This 1959 color educational film is actual footage mixed with animation to show how supersonic flight occurs. It is Part 3 of a series made by the Shell Film Unit and directed by Denis Segaller. Royal Air Force aircraft is used for the actual footage. Part 2 is reviewed with a diagram of transonic range and how subsonic and supersonic air flow moves around the aircraft (:45-1:05). The animation depicts the entirely supersonic air flow around a fighter plane. The Mach angle is shown for each increase in Mach speed (1:08-2:29). A pencil tip held in fast-moving water depicts how air flow is only affected inside the wave from the tip (2:30-2:41). The animation depicts this supersonic point (2:43-3:12). A wind tunnel shockwave is depicted off the plane tip and then explained using a diagram (3:13-3:47). This change from supersonic to subsonic is depicted using a wind-up cow that walks down a slanted board to a level board and then diagrammed (3:48-5:44). A wing section with a sharp curve is depicted to show how as speed increases, the pressure falls after the curve, known as expansion. The angles are depicted in detail (5:46-8:00). Footage of air flow in action is shown in a smoke tunnel, showing why sharp corners on supersonic aircraft must be avoided (8:02-8:25). A thin flat plate wing section depicts air flow and pressure (8:44-9:42). A missile with a double-wedge wing is shown (9:48). The wind tunnel flow on this wing shape is shown at Mach 1.8, followed by an animated diagram of air flow and pressure distribution for lift (9:55-10:18). A wind tunnel flow is shown on double-wedge aerofoils (airfoils), followed by an animated diagram of lift coefficients (10:19-12:03). A view of the runway passing underneath is followed by deploying a parachute as an extra braking device (12:05-12:30). A missile is launched and supersonic planes seen (12:31-12:51). Swept back wings is explained using a diagram (12:52-13:45). Various supersonic aircraft are shown, including a French Mirage III jet, a Vought Corsair II landing on an aircraft carrier and another Mirage deploying braking chutes (13:46-14:45). A diagram explains why higher flight needs more highly swept back wings (14:50-15:06). The choice of short straight wings, highly swept back wings, and delta wings are shown (15:07-15:22). Supersonic drag is depicted for all three and aircraft shown that represents each style (15:34-17:01). “Future” designs depicted include vertical take-off, wings that change position for supersonic flight, and other potential supersonic aircraft shapes (17:02-18:38).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com