Can a passenger plane go Mach 1?

Until the Mach 2 Concorde entered service in the mid-1970s, that was the only documented example of a plane intended for passenger service exceeding Mach 1, or the speed of sound, which is about 760 mph at sea level. But planes are surrounded by moving air, and they fly inside of it.

Why was the Concorde only allowed to fly over oceans?

Air France and British Airways were the only airlines to purchase and fly Concorde. Later, another factor, which affected the viability of all supersonic transport programmes, was that supersonic flight could be used only on ocean-crossing routes, to prevent sonic boom disturbance over populated areas.

Why did they stop flying the SST?

The Concorde airframes still had 75% life left when they were retired. The reason they chose to stop is the French wanted to stop maintaining all of them after the crash caused by debris on the runway. British Airways did not want to stop.

Do planes go 700 mph?

A typical commercial passenger jet flies at a speed of about 400 – 500 knots which is around 460 – 575 mph when cruising at about 36,000ft. This is about Mach 0.75 – 0.85 or in other words, about 75-85% of the speed of sound. Generally speaking, the higher the aircraft flies, the faster it can travel.

Can a 747 do Mach 1?

Menachem Shimol, a test pilot for Israel Aircraft, reported that its test plane reached 0.98 Mach in an 18-degree dive from 36,000 feet Sept. 30. In addition, Boeing knows one case in which a 747 operated by Evergreen International made an emergency descent at speeds that exceeded Mach 1, he said.

Is flying supersonic illegal?

At Mach 1.06, it was the first airplane to fly faster than the speed of sound. Then in 1973, the FAA banned overland supersonic commercial flights because of sonic booms—a prohibition that remains in effect today.

Why are supersonic commercials illegal?

But at speeds greater than Mach 1, air pressure disturbances around airplanes merge to form shock waves that create sonic booms, heard and felt 30 miles away. Then in 1973, the FAA banned overland supersonic commercial flights because of sonic booms—a prohibition that remains in effect today.