How High Can A Plane Fly?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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While most commercial airplanes fly at 30,000 to 36,000 feet , their respective certified maximum altitude is typically slighter higher. Most commercial airplanes have a certified maximum altitude of about 40,000 to 45,000 feet.

What happens if a plane flies too high?

If a passenger jet flies too high, it reaches a point called ‘Coffin Corner' . This is the point at which the 's low speed stall and high-speed buffet meet and the plane can no longer maintain its altitude which forces it to descend.

What is the highest a plane has ever flown?

On July 17, 1962, American test pilot Robert White took the X-15 to an altitude of 314,688 feet. But it's Russian pilot Alexandr Fedotov who holds the world altitude record, set on August 31, 1977, when his MiG E-266M reached a mere 123,523 feet .

Can a plane fly at 60000 feet?

Question: What is the highest altitude an airplane can fly? Answer: The highest commercial airliner altitude was 60,000 feet by Concorde . The highest military air-breathing engine airplane was the SR-71 — about 90,000 feet. The highest airliner flying today reaches 45,000 feet.

Can a plane fly over Mount Everest?

The first men to fly over Mount Everest did so in an unpressurized biplane . The two planes fly towards Lhotse and Everest at 32,000 feet. Though the 29,029-foot-high summit of Mount Everest was first conquered on foot by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary in 1953, it was conquered by air two decades earlier.

How high can a 747 fly?

Boeing 747

Lufthansa previously bragged that its 747-400 could reach the highest altitude in its fleet, reaching a max altitude of 44,947 ft (13,610 m) . Meanwhile, the modern 747-8, which is well deployed by the carrier, has a service ceiling of 43,100 ft (13,137 m).

Can a plane accidentally fly into space?

Cars, trucks and SUVs all use air as part of their combustion process. If an airplane flies in space, it won't be able to suck in fresh air with which to supply its engines, resulting in loss of propulsion. The bottom line is that airplanes can't fly in space because there is no air in space .

Why do planes not fly over the Pacific Ocean?

Flying over the Pacific Ocean is avoided by most airlines for most flights because it usually doesn't make sense to fly over it when shorter and safer routes exist . The Pacific Ocean is also more remote and less safe than the Indian and Atlantic Oceans to fly over, resulting in a higher chance of a plane crashing.

What happens if a plane door opens mid flight?

The door opening would cause a rapid decompression that would depressurize the plane cabin in a matter of seconds, causing a strong suction pull . This strong suction pull would cause all loose objects to be sucked outside the plane, including people who aren't buckled in.

How high can the fastest jet fly?

Answer: It depends on the airplane. Some corporate airplanes can fly up to 51,000 feet. The Concorde flew up to 60,000 feet, and the all-time high flier was the SR-71 which could go over 80,000 feet .

How high can a helicopter fly?

Turbine-engined helicopters can reach around 25,000 feet . But the maximum height at which a helicopter can hover is much lower – a high performance helicopter like the Agusta A109E can hover at 10,400 feet.

What is the highest altitude you can fly without oxygen?

When the altitude of an airplane is less than 12,500 feet , there is no supplemental oxygen required for anyone in a private plane. From 12,500 feet to 14,000 feet, supplemental oxygen must be used by the required flight crew for any portion of the flight that is more than 30 minutes.

Can planes fly 70000 feet?

It provides day and night, high-altitude (70,000 feet, 21,300 meters) , all-weather intelligence gathering. Lockheed Corporation originally proposed it in 1953, it was approved in 1954, and its first test flight was in 1955. It was flown during the Cold War over the Soviet Union, China, Vietnam, and Cuba.

Why do commercial planes fly at 35000 feet?

A balance between operating costs and fuel efficiency is achieved somewhere around 35,000 feet, which is why commercial airplanes usually fly at that altitude. Commercial airplanes can climb to 42,000 feet, but going beyond that can be precarious, as the air starts to become too thin for optimum flight of the airplane.

How high can a MiG 25 fly?

...with high-altitude, supersonic bombers, the MiG-25 was designed about 1960. As introduced in 1970, this twin-engine interceptor, the fastest combat aircraft ever in active service, registered speeds of Mach 2.7 and 2.8, with an operational ceiling above 24,400 m (80,000 feet) .

Why can't you climb Everest in the summer?

Mount Everest's changeable, extreme climate , in particular, is a determining factor. The summit temperature never rises above freezing, or 0° C (32° F). Its summit temperatures in January average -36° C (-32 ° F) and can drop to -60° C (-76° F), and its average summit temperature in July is -2° F (-19° C).

Can a dog climb Mount Everest?

In fact, the 8-month-old mixed-breed dog has become the first dog in recorded history to reach the Mount Everest Base Camp . Rupee's ascent is no small feat — the Everest Base Camp sits at a whopping altitude of 17,598 feet.

Why can't planes fly over Antarctica?

What is this? The polar regions interfere with magnetic navigational equipment, making it harder for planes to navigate . It can also be difficult for planes to connect with flight controllers because of the location's isolation.

How high can a 777 fly?

The Boeing 777 can fly as high as 43,100 feet . However, its normal cruising altitude is usually around 35,000-39,000 feet.

Can a 747 take-off with 2 engines?

There are only two engines in a 747. One can fly on a 757. Due to the time it would take to pick up enough speed to take off with just two engines, a 747 cannot take off with just two engines , but once it is in the air, it will keep going.

How fast does a 777 fly?

Boeing 777

The “Triple Seven” flies at Mach 0.84, or 644 mph and can hold up to 426 passengers.

Is it better to crash on land or water?

Its surviving rate is probably greater than on land . I have seen many pilots preferring to land on water. Its surviving rate is probably greater than on land. Surviving impact perhaps, when landing on water, but if not close to land unlikely to survive for too much longer.

Why do private jets fly so high?

A private jet can fly at a height of up to 45 000 ft, though most cruise at 41 000 ft. This is generally higher than an airline flight and allows for a more direct route – out of the most congested area of the sky . A private jet pilot will choose the optimum cruising altitude depending on the distance of the journey.

How far up is space?

A common definition of space is known as the Kármán Line, an imaginary boundary 100 kilometers (62 miles) above mean sea level .

Can a helicopter fly across the Atlantic?

A helicopter can fly across the Atlantic – and this has been achieved several times. The first transatlantic helicopter flight took place in 1952. The first non-stop transatlantic helicopter flight took place in 1967.

Why is it forbidden to fly over the Taj Mahal?

The Taj Mahal

Although there's no official no-fly zone over the ivory mausoleum, there is a mile-and-a-half radius above the historic site which security agencies consider to be a no-go when it comes to flying. This is because of security reasons – as well as risks to the building's white marble from plane pollution .

Can turbulence flip a plane?

For all intents and purposes, a plane cannot be flipped upside-down , thrown into a tailspin, or otherwise flung from the sky by even the mightiest gust or air pocket.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.