transonic flight

transonic flight

[tran′sän·ik ′flīt]

(aerospace engineering)

Flight of vehicles at speeds near the speed of sound (660 miles per hour or 1060 kilometers per hour, at 35,000 feet or 10,700 meters altitude), characterized by great increase in drag, decrease in lift at any altitude, and abrupt changes in the moments acting on the aircraft; the vehicle may shake or buffet.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.