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Mach Number Explained: What It Is and Why Pilots Use It

Pilot Institute

Why do jet pilots talk about speed in terms of Mach number? Why don’t they use Indicated Airspeed just like the pilots who fly slower aircraft? Jet aircraft often fly at speeds close to the speed of sound. Key Takeaways Mach number is a dimensionless ratio of true airspeed to local speed of sound. Here’s why.