Can u go hypersonic with MK3 parts?

[OP_OCELOT]

Does anyone know how to go Supersonic with MK3s because if u wanna transport tons of crew and cargo fast...

[Regor]

2 hours ago, OP_OCELOT said:

Does anyone know how to go Supersonic with MK3s because if u wanna transport tons of crew and cargo fast...

Yes but with lots of rapiers or whiplashes

[natsirt721]

Supersonic, yes. Hypersonic, yes but it's harder. 

Supersonic is relatively easy, depending on the total mass of the craft, a few Panthers should provide enough thrust to break the sound barrier. I have a small Mk3 transport that weighs 60 tons, can carry 68 kerbals, powered by two Goliaths that tops out around 550 m/s (Mach 1.65 at sea level). If supersonic is your goal, the Panther is probably the best engine; avoid the Goliath and Wheesley as they're up the the task, but tend to overheat.

Hypersonic is usually defined as mach number in excess of 5, and for that you definitely need to use the RAPIER. The Whiplash thrust curve peaks around Mach 4, but falls off quickly to 0 at M=5.5. The RAPIER fares better, with peak thrust around M=3.5, but with a gentle taper to 0 at M=6. So yes, the engines support hypersonic travel and it can be done. I have a small spaceplane that weighs 77 tons, crew capacity of 20 and a moderately-sized cargo bay, and is powered by 4 RAPIER in the tail and 2 Whiplash in outboard nacelles. It can reach a maximum Mach 5.5 at 15 km. I'm sure that you could do better by removing much of the rocket fuel and reducing the size of the crew compartment.

tl;dr, supersonic is easy, hypersonic needs RAPIERs

[Spricigo]

1 hour ago, mabdi36 said:

Yes but with lots of rapiers or whiplashes

I'd argue a Mammoth works too but I guess that is not what the OP had in mind.