I heard that when Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier he had to fly straight up into the sky. Is this true and if so, why did he fly vertically instead of horizontally?
Thanks everyone for your help.
2007-03-02 01:54:23 · 3 answers · asked by ragazza.chica.kella 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
I don't think this is true. Flying straight up would require too much energy. Most of todays jets can't even fly vertical for more than a brief period of time before they stall. If anything flying at a constant rate of descent would make it easier. But my guess is that he was straight and level.
2007-03-02 02:01:41 · answer #1 · answered by wanna_be_md 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Bell X-1 was a rocket with wings. If he hit the after burners pointing down he would have been an ink spot. I think you are referring to other experimental flights Yeager had not associated with the X-1 flights where he went straight up.
2007-03-02 10:01:53 · answer #2 · answered by T-Rex 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
His experimental aircraft was carried up by another aircraft, then dropped/released to fly. Chuck basically flew horizontally, which is the opposite of vertically. Vertically is up, by the way.
http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/history/q0011a.shtml
2007-03-02 10:00:16 · answer #3 · answered by AF 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋