Have any Jebs broken the sound barrier IRL?

[cubinator]

Various Jeb Kerman plushies and 3D printed models have been put in the hands of KSP fans, and some have even given those Kerbals a taste of flight, such as on high-altitude balloons. I am wondering if there is any known case of Kerbal merch being flown on a supersonic vehicle.

Asking for a friend. This definitely isn't related to the 7-foot tall rocket propped against my desk right now.

[Lewie]

On 8/6/2020 at 8:22 PM, cubinator said:

Various Jeb Kerman plushies and 3D printed models have been put in the hands of KSP fans, and some have even given those Kerbals a taste of flight, such as on high-altitude balloons. I am wondering if there is any known case of Kerbal merch being flown on a supersonic vehicle.

Asking for a friend. This definitely isn't related to the 7-foot tall rocket propped against my desk right now.

I am friends with a player whose father is a f-16 pilot (I am actually hoping to become a fighter pilot someday!) and he did have a 3d printed jeb along for a ride. I’m not sure if they did go supersonic, but I’m pretty sure that’s the first time a kerbals has been in a fighter jet  

I remember watching. There’s an afb where I live, and while they were out doing training maneuvers, I was able to pick out the jet Jeb would’ve been in. 

 

Edited August 8, 2020 by Lewie

[GuessingEveryDay]

After taking a quick look at all the astronauts from 1958-2018. I found 2 Valentinas. Couldn't find any with Bill, but realized it was a nickname of William, and there were 27 "Bills". And there were 35 Bobs! No Jebediah though... But these were from the US, and USSR, I'll look in other space agencies.

[Entropian]

@Lewie, wait, so you can see them flying around from your place?

[Lewie]

13 minutes ago, Entropian said:

@Lewie, wait, so you can see them flying around from your place?

Yep! As I said, I live right next to an Air force base, so it’s really common to see them training. I live in the south part of town, while the afb is in the north part, so it’s very common sight to see them taking off, doing fancy maneuvers and what-not.

[GuessingEveryDay]

Just now, Lewie said:

Yep! As I said, I live right next to an Air force base, so it’s really common to see them training. I live in the south part of town, while the afb is in the north part, so it’s very common sight to see them taking off, doing fancy maneuvers and what-not.

How often do they break the sound barrier, or is that not allowed in civilian areas?

[Entropian]

Dang, that's gotta be amazing.  All I get to see are the same old airliners, and private jets.  Sometimes the odd USAF C-130 and Antonov comes in.

[GuessingEveryDay]

Just now, Entropian said:

Antonov comes in.

Wait... Which one? Antonov-124, or Antonov-225?

[Entropian]

No way.  I wish though.  I get the occasional small quad-prop cargo things for disaster relief.

[Lewie]

3 minutes ago, GuessingEveryDay said:

How often do they break the sound barrier, or is that not allowed in civilian areas?

I live in South Dakota, which can be quite remote at times. Breaking the sound barrier is a no-go in residential areas, but outside of town they can. It’s really easy to see them, because there are hardly any trees or buildings to block your veiw.

 

2 minutes ago, Entropian said:

Dang, that's gotta be amazing.  All I get to see are the same old airliners, and private jets.  Sometimes the odd USAF C-130 and Antonov comes in.

It really is! As long as I can remember, there’s been jets buzzing around. What’s really awesome, is when they pass over my house, they are still really low and their afterburners are on, so you can just feel the fwooossh as they go screaming by.

[Entropian]

You get the afterburners!? You have no idea how lucky that is...

[Guest]

As far as Bills go, one had even been to lunar orbit.  
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Anders
Before that, he regularly went supersonic while chasing Russian bombers around. A cool enough guy to have a song about him.  

 

[kerbiloid]

If the Voyagers and Pioneers had been sent fifty years later...

They could put not just Kerbal images, but even share a licensed KSP copy with codes.

Edited August 10, 2020 by kerbiloid

[Lewie]

10 hours ago, kerbiloid said:

If the Voyagers and Pioneers had been sent fifty years later...

They could put not just Kerbal images, but even share a licensed KSP copy with codes.

Imagine if Voyager and Puoneers accidentally stumbled across kerbin....*insert existential crisis here*

[Death Engineering]

I have a Saturn I Block 2 model rocket with a 5.4cm diameter payload bay.  Who wants to launch their Jeb in it?