Get it straight.Unfortunately, "Wings of Change" (SN: 12/6/03, p. 359) got something wrong in describing the reshaping of aircraft surfaces. The article states, "The recently retired supersonic commercial transport, the Concorde, tilted its nose downward for subsonic flight Subsonic flight Movement of a vehicle through the atmosphere at a speed appreciably below that of sound waves. Subsonic flight extends from zero (hovering) to a speed approximately 85% of sonic speed corresponding to the ambient temperature. ." This is not the (whole) truth because the reason for this reshaping was not to reduce air drag, but to achieve a far-better view of the runway during (subsonic sub·son·ic adj. 1. Of less than audible frequency. 2. Having a speed less than that of sound in a designated medium. subsonic Adjective ) approach to the airfield. It is true that for supersonic flight Supersonic flight Relative motion of a solid body and a gas at a velocity greater than that of sound propagation under the same conditions. The general characteristics of supersonic flight can be understood by considering the laws of propagation of a , the long and tapered nose of the Concorde must not be tilted--because of the fantastic drag it would cause if tilted. PETER WAGNER The name Peter Wagner can refer to several persons:
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