Wow in the World Dennis and Reggie’s Wild Ride! (8/18/25)
Aug 18, 2025
Join Dennis and Reggie on a thrilling NASA adventure aboard the X-59, exploring the future of supersonic flight! Discover what Mach 1 really means and why past supersonic flights, like Concorde, faced challenges. With Quiet Supersonic Technology, sonic booms could soon be a thing of the past. Experience the excitement as they board the X-59, facing pre-flight jitters before breaking the sound barrier. Listen in as they share their wild impressions and hear from listeners who call in with their own amazing facts!
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What Supersonic Means And Why It Matters
- Supersonic means flying faster than the speed of sound, about Mach 1 or ~761 mph.
- The X-59 aims to travel past Mach 1 while addressing sonic boom impacts on people and structures.
Mach 1 And Shockwave Basics
- Mach 1 is the scientific term for the speed of sound and equals about 761 mph at sea level.
- Exceeding Mach 1 qualifies flight as supersonic and creates shockwaves that produce sonic booms.
Concorde's Success And Sonic Boom Problem
- The Concorde showed supersonic passenger travel is possible but created loud sonic booms that damaged buildings.
- That noise drove the end of regular Concorde service despite technological success.
