Has a 747 go supersonic?

Has 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.

Has Mach 10 been reached?

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.

What replaced the 747?

The planes are due for delivery in 2024 as part of a $3.9 billion contract. Boeing's 777X, its latest passenger plane model and projected replacement for the 747, is set for delivery in 2025.

Are supersonic jets illegal?

Current rules prohibit commercial airplanes from flying at supersonic speeds over land because of the noise levels associated with sonic booms and the negative impacts to humans and animals.

What is takeoff speed for a 747?

How Fast Does a 747 Go To Take Off? A typical takeoff speed for a Boeing 747 is around 160 knots (184 mph), depending on the jet's wing flap configuration, the number of passengers aboard, and the weight of their luggage, fuel load, current weather conditions, and other factors.

Can 747 break Mach 1?

The Boeing 747–400 cannot top Mach 1, capped at 988 km/h, or Mach 0.8. The plane cannot exceed Mach 1, because its engines are not fast enough to propel the aircraft forward that fast. This also has to do with the plane's aerodynamics, because it is large and has dihedral wings.

Why don t we hear sonic booms anymore?

The power, or volume, of the shock wave depends on the quantity of air that is being accelerated, and thus the size and shape of the aircraft. As the aircraft increases speed the shock cone gets tighter around the craft and becomes weaker to the point that at very high speeds and altitudes no boom is heard.

Why is supersonic flight illegal?

Fifty years ago, the federal government banned all civilian supersonic flights over land. The rule prohibits non-military aircraft from flying faster than sound so their resulting sonic booms won't startle the public below or concern them about potential property damage.

What is the fastest a 747 has ever flown?

Aided by a more powerful jet stream than usual, this rapid journey saw the 747 reach a top speed of 825 mph. Photo: Markus Mainka I Shutterstock. Popular Mechanics reports that the reason for it being so powerful on this occasion was a 'bomb cyclone' near Greenland.

Can a pilot feel a sonic boom?

And the jet pilots don't feel a sonic boom from the cockpit, just as passengers on a boat don't feel the effects of the wake behind them, she added.