Can Propeller-Driven Planes Fly At Supersonic Speeds?

All supersonic aircraft are jet (or rocket) propelled aircraft – but can a propeller-driven aircraft reach supersonic speeds? The short answer is no – at least no propeller (including turboprop) aircraft are designed to fly at supersonic speeds. Propeller aircraft are absent from all supersonic designs. While the retirement of the Concorde ended the age of commercial supersonic travel, aircraft in development like Boom’s Overture are promising to bring back supersonic travel. Jet aircraft did not fully replace propeller-driven aircraft, with numerous commercial passenger (normally short-haul) and military aircraft being turboprops, as propellers have some advantages over jet engines.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *