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Q:

How is lift achieved at transonic speeds?

A:

Lift is achieved at transonic speeds (speeds near the speed of sound) the same way it is achieved at subsonic speeds. The air travels faster over the top of the wing than over the bottom, which means there is less air pressure on top of the wing than on the bottom. This pushes the wing up and creates lift. The only difference at transonic speeds is when the air travels faster over the top of the wing, even though the plane isn't going supersonic, the air moving around the wing may be. When this happens, a shock wave forms on the wing, which increases the drag on the plane.

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