CURTISS SAYS AIRPLANE CAPABLE OF 500 MPH CAN BE BUILT
St. Louis, Missouri (JFK+50) On October 4, 1923, the Associated Press reports "an airplane attaining a speed of 500 miles per hour can be built." That's the good news. The bad news is that at that speed "it would burn itself up in friction with the air."
This information was provided by Glenn L. Curtiss*, designer of the Curtiss racing planes who is here in St. Louis to attend the international air races.
*Glenn Hammond Curtiss (1878-1930) was born in Hammondsport, New York & made the 1st long-distance flight in the U.S. GHC was the founder of the American aircraft industry.
JFK+50
According to www.miglug.com, "there are many aircraft (today) that have exceeded the speed of Mach 2.0" without burning up. That is 1,534.54 mph or twice the speed of sound.
SOURCES
"Can Build Plane To Fly So Fast It Would Burn," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., October 4, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
"The 10 Fastest Aircraft in the World," www.migflug.com/
