Transonic
Videos
Transonic flow is air flowing around an object at a speed that generates regions of both subsonic and supersonic airflow around that object. The exact range of speeds depends on the object's critical
Aerodynamic condensation evidences of supersonic expansion fans around a transonic F/A-18
Shock waves may appear as weak optical disturbances above airliners with supercritical wings
Supercritical airfoil
Videos
A supercritical airfoil is an airfoil designed primarily to delay the onset of wave drag in the transonic speed range.
Transonic
…unsteadiness to the flow around the vehicle. Research has been done into weakening shock waves in transonic flight through the use of anti-shock bodies and supercritical airfoils. Most modern jet powered aircraft are engineered to operate at transonic air speeds. Transonic airspeeds see a rapid increase in drag from about Mach…
NASA TF-8A in 1973
Thomas McMurtry before his flight on the Vought F-8A Crusader Supercritical Wing Airplane
Supercritical airfoil Mach number/pressure coefficient diagram (y axis: Mach number, or pressure coefficient, negative up; x axis: position along chord, leading edge left). The sudden increase in pressure coefficient at midchord is due to the shock.