I understand that coffin corner refers to the range of available airspeeds, which decreases as an aircraft climbs..
An aircraft can fly only in the speed range between the point of stall, and the point at which high speed buffet occurs (over control surfaces, airframe etc). As an aircraft climbs, the stall speed will increase and the IAS at which buffet occurs will drop. Therefore at some point, the two meet, meaning therefore that the point of stall, is also the point at which high speed buffet sets in. I believe this point is called coffin corner.
This problem is made worse by the fact that jet engines are more efficient the higher they are operated.
Hope i have got it right, after all, I am only a student
. Maybe a real engineer can confirm my mumblings.
(Looks like someone already has
)
[This message has been edited by Captain Cessna (edited 21 November 2000).]