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Transonic facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Bell X-1 in flight
The Bell X-1, a plane built for transonic flight

Transonic means breaking the sound barrier by travelling faster than the speed of sound (1,236 kph or 768 mph).

The speed of flight is divided into four groups based on speed.

Transonic means going from subsonic to supersonic. Subsonic ends and supersonic begins at mach 1, so transonic goes from mach 0.8 to 1.2. When you are going through transonic speeds, drag increases and it is really hard to go any faster. This is the sound barrier.

Images for kids

  • FA-18 Hornet breaking sound barrier (7 July 1999)

    Aerodynamic condensation evidences of supersonic expansion fans around a transonic F/A-18

  • Shock wave above airliner wing (7)

    Shock waves may appear as weak optical disturbances above airliners with supercritical wings

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Velocidad transónica para niños

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Transonic Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.