In article . net,
"Steven P. McNicoll" writes:

"John Halliwell" wrote in message
...

One could also argue another requirement, is that the 'aircraft'
achieving it, is self-sufficient and is capable of taking off under its
own power.


Not if one wished to be taken seriously.

In fact, one of the requiremts for the design of the XS-1 was that it
be able to take off from a more or less conventional runway. This was
demonstrated once at Muroc. It was much more productive, however, to
carry the thing up to 30,000'/300mph and save the fuel for
accelerating and climbing. The goal, after all, was to explore the
transonic and supersonic regions, not to set FAI records.

The same goes for the Sabre, too. While F-86s routinely made
supersonic dives, all of the accredited Speed Records set by Sabers
were in level flight, and were in the high subsonic speed
range. (Well, transonic, really, but the airplane was moving on the
slow side of Mach 1)

--
Pete Stickney
A strong conviction that something must be done is the parent of many
bad measures. -- Daniel Webster