A Machmeter is an aircraft pitot-static system flight instrument that shows the ratio of the true airspeed to the speed of sound, a dimensionless quantity called Mach number. This is shown on a Machmeter as a decimal fraction. An aircraft flying at the speed of sound is flying at a Mach number of one, expressed as "Mach 1.0".

As an aircraft in transonic flight approaches the speed of sound, it first reaches its critical mach number, where air flowing over low-pressure areas of its surface locally reaches the speed of sound, forming shock waves. The indicated airspeed for this condition changes with ambient pressure, which in turn changes with altitude. Therefore, indicated airspeed is not entirely adequate to warn the pilot of the impending problems. Mach number is more useful, and most high-speed aircraft are limited to a maximum operating Mach number, also known as as "Mmo".

For example, if the Mmo is Mach 0.83, at 9144 m. /30,000 feet where the speed of sound under standard conditions is 303 m/s / 590 knots, the corresponding true airspeed is 251 m/s / 489 knots. The speed of sound varies with air temperature, so at Mach 0.83 at 3048 m. / 10,000 feet, where the air is much warmer, the corresponding true airspeed would be 273 m/s / 530 knots.

Some older mechanical Machmeters not driven from an air data computer use an altitude aneroid inside the instrument that converts pitot-static pressure into Mach number. These systems assume that the temperature at any altitude is standard; therefore, the indicated Mach number is inaccurate whenever the temperature deviates from standard. These systems are called indicated Machmeters. Modern electronic Machmeters use information from an air data computer system to correct for temperature errors. These systems display true Mach number.

See also

• Airspeed indicator
• Mach number
• Pitot-static system

References

• >Instrument Flying Handbook. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C.: U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. FAA-H-8083-15.
• Instrument Flying Handbook. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C.: U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. FAA-H-8083-15A.