Flying at the Speed of Sound: What Would a Human Feel?

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A discussion centers around the hypothetical experience of a human flying at supersonic speeds with a jetpack. It explores the sensations and sounds he might encounter, such as the buildup of sound waves and air pressure, while acknowledging that protective gear would mitigate fatal effects. Participants debate the feasibility of feeling air resistance and drag at such speeds, with some arguing that a person would experience significant forces despite a strong suit. The conversation also touches on historical context, referencing Joseph Kittinger's high-altitude free-fall and the complexities of breaking the sound barrier in free fall. Ultimately, the discussion emphasizes the scientific principles governing aerodynamics and human experience at extreme speeds.
  • #31
Wow, this is great. I haven't posted in awhile, but there's lots of good stuff here, things I didn't even think about. I did have an idea: what does a fighter pilot experience who ejects out of a plane at Mach+ speed? By Newton's 1rst Law, the pilot travels at Mach+ speed while inside the airplane. During the first view moments after he ejects, by Newton's 1rst Law, he will continue with a tangent velocity the same as what he had inside the plane. That means, as a human, he would be traveling at Mach+ speeds for awhile, unless his parachute opens too quick. In this case, the human would be traveling faster than the sound barrier. Would such a case be analgous to the free fall scenerios depicted below? If so, that might answer the question of what a person experiences traveling at Mach Speed through the answer.
 
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  • #32
I am not sure that pilots ever do eject at those speeds. It would be quite dangerous.
 

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