Aero Fact: Critical Mach and Buffet
Approaching critical Mach increases shock-induced separation and buffet; sweep and airfoil choice delay onset.
By AircoreDynamics •
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1 min read
Definition: Shock-induced separation causes vibration and noise; felt by the pilot.
Physics insight: Pressure oscillations create load fluctuations on wing and tail.
Example: MMO limits in flight manuals; caution in critical regions.
Higher Mcrit delays buffet (design dependent).
Rules of thumb: Increase speed in small steps; add margin in IMC.
Common pitfalls: Ignoring contamination and icing.
References: Flight test notes