Abstract: High speed and shock compression behind the bow shock of an aircraft head result in very high temperature, which would subsequently lead to a conductivity plasma flowfield around the vehicle. The plasma gas provides a direct working environment for the application of magnetic field. The magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow control, which uses the magnetic field to alter the trajectory of ions or electrons, can improve the aerodynamic characteristics of hypersonic vehicles effectively. It has potential prospects on aerodynamic force control and aerodynamic heating management. Besides, the development of superconducting materials and electromagnetic technology contribute to a great upsurge of MHD flow control research significantly. Although research work has been carried out in the field of MHD flow control at home and abroad, its experimental investigation is still challenging. And for the measurement of pressure and heat flux, there is no systematic conclusion because of the limited test conditions and measurement techniques. The results of different researchers may be different from each other and from the theoretical results and numerical simulations. Thus, the influence on the shock stand-off distance, pressure and heat flux under MHD flow control deserves an in-depth investigation. Besides, the numerical simulations and theoretical methods do also need reliable experimental data for variation. The aim of this review paper is to summarize and discuss the developments on MHD flow control technology based on high temperature real gas effect, including the experimental technique, numerical method, and the influence rules and dynamics mechanism of MHD flow control. Its development trend is also discussed and prospected in the paper.