• merc@sh.itjust.works
      15·
      9 months ago

      Yeah, the initial velocity of the bullets would be the sum of the plane’s velocity plus whatever velocity the bullets gain coming out of the barrel.

      But, what apparently happened is perfectly believable (if extremely unlucky). It’s not that the F-11 was faster than its bullets, it’s that it flew in a way that its path intersected the path of the bullets it had fired. As soon as the bullets left the barrel they would have started slowing down, eventually ending up on a ballistic trajectory. The F-11 would have stayed at approximately the same speed, but if the pilot hit the afterburners it would have sped up considerably.

      Still, the likelihood of the speeding up plane hitting the slowing down bullets is extremely low.

  • Gilles_D@feddit.de
    57·
    9 months ago

    The Tiger gained the dubious distinction of being the first jet aircraft to shoot itself down. On 21 September 1956, during a test-firing of its 20 mm (0.79 in) cannons, pilot Tom Attridge fired two bursts midway through a shallow dive. As the trajectory of the cannon rounds decayed, they ultimately crossed paths with the Tiger as it continued its descent, disabling the aircraft and forcing Attridge to crash-land the aircraft; he survived with a broken leg and multiple broken vertebrae.

    From Wikipedia

    I think just saying that it hit itself due to its high speed doesn‘t really tell the whole story.

    • atsum@feddit.ch
      10·
      9 months ago

      I think just saying that it hit itself due to its high speed doesn‘t really tell the whole story.

      Well just like most descriptions of ADHD isn’t it?

  • ThatWeirdGuy1001@lemmy.world
    41·
    9 months ago

    Imagine the fear and shock of test firing your guns into the water, speeding up and moving on, then suddenly your aircraft is shredded by a seemingly invisible force.

    I’d shit out my heart.

  • Apathy Tree@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    25·
    9 months ago

    Why yes, I am capable of shooting myself in the foot at record speed as soon as I open my mouth. In fact it’s mandatory!

    Lovely of you to notice!