Supersonic Flight
Today we will learn about supersonic flight.
Before we start, let’s reflect on these questions:
What is supersonic flight?
Supersonic flight is one of the four speeds of flight. The four speeds of flight are subsonic, transonic, supersonic, and hypersonic. The speed of sound is 768 mph, or Mach 1, at sea level. The speed of sound in air can change depending on air temperature or the altitude at which the aircraft is flying .
Aircraft that go faster than Mach 1, or faster than the speed of sound, are considered supersonic.
How can an aircraft’s design help it reach supersonic speeds?
At speeds close to the speed of sound, an aircraft will experience an increase in drag that deters further acceleration due to a disruption in airflow. This increase in drag is known as the sound barrier.
Aircraft can be purposefully built to reduce this disruption of airflow and resulting drag to “break” through the sound barrier. Design elements like the area rule (narrowing the body of the aircraft where the wings are located) , thinner swept-back wings, and strong engines, make supersonic flight possible.
Credits: NASA/Langley Research Center
What is a sonic boom?
As an aircraft travels through the air, it can push aside air molecules with great force. This force forms a shockwave which forms a cone of pressurized air. As shockwaves produced by aircraft merge together, they can cause a loud thunder-like noise, similar to when a pin pops a balloon. This noise is called a sonic boom.
NASA used a special camera to take photographs of aircraft the moment that they fly faster than the speed of sound, breaking the sound barrier. Studies like this can assist NASA in developing supersonic aircraft that produces quieter shockwaves.
CREDIT: NASA
Let’s visit Intrepid!
Press play on the next slide to travel to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum and learn more about supersonic flight!
Let’s Learn About Two Supersonic Aircraft!
Press play on the next two slides to learn about two aircraft in Intrepid’s collection. As you watch the videos, identify which design elements may allow the aircraft to reach supersonic speeds.
Make “supersonic” origami
The F-14 Tomcat could reach supersonic speeds of over Mach 2, or 1,544 mph. Aircraft speeds that reach around Mach 5 are considered hypersonic.
Follow the visual instructions and watch the video on the next slide to make your own origami F-14. What do you think a hypersonic aircraft might look like?
Reflection