Is it possible for a propeller-driven plane to fly faster than the speed of sound?
The propeller is the limiting factor as jets can exceed the speed of sound without their wings and fuselages breaking apart. Propellers that can withstand sonic shock are not efficient enough to drive a plane at supersonic speeds. A great example of the problems with a propeller driven plane trying to go faster than the speed of sound is the XF84H, the world’s loudest aircraft. The F84 was an early jet fighter. Early jets had high top speeds, but they were slow to accellerate. The experimental version had two jet engines driving a propeller through a shaft in an effort to attain jet-like speeds and propeller-like accelleration. It was a complete failure.