The world of supersonic speed is not as silent as people might imagine. Indeed, the sounds from outside cannot catch up, nor can they break through the shock waves. But inside the aircraft, various sounds are unavoidable. Tiny vibrations, subtle mechanical noises, synthesized electronic beeps—ignoring any of these could lead to a tragic outcome with both aircraft and human life destroyed.
An airplane flying at high speeds could be brought down by a collision with a bird, but at hypersonic speeds, a small stone, a pistol bullet, or a thin cloth could cause catastrophic damage to the aircraft. Because at 6.5 Mach, the issue is no longer about what's soft or hard, but the kinetic energy alone that can inflict harm. Even if only struck by a stone the size of a fingernail, the aircraft would immediately be pierced with a hole, allowing the howling supersonic winds to rush in, tearing the aircraft apart instantaneously, and then burning it to ashes from frictional heating...
