There is a phenom called "Cherenkov light" that is often called "the optical equivalent of a sonic boom".
Water in the cores of nuclear reactors has a wierd blue glow that is cherenkov light.
The speed limit of the universe is the speed of light in a vacuum. But when light enters a medium made of matter (gas, water, glass) it usually gets slowed down (often by as much as 25 percent) below its speed in a vacuum. So in that local medium light can not quite go "the speed of light". And in that local medium subatomic particles can out run light, and produce a cone shaped burst of light (shaped much like a sonic boom) called "Cherenkov light".
Google "Cherenkov light" to get a better explanation. Cant seem to link to it, but a publication called "Symmetry" gives a pretty good explanation for the layperson.
But you're talking about breaking the light barrier in the vacuum of space, not with a subatomic particle, but with a human piloted vehicle.
I dunno. Will hafta to get back to you about that. 