August 18, 2004

The Prandtl-Glauert singularity. A sudden drop in air pressure causes a ring of condensation around planes, usually when exceeding the speed of sound. This makes for some pretty amazing pictures, like this and this.
posted by trey 20 years ago
  • "Compressibility is an aerodynamics term referring to a host of effects that only become evident as an aircraft approaches the speed of sound. ... At some speeds the airflow over the control surfaces will become turbulent, and the controls will start to flutter. If the speed of the fluttering is close to a harmonic of the control's movement, the resonance could break the control off completely. This was a serious problem on the (Mitsubishi) Zero. When they first encountered problems with the poor control at high speed they addressed it with a new style of control surface with more power. However this introduced a new resonant mode, and a number of planes disappeared before this was discovered. Heh. Cue spooky music. Cool post trey! Amazing photos.
  • This is rather cool. I fear its way over my head though. (Geddit?)
  • Very nice. I'd seen some of these pictures before, but never knew the science behind them. Thanks!
  • I'd seen that F14 video before, and always wondered... why it has no sound?
  • I'd seen that F14 video before, and always wondered... why it has no sound? Here's how to add the authentic sound experience for the video. Get an old, HEAVY, gavinized metal trash can. Place it upside down over your head. Have someone run into it with a '56 Buick.
  • GuitarMonkey, is the "neener-neener" siren of the ambulance after part of the sound experience, or just an indication one has been a total sucker?