Hey guys maybe this example of "real world" stuff will help. We have all tossed a flat rock and skipped it on the lake at some time in our life, right? Well what if we take two rocks about the same size/weight/shape and threw them at about the same speed and nearly the same angle. (Just follow me here please.) One rock skips on the water surface the other is just a bit higher off the water and does not skip, which one would go the the longest distance from the release point? We all know which one it is from emperical data (that real world stuff we all see but do not always understand) that goes the greatest distance. What is the difference between the two rocks? (assume they are same size/weight/shape and thrown at the same speed) Water surface impact and drag from the water, yes it is a big deal in the drag department. It would make very little difference if we "aero shaped" the rock as once it hits the water a LARGE drag force is generated and slows the rock so it will fall to mother earth before that airborn one. I do not see many (any!) supersonic subs, but supersonic aircraft are all over the place, perhaps that 800 times denser than air water is the reason here.