How High Can Jets Fly?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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A typical commercial jet (most standard flights) cruises at around 28-35,000ft (up to 6.6 miles of altitude). The main exception is Concorde which was designed to fly at a higher altitude (and hence lower wind resistance) at around 45,000ft.

What happens if a jet 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.

Can jets fly at 50000 feet?

A: Yes, very high altitude, above 50,000 feet, where there is very little air, has little or no turbulence.

Why don t commercial jets fly higher?

Carriers avoid a massive amount of turbulence that would occur at lower levels . Along with this, most thunderstorms, severe weather incidents and birds can be avoided while above 35,000 feet. Also, the air is thin enough to reduce the aircraft's drag, increasing its fuel efficiency.

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.

Which plane can fly the longest?

The longest range jetliner in service is the Airbus A350 XWB Ultra Long Range , capable of flying up to 18,000 km (9,700 nmi). The A380 is capable of flying 14,800 km (8,000 nmi) with 544 passengers. The A350-900 can fly 15,000 km (8,100 nmi) with 325 passengers.

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.

Why do planes fly at 39000 feet?

The biggest reason for this altitude lies with fuel efficiency . The thin air creates less drag on the aircraft, which means the plane can use less fuel in order to maintain speed. Less wind resistance, more power, less effort, so to speak. Spending less on fuel is also great for airlines, for obvious reasons.

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.

How high can f15 fly?

First flight July 27, 1972 Length 63 feet 9 inches Height 18 feet 8 inches Ceiling 65,000 feet Range 2,400 miles

How cold is it at 40000 feet?

Between 30,000 and 40,000 feet (9,000 and 12,000 m), the cruising altitude of most jet aircraft, air temperature ranges from -40° F to -70° F (-40° C to -57° C).

How high can helicopters 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.

Do pilots sleep while flying?

The simple answer is yes, pilots do and are allowed to sleep during flight but there are strict rules controlling this practice. Pilots would only normally sleep on long haul flights, although sleep on short haul flights is permitted to avoid the effects of fatigue.

Do planes fly above clouds?

One reason that planes cruise above the clouds is so they can fly fast . The higher airplanes climb, the thinner the air gets, and the more efficiently they can fly because of less resistance in the atmosphere, according to Ryan Jorgenson, an aviation data analyst.

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 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).

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.

Why can't planes fly over Disneyland?

What are the most unsafe airlines?

Ariana Afghan Airlines, Bluewing Airlines out of Suriname, Kazakhstan-based Scat Airlines, and Royal Nepal Airlines were listed. Today, the dangerous airline list provided by AirlineRatings includes the above and adds Pakistan International Airlines, Air Algeria, Pakistan's Airblue, and Iran Aseman Airlines.

Do pilots age faster?

Chou did the math, and it turns out that frequent fliers actually age the tiniest bit more quickly than those of us with both feet on the ground . Planes travel at high enough altitudes that the weak gravitational field speeds up the tick rate of a clock on board more than the high speeds slow it down.

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.

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 .

How far is space from Earth?

The shortest distance between Earth and space is about 62 miles (100 kilometers) straight up, which by general accord is where the planet's boundary ends and suborbital space begins.

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 anything go Mach 10?

The scramjet engine then would use the incredible speed of the craft to compress incoming air for engine combustion, burning hydrogen and compressed oxygen to accelerate to an unbelievable Mach 10, or 7,673 miles per hour.

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.