why don't airforces put backwards missiles on their planes? that way they can easily take down anyone who's behind them. - eviltoast
  • yggdar@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    22
    ·
    4 months ago

    To be fair, speed is relative. Imagine a plane flies at 500 km/h and is pursued by another plane at the same speed. If the first plane fires a rocket backwards that accelerates for a total of 200 km/h, then for an observer on the ground the rocket will still do 300 km/h, in the same direction as the planes. However, the guys in the second plane will see a rocket approaching them at 200 km/h.

    Wind resistance, aerodynamics, etc. will have an impact, but it can work.

    • waigl@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      16
      ·
      4 months ago

      To be fair, speed is relative.

      Sure, but the relevant speed up there is relative to the air around you. The missile will have a negative air speed at first, than accelerate to positive, briefly passing through 0 in between, which comes with weird consequences for lift and steering.