Speed of Sound

What Is the Speed of Sound?

The speed of sound, or the speed at which sound travels through the air, is, at sea level, 761 miles per hour. The speed at which an aircraft flies is compared to the speed of sound, a measurement referred to as Mach. Mach 1 is at the speed of sound, Mach 2 is twice the speed of sound, and so on. Aircraft speed is also often described in relation to the speed of sound in that any aircraft traveling at a supersonic speed is traveling faster than the speed of sound.