Crazy Snap Captain Posted July 13, 2014 Share Posted July 13, 2014 I'd give away a kidney to be able to step into a modern military jet and fang it. Unfortunately that probably won't happen this lifetime, so I was wondering if any of the pilots out there could describe to me what happens and what do you feel/hear/sense, when you go supersonic in an aircraft. Can you hear the sonic boom? Do you get pressed back in your seat? Do you smile and think "f&@k yeah!"? Man I envy you guys! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B2 Rick Posted July 13, 2014 Share Posted July 13, 2014 Certainly no "thrown back in the seat" sensation. You can see shock waves under certain conditions, and you can see an "indicated" jump in airspeed as the pitot statics are affected by the changes in pressure. Pulling g's though is much different and you definitely feel that, especially at 9 g's! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted July 13, 2014 Share Posted July 13, 2014 On the Concorde (Mach 2.2) they installed a Mach meter in the cabin because there was no other way for passengers to know when they were passing through Mach 1. Pretty much the same in any supersonic aircraft. On early supersonic a/c there were often major trim changes required, but more sophisticated design and computers have pretty much eliminated that in modern aircraft. By all accounts it's pretty much a non-event for the pilot. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted July 13, 2014 Share Posted July 13, 2014 Can you hear the sonic boom? The very definition of "supersonic" should answer your question. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Falconxlvi Posted July 13, 2014 Share Posted July 13, 2014 It is pretty uneventful as you push thru the Mach. On incentive flights before the sequestration days, I used to get guys hyped up approaching Mach 1 with a "get ready!" and then, passing the Mach, I would get the reaction of "that was it? Nothing happened" Yep, pretty much. As B2 Rick mentioned, sometimes you get an awesome shock cloud at supersonic speeds, which is always cool to look in the mirrors and see. What really surprises people is the deceleration you can get when you go idle/speed brake from supersonic air speeds. In the Strike Eagle (she's pretty draggy!), the deceleration will throw you forward like hitting the brakes in your car. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Moose135 Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 Can you hear the sonic boom? No boom, but in the T-38, you couldn't hear the instructor in the back seat since you were flying faster than the speed of sound. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Falconxlvi Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 No boom, but in the T-38, you couldn't hear the instructor in the back seat since you were flying faster than the speed of sound. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SteveL Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 sometimes you get an awesome shock cloud at supersonic speeds, which is always cool to look in the mirrors and see. Steve Example of a recent "awesome cloud" I was able to capture a couple of weeks ago. (It was aboard a "Family & Friends" cruise on the USS Harry S. Truman) Video link to the above event. It may be uneventful on the inside but witnessing it from the outside is something I'll never forget!! Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 (edited) Nice pics, Steve! When you go supersonic, you don't feel a thing. Its not the Chuck Yeager story anymore. Planes that are designed to go supersonic go right through "the number" without a blink. The airplane is as comfortable to fly at landing speeds as it is supersonic. Things just happen faster. An F-14 pilot The Cutting Edge -Gregg Edited July 14, 2014 by GreyGhost Quote Link to post Share on other sites
midnightprowler Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 No boom, but in the T-38, you couldn't hear the instructor in the back seat since you were flying faster than the speed of sound. Would the backs eater then hear you before you speak? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
82Whitey51 Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 Well...ya see, in the ol' P-3 Orion... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LanceB Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 Well...ya see, in the ol' P-3 Orion... Tell me about it - I live under a flight path, one passes over every morning so high up it is just a bit more than a spec, but the sonic boom makes you raise your voice if you are trying to talk to someone outside as it passes. ;-) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 SteveL, Thanks for putting up that video. It's really quite impressive. Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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