PILOT SPIN

Pilot Zone => Pilot Zone => Topic started by: President-Elect Bob Noel on November 26, 2019, 09:40:24 AM

Title: The "sound barrier"
Post by: President-Elect Bob Noel on November 26, 2019, 09:40:24 AM
Everytime I watch something about the X-1 breaking the sound barrier, I want to scream at the TV about bullets and artillery shells traveling at speeds in excess of 2-3x the speed of sound.   arrrggghhhhh

Back in the day before the X-1 flew faster than mach 1, people were talking about the barrier all the while other people were routinely computing ballistic tables for supersonic artillery and bullets.

Title: Re: The "sound barrier"
Post by: Anthony on November 26, 2019, 09:47:56 AM
Everytime I watch something about the X-1 breaking the sound barrier, I want to scream at the TV about bullets and artillery shells traveling at speeds in excess of 2-3x the speed of sound.   arrrggghhhhh

Back in the day before the X-1 flew faster than mach 1, people were talking about the barrier all the while other people were routinely computing ballistic tables for supersonic artillery and bullets.

I never understood that either.  They even designed the X-1 based on the .50 caliber BMG projectile (bullet), so they obviously knew it was stable through Mach 1. 
Title: Re: The "sound barrier"
Post by: Becky (My pronouns are Assigned/By/God) on November 26, 2019, 09:55:15 AM
Early Fake News.
Title: Re: The "sound barrier"
Post by: Username on November 26, 2019, 10:01:18 AM
And here I thought it was a barrier liberals have that prevents them from hearing the truth.
Title: Re: The "sound barrier"
Post by: Little Joe on November 26, 2019, 10:36:56 AM
I think you are over reacting.  There is a big difference between a small, solid projectile and a large, self propelled, manned (or man capable) vehicle exceeding the speed of sound in a sustained way.
Title: Re: The "sound barrier"
Post by: Username on November 26, 2019, 10:51:55 AM
I think you are over reacting.  There is a big difference between a small, solid projectile and a large, self propelled, manned (or man capable) vehicle exceeding the speed of sound in a sustained way.
The problem wasn't so much going faster than sound, but rather doing it in a controlled manner.  Shock waves moving onto control surfaces were an unknown problem finally solved by the flying tail.
Title: Re: The "sound barrier"
Post by: Anthony on November 26, 2019, 10:57:56 AM
The problem wasn't so much going faster than sound, but rather doing it in a controlled manner.  Shock waves moving onto control surfaces were an unknown problem finally solved by the flying tail.

That's a good point.  A bullet like projectile, or artillery shell with no control services obviously was able to stay stabilized through Mach 1, but not with wings, tail, horizontal stabilizer, etc., until they made the modification. 
Title: Re: The "sound barrier"
Post by: President-Elect Bob Noel on November 26, 2019, 11:20:36 AM
That's a good point.  A bullet like projectile, or artillery shell with no control services obviously was able to stay stabilized through Mach 1, but not with wings, tail, horizontal stabilizer, etc., until they made the modification.

actually, the transition from supersonic to subsonic causes bullet MOA to increase (the bullet exits the barrel at supersonic speed)... most noticable with rimfire.
Title: Re: The "sound barrier"
Post by: Anthony on November 26, 2019, 11:24:59 AM
actually, the transition from supersonic to subsonic causes bullet MOA to increase (the bullet exits the barrel at supersonic speed)... most noticable with rimfire.

Yes, I think I've read that.  It can't be too much, because you can still get some really great accuracy at distance, after the transition.  I reload, not for Rimfire obviously, so only know enough about ballistics to get into trouble.  :)