JET STREAM CLAIMS
Currently on PPRuNe and Social Media, claims of an impressive Ground Speed achieved in the Jet Stream by a Virgin 'Dreamliner' twin has triggered an significant interest.
One or two British Tabloid newspapers, aided by sub-editors with a tenuous grasp of basic physics have confused a few of their readers, who's fanciful comments on 'Facebook' and
similar about Supersonics are thus understandable. However, as someone who has never clapped eyes on one of these recently introduced 'Dreamliners', my question is: What was/is Virgin's economy Long
Range Cruise Mach Number on this Aircraft? I assume thrifty twins are slower, but I imagine also that the pilots with an eye on the opportunity, might have nudged it up a notch. How close to 0.9
can a 'Dreamliner' slide along at in smoothish air? I recall vaguely reading about its earliest post production days and some new composite materials that were used in construction, so perhaps instead
it has a redline on skin temperature in case it might risk becoming unglued like Concorde's leading edges might have. ( as told me by a Concorde colleague in BA.....might have been a wind-up though )