Jet stream helps Virgin Atlantic plane break sound barrier

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Jet stream helps Virgin Atlantic plane break sound barrier | Secret Flying

A Virgin Atlantic flight from Los Angeles to London hit a ground speed of at least 801 mph.

 

A Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787 twin-jet aircraft travelled faster than the speed of sound on a flight from Los Angeles to London on Monday.

 

Flight VS8 was given a boost by a very strong jet stream while flying at 35,000 feet over Pennsylvania.

 

“Never ever seen this kind of tailwind in my life as a commercial pilot !! (200 mph tailwind ),”  tweeted Peter James, a jet captain.

 

 

The speed of sound is approximately 767 mph at sea level. The Virgin Atlantic plane reached ground speeds of at least 801 mph.

 

However, despite breaking the sound barrier, there was no sonic boom, as the plane’s air speed was not high enough.

 

Monday’s journey took just 9 hours 13 minutes.