Imagine flying at twice the speed of light.
Apparently, a new Russian Military fighter jet is capable of just that, at least according to Fox News' Jillian Mele.
The Checkmate—the jet in question—was recently unveiled at the MAKS-2021 International Aviation and Space Salon in Zhukovsky, Russia.
The fighter plane was touted as a rival to the United States' F-35 stealth fighter according to Oleg Panteleyev of the Russian Aviaport analytical agency.
Fox News' Jillian Mele reported on the launch of the jet, which is expected to sell for as much as $30 Million.
But in her report, Mele claimed Checkmate can travel at "twice the speed of light", with Mele declaring on the broadcast:
"That boggles my mind."
Boggling, indeed.
Traveling at twice the speed of light is virtually scientifically impossible in the physics of the known universe, something Albert Einstein proved with his theory of relativity.
Fact checker Ron Filipkowski expressed his doubts regarding Mele's report on Twitter.
This is very unsettling. \u2018Fox and Friends\u2019 is saying that the Russians have developed a fighter jet that flies at twice the speed of light!pic.twitter.com/1FLphAXGWk— Ron Filipkowski (@Ron Filipkowski) 1626877444
Based on an earlier Fox News report, it seems Mele confused her words, as Checkmate can travel at twice the speed of sound, not light.
But the science defying speed of Checkmate didn't seem to be what caught the attention of Fox and Friends co-host Steve Doocy.
He was more in awe of the artificial intelligence (AI) included in the design, allowing the jet to fly, "unpiloted" as reported by Mele.
"Unpiloted? So you would control it by a computer or a person running it just like a video game?"
Mele's slip-of-the tongue did not escape Filipkowski's Twitter followers.
7.5 times in 1 second*— Soros Paid Troll (@Soros Paid Troll) 1626877568
Yes, but can it complete the Kettle Run in 12 parsecs?— A Lot of People (@A Lot of People) 1626877588
Sound, I think they definitely mixed that up with sound.\n\nLight travels around the globe in like 10 seconds, Russia would be just running laps around the world - literally in seconds— MJames (@MJames) 1626877602
Errr, what?\n\nLight travels Earth to Moon in ~1 second.\nIt travels around Earth like 7.5ish times per second. \n\nAnd yeah, E=mc^2 ....\n\nNothing with mass travels with the speed of light.— DefensorPacis (@DefensorPacis) 1626877705
Speed of light???? Twice??pic.twitter.com/bDpiLoo1Y2— Annie Davies (@Annie Davies) 1626877680
Eat your heart out Albert Einstein.— Daniel Prokop (@Daniel Prokop) 1626877735
There were those who were less than surprised Fox News would so confidently report something a bit less than accurately.
Fox News making Russia look good as usual.— Ben WAPiro (@Ben WAPiro) 1626877742
What is unsettling is that anyone would believe a word that "Fox and Friends" says.— Carson West (@Carson West) 1626877672
1.3 BILLION mph? Leave it to Faux Noose.— TX Democrat and proud of it (@TX Democrat and proud of it) 1626877789
Though who knows, perhaps Mele has just provided a new challenge for Russia's next jet model.
After all, what do the laws of physics have to do with aeronautics, engineering or aerodynamics?
J. Crew
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