Subsonic, transonic, supersonic, and hypersonic flight regimes MCQs – Aerospace

1. The flight regime where the Mach number is less than 0.8 is called:
(A) Supersonic
(B) Hypersonic
(C) Subsonic
(D) Transonic

2. In which flight regime does the aircraft experience rapid changes in aerodynamic forces due to shockwave formation?
(A) Subsonic
(B) Transonic
(C) Supersonic
(D) Hypersonic

3. An aircraft flying at Mach 2.5 is operating in which flight regime?
(A) Subsonic
(B) Transonic
(C) Supersonic
(D) Hypersonic

4. The hypersonic flight regime typically begins at a Mach number of:
(A) 1
(B) 3
(C) 5
(D) 10

5. The critical Mach number is defined as the speed at which:
(A) The aircraft reaches Mach 5
(B) Shock waves start forming on the aircraft surface
(C) The aircraft exceeds the speed of sound
(D) The drag on the aircraft becomes zero

6. Which of the following challenges is most significant in the hypersonic flight regime?
(A) Increased aerodynamic drag
(B) High-temperature effects on materials
(C) Subsonic turbulence
(D) Reduced lift generation

7. In the transonic regime, airflow around the aircraft is:
(A) Entirely subsonic
(B) Entirely supersonic
(C) A mixture of subsonic and supersonic flow
(D) Hypersonic near the wings

8. The Concorde, a famous supersonic airliner, operated primarily in which Mach range?
(A) 0.3 – 0.7
(B) 0.8 – 1.2
(C) 1.5 – 2.0
(D) 3.5 – 4.5

9. At what Mach number does an aircraft transition from supersonic to hypersonic flight?
(A) Mach 1
(B) Mach 3
(C) Mach 5
(D) Mach 10

10. Which of the following aerodynamic effects is most dominant in the supersonic flight regime?
(A) Wave drag
(B) Laminar flow separation
(C) Reduced control surface effectiveness
(D) Propeller efficiency loss