> Didn't the SR71 fly between LA and NY at above supersonic speeds? Don't military jets fly at supersonic speeds above land?
I think not routinely in either case? Most supersonic aircraft can't actually sustain supersonic speeds for a significant period; the Concorde and Tu-144 are, as far as I know, the only aircraft ever designed with supersonic flight as the effective _default_ mode of operation. For both planes, _getting_ to supersonic was rather expensive, and required the use of afterburners, so an ideal flight profile would involve ramping up to supersonic once, and then staying that way for the rest of the flight.
The SR71 was, unusually, _capable_ of sustained long-range supersonic flight, but I can't imagine it was routinely used above land when not actually on missions; why would it be?
> The SR71 was, unusually, _capable_ of sustained long-range supersonic flight, but I can't imagine it was routinely used above land when not actually on missions; why would it be?
Everything a military plane does is a mission, and the SR-71 absolutely did supersonic training missions over the US.
And as I understand, the military can and still does do supersonic training missions over land, but they do it at higher altitudes and in locations where it isn't disruptive to population centers.
_Can_, but does it routinely outside of training/deployment situations? Like if you're just moving one from one side of the US to the other, you're probably going subsonic.
I think not routinely in either case? Most supersonic aircraft can't actually sustain supersonic speeds for a significant period; the Concorde and Tu-144 are, as far as I know, the only aircraft ever designed with supersonic flight as the effective _default_ mode of operation. For both planes, _getting_ to supersonic was rather expensive, and required the use of afterburners, so an ideal flight profile would involve ramping up to supersonic once, and then staying that way for the rest of the flight.
The SR71 was, unusually, _capable_ of sustained long-range supersonic flight, but I can't imagine it was routinely used above land when not actually on missions; why would it be?