Mach wave Mach wave In fluid dynamics, a Mach wave is a pressure wave traveling with the speed of sound caused by a slight change of pressure added to a compressible flow. These weak waves can combine in supersonic flow to become a shock wave if sufficient Mach waves are present at any location. Such a shock wave is called a Mach stem or Mach front. Thus, it is possible to have shockless compression or expansion in a supersonic flow by having the production of Mach waves sufficiently spaced ("cf." isentropic compression in supersonic flows). A Mach wave is the weak limit
Bluebird Mach 1.1 Bluebird Mach 1.1 Bluebird Mach 1.1 (CMN-8) was a design for a rocket-powered supersonic land speed record car, planned by Donald Campbell but thwarted by his subsequent death during a water speed record attempt in "Bluebird K7" in early 1967. Donald Campbell decided a massive jump in speed was called for following his successful 1964 LSR attempt in "Bluebird CN7". His vision was of a supersonic rocket car with a potential maximum speed of 840 mph, referred to as "Bluebird Mach 1.1". Norris Brothers were requested to undertake a design study. Campbell, ever superstitious, chose a lucky date to hold