>>6522999Nice numerical full house, but that isn't quite correct.
The pressure wave isn't instantly created at Mach 1; It is built up as the aircraft moves faster. Above Mach .3 compressability starts coming into play, but the shock wave itself forms at Mach 1. The condensation in pic related occurs because of the low pressure area behind the shock wave, allowing the water molecules in the air to come out of suspension and form a cloud due to the low pressure raising the dewpoint, and therefore the relative humidity. A visible pressure wave can form lower than Mach 1, so the plane doesn't have to be going supersonic.
This aircraft is going Mach .97
