https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/07d10b28-dcd0-4e1a-bd54-017f35d45c4e Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCddem5RlB3bQe99wyY49g0g/join Help us preserve, scan and post more rare and endangered films! Join us on Patreon. Visit https://www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Visit our website www.PeriscopeFilm.com View our Amazon store here: https://amzn.to/3XQHsVD Created by the Shell Film Unit, "Approaching the Speed of Sound" . The Royal Air Force commissioned Shell to make these films to detail hazards and physical issues related with high speed flight. Peter de Normanville directed the film; he served as scientific director of London Shell Film until 1963. He utilizes a process known as Schlieren technique using vivid colors to show shock waves built up on the aircraft's wing and tail surfaces as it flows through the sound barrier. The films in this series were considerably successful; hundreds of copies were sold and it won numerous prizes. It is comprised of a series detailed diagrams and animations showing the relationship between speed of the aircraft and the speed of sound and shots of planes approaching Mach 1 or the speed of sound. The film opens on the Shell logo (:10).  It was created by the Shell Film Unit (:33). An RAF Vulcan Jet zooms onto screen (1:46). The film begins with a series of demonstrations on how sound travels through the air (1:59). A slinky is first used (2:20). Sound waves are compared to ripples in the water (2:39). An explosion is set off (2:59). The speed of the aircraft and the speed of sound are compared (5:27). The nose of the Vickers Valiant B MK-1 bomber (5:40) appears. Mach number is discussed (5:47) and the Mach meter is shown (6:03). A diagram details how Mach number is calculated (6:12). A wing section is used to show drag (7:31). A Blackburn Beverly (9:21) flies onto screen. Flight Mach number (9:48) and local Mach number (9:59) are compared. Shots of the pilot follow within the cockpit (10:58). On the gear panel, the flight Mach number is noted to have been altered (11:11). Shaky footage captures the aircraft buffeting violently (11:24). A high speed wind tunnel is used in example (11:53). The compressed air jet is turned on showing spurts of blue and red (12:23) detailing increasing and decreasing density (13:25). Shock waves are visible as a missile spins through the air (14:47). Still footage shows the shock waves better (15:07). A diagram explains what happens when the craft reaches critical Mach number (15:40). Wave drag is explained (18:04). The meter appears as it approaches the speed of sound (18:34). The pilot grips the controls as he experiences loss of stability within the cockpit (19:17). Wool tufts are stuck on the wing for this experiment to show separation in flight (19:27). Hues of blue show the speed up of air around the aircraft (19:57). Shock waves lead to an increase in drag (20:09). How to combat or avoid drag is covered (20:31). The Folland Gnat (20:36) and the Avro Vulcan (20:43) swim on screen. The thin wings are employed on the crafts in order to help reduce drag. As speed increases the shock wave forms (21:19) around the thicker wing. Mach number .9 is displayed (21:44). The Vickers Valiant (21:58) zooms above. A wing is used to show air flow changing as the wing is swept back (22:27). A Northrop jet zooms over (25:11). A Fairey Delta 2 mid-wing tailless delta monoplane appears in flight (26:03). A Boeing 707 passenger jet (26:20) follows. The shell logo closes the film (26:46). 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 and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtzG-l7lEfk Mirrored from Periscope Film (https://www.youtube.com/@PeriscopeFilm) Sat, 13 Jun 2026 05:25:06 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://peertube.dngr.us https://peertube.dngr.us/lazy-static/avatars/41a6fee9-7f57-42d0-a5fc-5db4f1af2e31.png https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/07d10b28-dcd0-4e1a-bd54-017f35d45c4e All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://peertube.dngr.us/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.