Land speed record in F104

Flat 12×2
My DH history isn’t bad but I wrongly assumed you were referring to Geoffrey de Havilland Jr.’s fatal crash.

see
http://forum.airforces.info/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16432&highlight=derry+and+1948

However, three DH108s built, three fatal crashes is hardly a brilliant record.

An F-86A prototype with a J47 engine, flown by George Welch appearantly broke the sound barrier (albeit in a shallow dive) one week before Yeager’s rocket-propelled manned air-launched glider.

However, had the Germans actually agreed that something like the sound barrier existed, they would have probably taken the credit as the Me-163 had both the aerodynamic design and the power to go supersonic – it’s just that they never bothered to record it.

Ant, Thrust SSC and Thrust 2 live at whatever the motoring museum is called, in Coventry.

our polititions probably gave it to the yanks for use in the 104

Just out of interest,where is Thrust SSC these days?Last I heard it was displayed in the Science Museum in London,but I couldn’t find it when I went there a few weeks ago.

Damien-maybe we can hang a three-hour love story plot around that, too?! 😉

Despite my unwavering support for all things De Havilland, I don’t really think we can claim to have broken the sound barrier in an aircraft that promptly disintegrated and killed Geoffrey de Havilland Jr.

I think you should refresh your DH history dhfan.

Geoffrey de Havilland died in the 2nd prototype TG306 in Sep. 1946 at just under the sound barrier, 13 months BEFORE the X-1.

The 3rd prototype VW120 piloted by John Derry broke the sound barrier in Sep. 1948, The first proper aircraft to do so only 11months after the USA’s manned rocket glider the X-1.

Despite my unwavering support for all things De Havilland, I don’t really think we can claim to have broken the sound barrier in an aircraft that promptly disintegrated and killed Geoffrey de Havilland Jr.

Isn’t one of the main rules of flying that number of take-offs should equal number of landings?

I agree that the M52 should have achieved M1.3 but we’re back to the aforementioned idiot politicians again.

Getting back on topic a little, it also makes no difference now if the Land Speed Record is broken again, as your average man on the street now has no idea what Thrust SSC was, or what was achieved with it; so if Joe Public cares not at all that we broke the sound barrier on land, then they’ll care even less that it’s been increased by a few miles an hour.

Although there’s more to it, Craig Breedlove-who has a car all ready to go-couldn’t get a penny from any sponsors once SSC had done it’s thing, and the car has just sat ever since.

Sadly, no one cares anymore.

my statement stands though without us they would not have broke the sound barrier first we would have.

Yes Gaz, I would 100% agree with you, the DH-108 Swallow WAS the first real aircraft to break the sound Barrier ( the X-1 was an air-launched rocket powered glider) & the Miles M52 would have gone 1000 mph + at the same time, years ahead of the yanks we were & our wonderfull politicians gave it all away.

Originally posted by gaz west
ok ok slight technical fault but they used our engines in the sabre didnt they?

Only Australian-built models [Avon]. Usual powerplant was a GE J47 [not a Brit design]. Canadian aircraft had an Orenda.

ok ok slight technical fault but they used our engines in the sabre didnt they?
my statement stands though without us they would not have broke the sound barrier first we would have.

Ok ok.. Stole Maybe a little strong , it was meant to be an ‘exchange of technical info/data’, so we give them all our data & they then say you cant have any of ours because its all ‘TOP SECRET’. It turns out that they didn’t have any to share, because they were nowhere near as advanced as we were.The correct way of putting it should be we were CONNED/CHEATED by the Americans.

Be fair, they didn’t steal the M52 data, our idiot politicians gave it to them.

This is the same idiot politicians that sold a few jet engines to the Russians. How many unlicenced Nene copies did the Russians and Chinese make?

if i remember my history correctly we gave our jet engines to america. so theirfore by default it was us who broke the sound barrier first

Errrr……… they used rockets after it was droped from a B-29, & then were only able to after they stole the technical data for the tailplane from the UK ( Miles Aircraft )

f104

if i remember my history correctly we gave our jet engines to america. so theirfore by default it was us who broke the sound barrier first:rolleyes: 😎

Originally posted by Lancman
Without even clicking on ‘bluecorsair’s link, I bet that’s the ‘Budweiser Rocket’, yes?

Totally against all established record-breaking rules, not independently verified, and about as vaild as Monopoly money.

WE did it first.

Weep, Yanky boys!!!

I agree if it could not be verified independently it means nothing also i was lead to believe if is had gone supersonic it did not sustain it for the length of the run,Thrust went supersonic over a measured distance on both runs thats what makes it a record and be sure its a FIRST,also am i right in believing just before deHavilland did get a aircraft to go supersonic for a moment but aircraft broke up killing Geoffrey De Havilland before glamourous Glennis broke the sound barrier for aircraft?

Without even clicking on ‘bluecorsair’s link, I bet that’s the ‘Budweiser Rocket’, yes?

Totally against all established record-breaking rules, not independently verified, and about as vaild as Monopoly money.

WE did it first.

Weep, Yanky boys!!!

Originally posted by Ant Harrington
I would think that ejecting at supersonic speed wouldn’t be practical anyway,the pilot/driver wouldn’t survive the forces involved

Google this and you’ll find there have been examples of people surviving ejections at supersonic speeds. An exclusive club nobody would want to join!
Though the chances may be slim, I’m sure most drivers would like the chance to bang out if it came to it…..

You all seem to forget of the car that went mach 1 in 1979.
And why do you all hate amercans so much ?

http://www.avpress.com/machbusters/drive.sht