Civilian SS flight is prohibited over the US.I have always wondered what altitude a super sonic jet has to be at to travel above the speed of sound. Is there a certain altitude restriction, or is super sonic flight allowed above 10,000 MSL?
(a) No person may operate a civil aircraft in the United States at a true flight Mach number greater than 1 except in compliance with conditions and limitations in an authorization to exceed Mach 1 issued to the operator under appendix B of this part.
(b) In addition, no person may operate a civil aircraft for which the maximum operating limit speed exceeds a Mach number of 1, to or from an airport in the United States, unless--
(1) Information available to the flight crew includes flight limitations that ensure that flights entering or leaving the United States will not cause a sonic boom to reach the surface within the
United States; and
(2) The operator complies with the flight limitations prescribed in paragraph (b)(1) of this section or complies with conditions and limitations in an authorization to exceed Mach 1 issued under appendix B of this part.
(a) An applicant for an authorization to exceed Mach 1 must apply in a form and manner prescribed by the Administrator and must comply with this appendix.
(b) In addition, each application for an authorization to exceed Mach 1 covered by section 2(a) of this appendix must contain all information requested by the Administrator necessary to assist him in determining whether the designation of a particular test area or issuance of a particular authorization is a "major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment" within the meaning of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.), and to assist him in complying with that act and with related Executive Orders, guidelines, and orders prior to such action.
(c) In addition, each application for an authorization to exceed Mach 1 covered by section 2(a) of this appendix must contain--
(1) Information showing that operation at a speed greater than Mach 1 is necessary to accomplish one or more of the purposes specified in section 2(a) of this appendix, including a showing that the purpose of the test cannot be safely or properly accomplished by overocean testing;
(2) A description of the test area proposed by the applicant, including an environmental analysis of that area meeting the requirements of paragraph (b) of this section; and
(3) Conditions and limitations that will ensure that no measurable sonic boom overpressure will reach the surface outside of the designated test area.
(d) An application is denied if the Administrator finds that such action is necessary to protect or enhance the environment.
Civilian SS flight is prohibited over the US.
It varies given atmospheric conditions but mainly aircraft and airfoil design. You can google "Sonic Boom Mitigation Study" to read PDFs from NASA on the subject.(3) Conditions and limitations that will ensure that no measurable sonic boom overpressure will reach the surface outside of the designated test area.
How high is that though? That's probably way the hell up there, what are talking about FL600, FL700? The crew would practically have to be pressure suited, and forget pax, if you have a cabin depress the lack of oxygen doesn't kill em, the burning heat from clipping along at mach 2.5 or 3 does.
It varies given atmospheric conditions but mainly aircraft and airfoil design. You can google "Sonic Boom Mitigation Study" to read PDFs from NASA on the subject.
I know the SR71 can fly high enough that their sonic boom overpressures are not heard on the surface, or at least are rather quiet.
(b) For a flight outside of a designated test area, an authorization to exceed Mach 1 may be issued if the applicant shows conservatively under paragraph (a)(3) of this section that--
(1) The flight will not cause a measurable sonic boom overpressure to reach the surface when the aircraft is operated under conditions and limitations demonstrated under paragraph (a)(3) of this section; and
(2) Those conditions and limitations represent all foreseeable operating conditions.
For a flight outside of a designated test area, an authorization to exceed Mach 1
In USAF training, we had a designated route for our supersonic flights. In Mississippi where I trained, there was some 50 or 60-mile arc north of Columbus where we had to go in order to Hit the Number.
IIRC, we had to be above FL310 at a minimum to do it, but FL360 is also rattling around in my brain somewhere.
So, I have to think that the combination of that particular location and that altitude added up to the FAA restrictions mentioned above....since student pilots went out by the dozens and flew this sortie every couple weeks (and at 4 different training bases scattered throughout the country!).
I have always wondered what altitude a super sonic jet has to be at to travel above the speed of sound. Is there a certain altitude restriction, or is super sonic flight allowed above 10,000 MSL?
In practice it is true.This is not true.
Can you feel a difference when you are going mach 1 as opposed to mach .95? I remember when I was a kid they had the "mach 1 experience" at a Six Flags. They made it feel as though the moment you went through the speed of sound everything got smooth as if all forms of turbulance was no longer an issue. I figured this was just their way to add to the experience but never really knew as i have never been mach 1+.
I was shaving with a mach 3........The best analogy I can make is that going super is like being up on the step/plane in a boat.
It is very smooth, but your maneuverability is significantly decreased until you get back subsonic -- much like when a boat gets back down off plane.
In the F-15, we start getting trans-sonic flow above .96Mach (IIRC, that is when we hit the Force Dynamic Mach Number and there is the dramatic increase in drag). When you go supersonic and are just going straight and level, you'll see the typical "bump" in the altimeter and VVI indicating that the shockwave has passed over the pitot boom and static ports.
Yur Daaaangerous.I was shaving with a mach 3....