Fast aircraft
12-14-2009 | 11:01 AM
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Dream within a dream
Thanks for posting that! Airspeed is life!
My uncle had the privilege of flying on the shuttle 5 times . . . he told me that when they entered the atmosphere and passed through the high cloud layers, they were still going 17,500 mph. The clouds shooting by outside really gave a tremendous feeling of speed, and it was the only time he could really appreciate just how fast 25 times the speed of sound felt.
My uncle had the privilege of flying on the shuttle 5 times . . . he told me that when they entered the atmosphere and passed through the high cloud layers, they were still going 17,500 mph. The clouds shooting by outside really gave a tremendous feeling of speed, and it was the only time he could really appreciate just how fast 25 times the speed of sound felt.
12-14-2009 | 12:44 PM
#12
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I think apollo 13 holds the all-time speed record for manned vehicles, it came back faster than normal for obvious reasons.
However, speed in deep space really has nothing to with the design of the vehicle...with zero drag you are only limited by how much fuel you can carry (until you approach the speed of light). For that reason it's fair to include the shuttle, since it has to actually fly in the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds...not trivial airframe engineering.
However, speed in deep space really has nothing to with the design of the vehicle...with zero drag you are only limited by how much fuel you can carry (until you approach the speed of light). For that reason it's fair to include the shuttle, since it has to actually fly in the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds...not trivial airframe engineering.
The shuttle doesn't attain its max speed while traveling through the atmosphere 'proper' (where aerodynamic control surfaces function) that we all think of when referring to 'aircraft'. On that basis, I don't consider the shuttle (or other 'spacecraft') to be valid on this list. Just my opinion.
When the shuttle re-enters the denser parts of the atmosphere at 17,000-18,000 mph, it isn't 'flying' yet. Thrusters are still controlling the attitude at these super high altitudes.
12-14-2009 | 12:45 PM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: 767A (Ret)
Hot airplanes
Eventually you run into a heat problem. The X-15 nearly burned part of the tail off on its mach 6.72 flight. Ceramic tiles can withstand higher temperatures than metal, and ablative surfaces do burn but carry the heat away in small chunks. If you still want to use metal, circulating a cold liquid just inside the critical areas can help.
12-14-2009 | 02:36 PM
#14
Prime Minister/Moderator
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From: Engines Turn or People Swim
I'll disagree on the basis of technicality. The shuttle never leaves the atmosphere by definition, in that the altitude that it orbits is within the Thermosphere, however, air density at that altitude is so thin that people get away with calling it 'space'. Drag still does exist here.
The shuttle doesn't attain its max speed while traveling through the atmosphere 'proper' (where aerodynamic control surfaces function) that we all think of when referring to 'aircraft'. On that basis, I don't consider the shuttle (or other 'spacecraft') to be valid on this list. Just my opinion.
When the shuttle re-enters the denser parts of the atmosphere at 17,000-18,000 mph, it isn't 'flying' yet. Thrusters are still controlling the attitude at these super high altitudes.
The shuttle doesn't attain its max speed while traveling through the atmosphere 'proper' (where aerodynamic control surfaces function) that we all think of when referring to 'aircraft'. On that basis, I don't consider the shuttle (or other 'spacecraft') to be valid on this list. Just my opinion.
When the shuttle re-enters the denser parts of the atmosphere at 17,000-18,000 mph, it isn't 'flying' yet. Thrusters are still controlling the attitude at these super high altitudes.
12-14-2009 | 02:40 PM
#15
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Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Engines Turn or People Swim
Thanks for posting that! Airspeed is life!
My uncle had the privilege of flying on the shuttle 5 times . . . he told me that when they entered the atmosphere and passed through the high cloud layers, they were still going 17,500 mph. The clouds shooting by outside really gave a tremendous feeling of speed, and it was the only time he could really appreciate just how fast 25 times the speed of sound felt.
My uncle had the privilege of flying on the shuttle 5 times . . . he told me that when they entered the atmosphere and passed through the high cloud layers, they were still going 17,500 mph. The clouds shooting by outside really gave a tremendous feeling of speed, and it was the only time he could really appreciate just how fast 25 times the speed of sound felt.
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