Definition
Flight at speeds greater than the speed of sound (Mach 1), where the aircraft moves through the air faster than the pressure waves it generates can travel ahead of it, producing shock waves.
Plain English
Flying faster than sound travels through the air. At this speed, the aircraft outruns its own sound waves, which build up into shock waves instead of spreading out smoothly.
Context Anchor
Seen in high-speed aerodynamics, aircraft design limits, and maintenance discussions for aircraft built to operate above the speed of sound.
Derivation
From Latin 'super' meaning 'above' and 'sonic' from 'sonus' meaning 'sound.' Literally 'above the speed of sound.' This helps because the term is doing exactly what it says — describing flight above sound speed.
Why Pilots Care
Aircraft must be specially designed to handle shock waves and control issues that appear only at these speeds.
Grounding Statement
In supersonic flight, the aircraft outruns the pressure changes it creates in the air ahead of it.
Intuition Check
Supersonic flight does not mean a single fixed miles-per-hour speed. It means faster than the local speed of sound, which changes with air conditions, especially temperature.
Example Sentence 1
The fighter accelerated into supersonic flight, producing a sonic boom that was heard on the ground.
Example Sentence 2
Maintenance crews inspected the airframe after each supersonic flight for signs of stress.