Can a propeller driven aircraft break the sound barrier?

AI Thread Summary
Propeller-driven aircraft cannot break the sound barrier due to the aerodynamic limitations of propeller blades, which lose thrust as airflow transitions from subsonic to supersonic. While there have been attempts to create propeller planes with blades operating at supersonic speeds, such projects faced significant challenges, including adverse effects from shockwaves on personnel. Standard propeller aircraft lack the necessary power and aerodynamic design to achieve supersonic speeds, unlike jet engines that thrive in such conditions. Some believe that specially designed propellers could potentially overcome these limitations, but consensus leans towards the impracticality of propeller-driven supersonic flight. Overall, the discussion emphasizes the inherent challenges faced by propeller aircraft in reaching or exceeding the sound barrier.
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Hope this is the right place for this question, but it is very inetresting to me so I wanted to ask some experts.

Can a propeller driven aircraft break the sound barrier?

My answer, no.
Any opinions will help
Thanks
 
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Some aircraft company made a propeller driven plane where the propeller blades operated at super-sonic speed. Although the pilot was shielded from the shock waves, any personel in the general area were adversely affected by the constant bombardment of shockwaves, so they scrapped the program.
 
Im not sure how a propeller would be different than a jet. They each function by pushing air behind them.
 
I'm sure they can...at least in a dive. There's even some crazy guy that wants to break the sound barrier! (as in, by himself, with no machines)

As for using a propeller to propel an airplane through the sound barrier...I don't think so. But I don't know why :P
 
rcgldr said:
Some aircraft company made a propeller driven plane where the propeller blades operated at super-sonic speed. Although the pilot was shielded from the shock waves, any personel in the general area were adversely affected by the constant bombardment of shockwaves, so they scrapped the program.
Link to wiki article, note the aircraft itself was not super-sonic:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XF-84H_Thunderscreech
 
A standad propeller aircraft won't be albe to power itsself past the spund barrier. A prop blade is like an aerofoil, so when the flow begins to transition from subsonic to supersonic the flow separates and you lose thrust. This is less of a problem for a turbofan, and no problem at all for a turbojet (infact they like going above the speed of sound).

I'm sure that a specifically designed propeller would be able to achieve this though. There are a few guys on here that know about planes, so they'd be better suites to answer this.
 
In my belief I don't think a proppeled plane is aero-dynamic enough and it wouldn't have enough power to make the sound barrier. Many jet planes have made this but a proppelar plane I don't think so.

(Sorry about the bad spelling) hehe
 

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