# Science question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 25, 2002, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-question/115889 "2002-06-25T15:29:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![American\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/65b543/32.png) [@American\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/American_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-question/115889/1 "2002-06-25T15:29:54Z")
If I am flying an airplane faster than the speed of sound how am I able to communicate with the tower? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-question/115889/2 "2002-06-25T15:32:33Z")
Because radio waves travel at the speed of light. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-question/115889/3 "2002-06-25T15:53:43Z")
If you yelled at the tower, they wouldn’t hear until you passed. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-question/115889/4 "2002-06-25T16:00:49Z")
You seem to be implying that the old & reliable method of shouting at the tower as you fly by might not work at supersonic speeds. You are right. Yet it seems this method of communication has fallen into disfavor, even with subsonic aircraft. Radio may be a passing fad, but for now it seems to work. If your supersonic plane happens to be radio-equipped, you may be in luck.