"gatt" wrote in message ...
"Don French" wrote in message

Regardless, it seems to me that the rocket's speed has to be
subtracted from the jet's speed to arrive at the actual jet speed when
you talk about the world's record for speed of a jet plane.

Hmm. Would you say the same for Yeager and the X-1, it having been dropped
from the belly of another aircraft, or is your particular question related
just to the rocket?

In the same vein, many early airplanes needed a catapult to get up to
flying speed, including the Wrights' planes away from Kitty Hawk's
winds. Doesn't make them any less amazing.

Wikipedia makes an interesting point as well... that high-speed jets
taking off from an aircraft carrier need a catapult launcher to get
them up to flying speed. (Obviously the jets can also take off with a
long enough runway, but the similarity is that an assist to get to
speed shouldn't negate the accomplishment, in many people's opinions.)

Best, Kev