Several years ago a Eurofighter was scrambed to intercept what they thought was a hijacked plane; I didn't realise this at the time but the sonic boom shook my flat and the windows, not that I minded in that case, but I wouldn't want to make a habit of it.
Which set me to thinking, how much energy must be sapped away by the sonic bow shock, to make such a loud sound across such a wide area must be be exteremly inefficient.
Also I've been interested in Max-Q, the fact that a rocket has to limit its speed to reduce aerodynamic stresses on its structure, not something I've thought much about before.
Which set me to thinking, how much energy must be sapped away by the sonic bow shock, to make such a loud sound across such a wide area must be be exteremly inefficient.
Also I've been interested in Max-Q, the fact that a rocket has to limit its speed to reduce aerodynamic stresses on its structure, not something I've thought much about before.