Did you know that the speed of commercial airliners has not increased since the 1960s? Even though they can reach a maximum speed of around 950 kilometers per hour, it’s unlikely that they’ll go any faster. This is due to the shape of the wings, known as an airfoil, which is similar to a teardrop. At 80% of the speed of sound, the air going over the top of the wing starts to break the sound barrier, creating shock waves which cause drag and slow the plane down. To overcome this drag would require too much fuel, making flights much more expensive. Therefore, planes fly at a speed which minimizes drag, meaning we’re still going the same speed as we were 60 years ago.