Mach Number Explained: What It Is and Why Pilots Use It
Pilot Institute
JULY 11, 2025
That’s the speed your airspeed indicator shows based on ram air pressure in the pitot tube. For example, an airliner might indicate only 250 knots at 35,000 feet, but its true airspeed could be over 430 knots. Commercial airliners aren’t designed for supersonic flight. roughly) up to about Mach 5.0.
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