What is the speed of sound at 30000 feet?

For example, the speed of sound at 30,000 feet is about 670 miles per hour, but an aircraft must travel at least 750 miles per hour (Mach 1.12, where Mach 1 equals the speed of sound) for a boom to be heard on the ground.



At an altitude of 30,000 feet, the speed of sound (Mach 1) is approximately 678 mph (1,091 km/h). This is significantly lower than the speed of sound at sea level (which is about 761 mph) because the speed of sound in a gas is primarily dependent on temperature, not air pressure. As altitude increases, the air temperature drops; at 30,000 feet, the standard atmospheric temperature is roughly -48°F (-44°C). Cold air molecules have less kinetic energy and move more slowly, which reduces the speed at which a sound wave can propagate through the medium. For 2026 commercial pilots, understanding this "shifting" Mach 1 is critical for high-altitude flight, as most modern jetliners cruise at "Mach 0.80 to 0.85" relative to the local speed of sound. This allows them to maximize fuel efficiency while staying safely below the "transonic" zone where air resistance increases dramatically and aerodynamic "buffeting" can occur due to the formation of shockwaves on the wings.

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These speeds are referred to by Mach numbers. The Mach number is the ratio of the speed of the aircraft to the speed of sound. Flight that is faster than Mach 1 is supersonic. Supersonic includes speeds up to five times faster than the speed of sound, or Mach 5.

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The fastest fighter jet ever created was the NASA/USAF X-15. It was an experimental aircraft that resembled more of a rocket with wings but managed to reach a record 4,520mph. The fastest fighter jet in the world today is the MiG-25 Foxbat, with a top speed of 2,190mph, half the speed of the X-15.

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Mach 10 speed has never been achieved by a manned aircraft, though, so it has never been tested. Mach 10 has, however, been achieved by a spacecraft - on November 16, 2004, NASA launched the X-43A, an air-breathing hypersonic vehicle, and was able to reach real Mach 10 while being pushed into the atmosphere.

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Aircraft are put through extreme testing during their certification, but such limits are never intended to be actually faced. The 747 -100, for instance, was tested up to Mach 0.99, almost breaking the sound barrier. Other 747s, such as Air Force One, have approached the sound barrier but never crossed it.

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Such speed didn't come cheap, though: A transatlantic flight required the high-maintenance aircraft to gulp jet fuel at the rate of one ton per seat, and the average round-trip price was $12,000.

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So, to answer the question, yes, some fighter jets are faster than the Concorde. However, it is important to note that the Concorde was primarily designed for passenger travel, not for combat or aerial maneuvers.

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Fifty years ago, the federal government banned all civilian supersonic flights over land. The rule prohibits non-military aircraft from flying faster than sound so their resulting sonic booms won't startle the public below or concern them about potential property damage.

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