Has anyone broke the sound barrier on water?

Question

If yes who,when, were,in what kind of boat?

Answer 1

No, its impossible right now.

The World Unlimited water speed record is the officially recognised fastest speed achieved by a water-borne vehicle. The current record of 511 km/h (317 mph) was achieved in 1978.

Answer 2

Nope... that would be pretty much impossible with todays technology.

Anything big and light enough would end up flying (creating lift) anyway before it even got close.

Answer 3

The current world water speed record is held by Ken Warby of Australia. His record was set in 1978 in the boat he designed, the Sprite of Australia. 317.60 M.P.H / 511.11 km/h. Ken designed a new boat, The Aussie Sprit, powered by a Westinghouse 9,000 horsepower jet engine. He will try for a new record. Stay in touch of his progress on his web site.There is a long way to go, the sound barrier at sea level is 720 M.P.H. .

Answer 4

Water is 800 times denser than air, so until someone straps an SR-71 engine to a sunfish, ain't gonna happen.

However, the push is on to break the existing record, including an attempt by the current record holder. More info here: http://www.symscape.com/blog/world_water...

btw, the current sailing speed record is a whopping 48.7 knots, done on a sailboard. It may not be the sound barrier, but trust me - it feels like it ;)

Answer 5

I think for an airplane/jet to break the sound barrier it have to go about 650 mph +/- I just ball park this.

So, if the 317 mph of a boat is the record speed then it about ½ of the speed it need to go to break the sound barrier. Then there may be the physics of the water involved as someone mentioned density. So, what I am wondering is; If a boat could go 650 mph would it still make a sonic boom? The water may have an effect.

Guess what I saying is "IF" the boat can make the speed, would it actually break the sound barrier, as the sonic boom, to me, is what means it break the sound barrier. Just going the required speed but no sonic boom would not be breaking the sound barrier. I hope you see what I try to say and figure out.