Simviation Forums

i was just asking myself after trying the f-18, is it possible to break the sound barrier using the post-combustion. and how long do you have to hold it to achieve it. i think the sound barrier is 1000km/hre.

Yeah when you exceed 300m/s (More or less 1 Mach) then you have broken the sound barrier.

That is why we always first hear the sound of an aircraft before we potentially see it. Because of sound moving ahead of the aircraft.

When you exceed the 300m/s mark you break the sound barrier and are equal or faster then the sound, meaning sound is now behing you.

Sadly FS does not simulate this, sound at 200m/s & sound at 300+m/s sounds the same.

It also does not simulate the occurance of the "compression cloud"

That is why we always first hear the sound of an aircraft before we potentially see it. Because of sound moving ahead of the aircraft.

I'm not sure that's true. Light travels much faster than sound. The shock waves of a sonic boom spread out behind the aircraft & can only be heard by someone on the ground after the aircraft has passed. It cannot be heard inside the aircraft. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sonic_boom.svg

It also does not simulate the occurance of the "compression cloud"  that sometimes happens when one is close to and/or have broken the sound barrier.

There's a sonic boom effect for FS9. I'm not sure if it works in FSX. Looks & sounds good but more of a gimmick than anything else. The only way to tell you've exceeded Mach 1 from inside the cockpit is by looking at the Machmeter.

[quote]It also does not simulate the occurance of the "compression cloud"