Faster than This Speeding Train, Superman?
Kirt's Cogitations™ #150

RF Cafe University"Factoids," "Kirt's Cogitations," and "Tech Topics Smorgasbord" are all manifestations of my ranting on various subjects relevant (usually) to the overall RF Cafe theme. All may be accessed on these pages:

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Faster than This Speeding Train, Superman?

On December 2, 2003, a magnetically levitated train developed by the Central Japan Railway Company set a world speed record of 581 km/h (361 mi/h). The train is planned to run a normal 500 km route between Tokyo and Osaka in one hour. Liquid-helium-cooled superconducting electromagnets are sequentially repelled and attracted by conductive coils in the track's sidewalls for propulsion. To minimize friction, the entire train is magnetically levitated above and between the rails. For comparison, the famed American P-40 Warhawk and British Spitfire of WWII had about the same top speed in level flight.