boeing 747 once inadvertently flew supersonically? Reports from 1991 suggest that the aircraft reached a speed of Mach 1.25 while rapidly descending due to a malfunction. While this was never confirmed, this could be the fastest that a commercial Queen of the Skies has ever flown.

Can a 747 break the speed of sound?

Speed of sound is relative, so it depends on many factors. A 747 will never break the sound barrier.

Can airliners go supersonic?

The crew were William Magruder (pilot), Paul Patten (copilot), Joseph Tomich (flight engineer), and Richard H. Edwards (flight test engineer). This is the first supersonic flight by a civilian airliner.

Can a 747 fly faster than the speed of sound?

Answer: The Boeing 747 can cruise at 92% of the speed of sound, Mach . 92. It is very rarely flown at this speed due to the increased fuel burn required. Most modern jets fly around 80% of the speed of sound, Mach .

Why is supersonic flight illegal?

In the 1950s and '60s, Americans filed some 40,000 claims against the Air Force, whose supersonic jets were making a ruckus over land. Then in 1973, the FAA banned overland supersonic commercial flights because of sonic booms—a prohibition that remains in effect today.

Can The 747 Really Fly Supersonic? - Modern Supersonic Plane

Why don t we hear sonic booms anymore?

Why don't we ever hear sonic booms any more? Noise abatement regulations halted supersonic flight (by civil aircraft) over U.S. land. The Concorde could still take off and land here because it broke the sound barrier over the ocean, but it's no longer in service.

Is it illegal to go Mach 1?

Currently, U.S. law prohibits flight in excess of Mach 1 over land unless specifically authorized by the FAA for purposes stated in the regulations. The two supersonic rulemaking activities would not rescind the prohibition of flight in excess of Mach 1 over land.

What is the highest a 747 has ever flown?

Boeing widebodies

The German flag carrier also flies the modern 747-8, which has a service ceiling of 43,100 ft (13,137 m).

What is the largest plane to break the sound barrier?

Seventy-five years ago, on October 14, 1947, the Bell X-1 Glamorous Glennis, piloted by U.S. Air Force Captain Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager, became the first airplane to fly faster than the speed of sound (Mach 1). The experimental purpose-built aircraft reached 1,127 kilometers (700 miles) per hour (Mach 1.06).

Do jet pilots hear the sonic boom?

If you're WONDERing about how pilots handle sonic booms, they actually don't hear them. They can see the pressure waves around the plane, but people on board the airplane can't hear the sonic boom. Like the wake of a ship, the boom carpet unrolls behind the airplane.

Can military jets go supersonic?

Military fighter jets are capable travelling at speeds faster than the speed of sound. This critical speed of approximately 1,225km/h is known as Mach 1 - exceeding Mach 1 is known as going supersonic.

Do military jets go supersonic over land?

Supersonic operations over land must be conducted above 30,000 feet or, when below 30,000 feet, in specially designated areas approved by Headquarters United States Air Force, Washington, D.C., and the Federal Aviation Administration. The Air Force continues to expand its knowledge of sonic boom.

Has a 747 ever crashed?

On July 28, 2011, Asiana Airlines Flight 991, a 747-400F, caught fire and crashed in the sea near Jeju island, killing both crew members. On April 29, 2013, National Airlines Flight 102, 747-400BCF, stalled and crashed shortly after taking off from Bagram Airfield in Bagram, killing all seven crew members.

Why is it illegal to break the sound barrier?

Breaking the sound barrier leads to a sonic boom. And regulators have determined that people need to be protected from sonic booms. Planes produce sound waves when they travel. At under Mach 1, these waves propagate in front of a plane.

How loud is a 747 jet engine?

A Boeing 747 jet engine.

If you stood with your head inside the engine, you'd hear a 165 decibel roar. We don't recommend doing this; the human ear drum breaks instantly when exposed to sounds louder than 160 decibels. The sound of takeoff, if you're nearby, is around 140 decibels.

Has anyone gone Mach 10?

Mach 10 speed has never been achieved by a manned aircraft, though, so it has never been tested. Mach 10 has, however, been achieved by a spacecraft - on November 16, 2004, NASA launched the X-43A, an air-breathing hypersonic vehicle, and was able to reach real Mach 10 while being pushed into the atmosphere.

Can a human survive Mach 10?

You would die. Parts of your body would tear off in the wind and and you would disintegrate. Actually accelerating your arms and legs back and forwards to run at that speed would pulverise muscles and bones. Ten times the speed of sound with is around 3 km per second.

Can a 747 fly on one engine?

While it's very clear that a 747 cannot fly properly with the failure of three engines, we can see that a single functioning engine would at least extend the aircraft's distance and prolong its time in the air.

How many 747 are left?

747-400 (191)

Excluding General Electric's testbed jet, 24 747-400 passenger jets remain active, though only ten are in regular passenger service. The largest operator is Lufthansa, which deploys the giant jet on Asia and American bound-services out of its hub at Frankfurt (FRA).

What is replacing the Boeing 747?

Boeing's 777X, its latest passenger plane model and projected replacement for the 747, is set for delivery in 2025.

Has a car ever broken Mach 1?

ThrustSSC holds the current World Land Speed Record which was set on October 15, 1997, by accomplishing a speed of 763 mph. By doing so, the supersonic car became the first land vehicle to officially break the sound barrier.

How loud is a sonic boom?

Sonic booms generate enormous amounts of sound energy, about 110 decibels, like the sound of an explosion or a thunderclap.

Why can't you break the sound barrier over land?

Flying so close to the ground, the air is denser and creates more friction and drag – and, anyway, pilots are banned from breaking the sound barrier over land.