A-12 Oxcart - Mach 3.2 and GEAR DOWN World Record

[ATFS_Crash]

Here's the video of Gen. Sullivan telling that story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghj6oG0jcwk

 

[gismo]

JOOC, why wouldn't the air friction burn the tires right off the rims?

Here's the video of Gen. Sullivan telling that story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghj6oG0jcwk

 

[Skip Miller]

JOOC, why wouldn't the air friction burn the tires right off the rims?

For the same reason he was at just under 300 KIAS. Just not enough air molecules up there. <guess mode off>

-Skip

 

[gismo]

For the same reason he was at just under 300 KIAS. Just not enough air molecules up there. <guess mode off>

-Skip

It's my understanding that the skin of the plane get's very hot at Mach 3 even though the IAS is only 300 Kt. Seems that the tires would have a similar problem.