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Breaking the sound barrier, also known as going boom, refers to an aircraft reaching supersonic speed, which is faster than the speed of sound. The first person to break the sound barrier in level flight was Chuck Yeager in 1947, flying at an altitude of 45,000 feet. Breaking the sound barrier creates a sonic boom that can be heard and felt on the ground, but it does not cause aircraft to break apart or shed metal shavings, as was previously believed. Today, jets are permitted to break the sound barrier in certain situations, such as over the ocean or during emergencies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Possibility of jets breaking the sound barrier | Yes |
| Jet that broke the sound barrier | Bell X-1 |
| Date of Bell X-1 breaking the sound barrier | 14 October 1947 |
| Pilot of Bell X-1 | Chuck Yeager |
| Altitude at which sound barrier was broken | 45,000 ft (13.7 km) |
| Jet that made the jump to supersonic speed in 2023 | F-16 Fighting Falcon |
| Jet that reportedly broke the sound barrier in 1945 | Messerschmitt Me 262 |
| Speed of Messerschmitt Me 262 | 1,100 kilometres per hour (680 mph) |
| Possibility of civilian jets breaking the sound barrier | Yes, but banned over the US |
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What You'll Learn
Who was the first person to break the sound barrier?
Breaking the sound barrier refers to exceeding the speed of sound, which is approximately 767 miles per hour (1,234 kilometres per hour) in dry air at 20 degrees Celsius. The term came into use during World War II when pilots of high-speed fighter aircraft encountered a variety of aerodynamic challenges that seemed to prevent them from flying faster.
In 1947, American test pilot Chuck Yeager became the first person to break the sound barrier in level flight. On October 14, 1947, Yeager flew the experimental Bell X-1 at Mach 1.05 (approximately 700 miles per hour or 1,126 kilometres per hour) at an altitude of 45,000 feet (13,700 metres) over the Rogers Dry Lake in California's Mojave Desert. For this achievement, Yeager received the Collier and Mackay Trophies in 1948 and was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 1973.
There are, however, some disputed claims of breaking the sound barrier prior to Yeager's feat. Anecdotal evidence suggests that American pilot George Welch may have broken the sound barrier on October 1, 1947, and again on October 14, 1947, just 30 minutes before Yeager's historic flight. While there is supporting evidence from witnesses and instruments, Welch's flights were not properly monitored and are therefore not officially recognised. Additionally, German pilot Lothar Sieber was estimated to have broken the sound barrier during a test flight on March 1, 1945, although the speed was not officially recorded.
Breaking the sound barrier is not limited to aircraft alone. On January 12, 1948, a Northrop unmanned rocket sled became the first land vehicle to surpass the speed of sound at a military test facility in California. In October 1997, Royal Air Force pilot Andy Green became the first person to break the sound barrier in a land vehicle while complying with the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile rules.
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What happens when jets break the sound barrier?
Breaking the sound barrier refers to an aircraft reaching supersonic speed, faster than sound, or 767.269 mph at sea level. The first crewed aircraft to break the sound barrier was the Bell X-1, which did so on October 14, 1947, piloted by Chuck Yeager.
When a jet breaks the sound barrier, a sonic boom occurs. This is a thunderous noise that can be heard over a wide area. The sonic boom fans out like the wake behind a boat, with the compressed air strongest near the jet and getting weaker as it moves outward. This is why people closer to the jet hear and feel the boom more intensely than those farther away. The pilots of the jet do not feel the sonic boom from the cockpit, just as passengers on a boat do not feel the wake behind them.
Breaking the sound barrier can cause issues with an aircraft's control surfaces if they are not properly designed. At supersonic speeds, the air can separate from the wings, causing a loss of lift and stability. This phenomenon is known as Mach Tuck. However, modern aircraft are designed to handle supersonic speeds, and it takes even higher speeds for material failures to occur.
Due to the loud noise and potential for damage, jets are typically not allowed to break the sound barrier over populated areas. Civilian aircraft are banned from supersonic overland flight over the U.S. Jets may be authorized to break the sound barrier in certain situations, such as over the ocean, on a training range, or in an emergency.
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Where are jets allowed to break the sound barrier?
Jets are allowed to break the sound barrier in limited situations. Former F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot Heather Penney has stated that jets are allowed to break the sound barrier over the ocean or on a training range where it won't disrupt everyday life. They may also do so in an emergency with a superior's approval. Breaking the sound barrier is helpful when a pilot needs to catch up with an out-of-place or unresponsive aircraft, as it gives them more time to assess whether the aircraft is a threat. For example, in June 2023, an unresponsive Cessna Citation business jet turned around over Long Island, prompting the military to scramble six fighter jets to intercept it. One F-16 Fighting Falcon and three others were authorized to break the sound barrier in this instance.
Jets rarely break the sound barrier over land to prevent panic among unsuspecting residents on the ground and damage to the community. When a jet breaks the sound barrier, it creates a sonic boom, which is an impulsive noise similar to thunder, caused by an object moving faster than sound. The sonic boom is strongest near the jet and gets weaker as it fans out behind the aircraft. Therefore, NORAD aircraft typically flies at speeds slower than those required to create a sonic boom when over land to mitigate sonic boom disturbances. However, they may exceed these speeds depending on the mission and the need to respond in a manner that provides decision-makers with the necessary time to act.
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How fast do jets need to go to break the sound barrier?
The speed of sound, which is what jets need to surpass to break the sound barrier, is 343 metres per second (approximately 767 miles per hour or 1,234 kilometres per hour) in dry air at 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit).
Jets that break the sound barrier are said to go "supersonic". One such jet is the F-16 Fighting Falcon, which responded to an unresponsive Cessna by breaking the sound barrier, though three other jets were also authorised to do so. The sound barrier can also be broken by non-military aircraft. In 1961, a Douglas DC-8-43 unofficially exceeded Mach 1 in a controlled dive during a test flight.
The term "sound barrier" came into use during World War II when pilots of high-speed fighter aircraft experienced adverse aerodynamic effects that impeded flight at speeds close to the speed of sound. These effects were seen as constituting a barrier to faster speeds. The sound barrier was first broken in 1947 by American pilot Chuck Yeager in the Bell X-1 experimental aircraft.
When a jet breaks the sound barrier, it creates a sonic boom, which fans out like the wake behind a boat. The compressed air of a sonic boom is strongest near the jet and gets weaker as it moves away from the aircraft.
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Can civilian aircraft break the sound barrier?
The sound barrier refers to the challenges that arise when an aircraft approaches the speed of sound, typically around 767 miles per hour (1,235 kilometres per hour) at sea level. Breaking the sound barrier is considered one of the most significant milestones in aviation history, with American test pilot Chuck Yeager becoming the first person to do so in 1947.
While breaking the sound barrier is a notable achievement, it also comes with certain challenges and restrictions. One of the most well-known effects is the sonic boom, which occurs when an aircraft flies faster than the speed of sound, generating shock waves that propagate outward in a cone-shaped pattern. These shock waves can be startling to those on the ground and, in some cases, even cause minor structural damage. As a result, civilian aircraft are typically prohibited from flying at supersonic speeds over populated areas. Military jets are allowed to break the sound barrier in certain scenarios, such as over the ocean or on training ranges, but even these instances are limited due to the potential disruption to everyday life.
While it is rare, there have been instances of civilian aircraft breaking the sound barrier. In 1953, Jackie Cochran became the first woman to achieve this feat, piloting a plane borrowed from the Royal Canadian Air Force. In 1961, a Douglas DC-8-43 unofficially exceeded Mach 1 during a test flight, becoming the first supersonic flight by a civilian airliner. Additionally, in the late 1950s, British journalist Allen Rowley was one of the few non-American civilians to exceed the speed of sound, flying in a Super Sabre at 1000 mph.
In terms of commercial flights, there is an account of a passenger who recalled a flight in 1979 from Chicago to Cologne, Germany, where the pilot announced that they would be breaking the sound barrier. While the specific aircraft is unknown, it is speculated that it could have been a Concorde jet, which was capable of supersonic flight. However, it is worth noting that Concorde flights were not typically supersonic over land, so this particular flight may have been a unique exception.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, jets can break the sound barrier, also known as going 'boom'.
Jets are allowed to break the sound barrier in a limited number of scenarios, such as over the ocean or on a training range where it won't disrupt everyday life. Breaking the sound barrier may also be permitted in an emergency with a superior's approval.
When a jet breaks the sound barrier, a sonic boom is created, which fans out and can be heard and felt on the ground. The jet pilots don't feel the sonic boom from the cockpit.
