Science of Flight - Breaking the Sound Barrier and Beyond

Explore the fascinating world of supersonic flight in this 32-minute video from The Great Courses series "The Science of Flight." Discover the principles behind breaking the sound barrier, from the formation of shockwaves to the development of swept-back wings. Learn how the same phenomena causing mirages on hot streets relate to aircraft reaching Mach 1. Delve into the history of supersonic flight, including the invention of jet engines, the X-1 flight, and the evolution of aircraft design. Examine the impact of wing breadth on shock development and the research that led to the iconic SR-71 Blackbird. Gain insights into the FAA's ban on non-military supersonic flight over the US and the limitations of supersonic aircraft design.

Syllabus

Three Primary Impediments Halter Mach 1 Flight
New Transonic Wind Tunnels Reveal Shockwaves
The Mach Concept in the Speed of Sound
Movement of Acoustic Sound Source Compresses Air
At the Speed of Sound, Air Compresses into Shockwaves
Light Refracts Mirage-Like Beyond the Speed of Sound
1973 FAA Bans Non-Military SuperSonic Flight Over US
Propeller Drag Leads to Jet Engines and the X1 Flight
Germans Invent Swept Back Wings for Faster Flight
US Catches Onto Wing Sweep Near End of WWII
Boeing Commences B47, B52, and 707 Swept Wing Lineage
Wing Breadth Has Massive Effect on Shock Development
Witcomb´s Research Leads to the Kelly´s Blackbird SR71
The Limits on Max Speed of SR71 Design