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

Pilot Institute

Why don’t they use Indicated Airspeed just like the pilots who fly slower aircraft? Key Takeaways Mach number is a dimensionless ratio of true airspeed to local speed of sound. That’s the speed your airspeed indicator shows based on ram air pressure in the pitot tube. Here’s why.

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Airspeed and Altitude Control Simplified: Tips for Stable Flying

Pilot Institute

If you’re aiming to get comfortable with managing both airspeed and altitude in flight, you’ll need to understand the difference between indicated airspeed (IAS) and true airspeed (TAS). Key Takeaways Airspeed and altitude are directly linked to each other throughout different phases of your flight. miles per hour.

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Exploring the Intricacies of the Airspeed Indicator

Pilot's Life Blog

In short, an airspeed indicator measures the ram pressure and compares it to static pressure to determine how fast a plane is moving. Moving air from outside feeds into the pitot tubes and fills a pressure diaphragm. True airspeed (TAS) is the difference between the indicated airspeed and actual speed.