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Mag-lev can go way fast. Transonic should be no problem, at which time shockwave buffeting so close to the ground might prove problematic.

I suppose a bit of ground effects and some ducted fans might mitigate buffeting, if mere human reflexes weren't involved.

it's mag lev.
magnetic levitation acts MUCH faster than mere aerodynamics.

Well, I dunno enough about it to comment about how it might be used to counter buffeting, but I understand ground effects and ducted fans, in principle.

Seems like maglev could counter buffeting too, unless your concern regarding buffeting was structural integrity, rather than ride quality.

Once an old machinist offered me $1000 for each mph I could reach over 150 in a 1976 dodge van. I thought about it briefly before discussing JDAMs on either side with him.

He pointed out I might earn $150k before I died =p As I had never known him to be wrong about a mechanism, particularly ones on wheels, I lived to never collect.

I think the point i was making was that things get hairy at supersonic speeds. If I recall correctly a great many test pilots died before chuck yeager broke the sound barrier and lived. When rilly, rilly close to the ground the effects are intensified. Craig Breedlove's Green Monster had the POWAH to go faster than sound (world land speed record) except for those pesky transonic effects.

I dunno if they've managed it yet.

Safer to stay subsonic when close to the ground...ya think?

Well, I had kids at the time. Today, I'd prolly do it =p

Seems if they can fly by wire, you should be able to stabilize by wire, too. Doubt there's much call for it, as Lightning Trucks haven't been invented yet!

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