This is a summary of work detailed in a more comprehensive paper which contains a major re-examination of, and challenge to, the assumptions of aerodynamics theory as applied to infinite flow fields at the speed of sound and their consequent relevance to the reality of free flight.

In steady-state flow fields generally, fore-bodies are embedded in the flow by a process based on the contraction of the streamline cross-sections. In subsonic flow this is achieved by velocity increase whereas in supersonic flow it is by velocity decrease. A primary reason for the challenge to accepted theory lies in the fact that, in a steady-state sonic field streamlines can only increase from their undisturbed area (Fig. 1) and this leads to fundamental difficulties in the construction of the forward flow field which in turn lead to the various theoretical anomalies.