Why cant a F6F-3 Hellcat reach mach-1 on a dive?

Question

I need to find out why a F6F-3 Hellcat reach mach-1 on a dive from 20,000 and 30,000 ft. Given information is Zero-lift drag is .0211, Wing area 334 sq feet, weight 12,441 lb, 1500 hp engine, Zero-lift drag at mach-1 .211, and propeller efficiency is .3 at mach-1

Answer 1

The pilot would most probably get warning of increased vibration if he went too fast in a dive. The whole aerodynamics of a plane change as mach-1 is approached and supersonic planes demand a much sturdier construction than subsonic planes.

Answer 2

the same reason a sky diver can never get to Mach 1 when jumping out of a plane. Gravity will only accellerate to the terminal velocity (about 120 mph for the sky diver) after that, propulsion from the prop is needed to gain more speed. Unfortunately the props effective air speed is much faster than the plane's air speed, so it reaches Mach 1 when the plane is still sub-sonic. The prop is not the proper shape to develop thrust at supersonic speed so even in a dive, a prop plane cannot get up to mach 1.

Answer 3

The properties of fluids reverse at Mach 1. A prop will never take you into Mach 1+. At Mach 1+, the prop would actually be acting like an air brake.

Answer 4

Not only would the plane disinigrate most likely, but as the speed increased the control surfaces would effectivley lock n place. This was an extremly large problem with WWII planes including the P-38 Lightning. The basic problem is with how the air exits the wing. For more information on this problem you could look in a number of airplane history books.