Sound barrier

An F/A 18 aircraft breaking the sound barrier.

When an object comes closer to the speed of sound (Mach 1), air pressure changes drastically, and there will be pressure waves around the object. This pressure will rise until the speed of Mach 1 is reached. At this point, it will suddenly decrease, and a sound burst will result. The speed of Mach 1, where this burst happens, is often called sound barrier. Aircraft wings had to be redesigned, so that certain aircraft can fly at speeds faster than Mach 1. Flying faster than sound produces a sonic boom.

Sound Barrier Media

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  U.S. Navy F/A-18 transonic pushing into the sound barrier. The supersonic white cloud is formed by decreased air pressure and temperature around the tail of the aircraft (see Prandtl–Glauert singularity).

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  1. Subsonic
  2. Mach 1
  3. Supersonic
  4. Shock wave
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  A Spitfire PR Mk XI (PL965) of the type used in the 1944 RAE Farnborough dive tests during which a highest Mach number of 0.92 was obtained

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  The prototype Miles M.52 turbojet powered aircraft, designed to achieve supersonic level flight

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  One of the Vickers models undergoing supersonic wind-tunnel testing at the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) around 1946

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  Chuck Yeager in front of the Bell X-1, the first aircraft to break the sound barrier in level flight

• Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier on 14 October 1947 in the Bell X-1, as shown in this newsreel.