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.
Why do 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. Most commercial airplanes cruise at an altitude of nearly 35,000 feet—around 6.62 miles (10,600 meters) in the air!
Why do planes fly between 35000 and 42000 feet?
The “sweet spot” of flying is regarded as between 35,000 and 42,000 feet – too high and the oxygen becomes too sparse to fuel the engines , too low and the air resistance is greater. This optimum height is linked to the usual weight of a commercial jet – that is, heavier planes fly lower, and lighter higher.
Why do planes fly at high altitudes?
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.
What is the maximum height for a plane to fly?
The highest certified altitude of an airliner was Concorde’s 60,000 feet. Today some of the corporate jets can fly at 51,000 feet. Q: What is the highest cruising altitude allowed? A: Most airliners are limited to 45,000 feet or less .
Do planes fly over Everest?
Tim Morgan, a commercial pilot writing for Quora says aircraft can fly above 40,000 feet, and hence it is possible to fly over Mount Everest which stands at 29,031.69 feet. However, typical flight routes do not travel above Mount Everest as the mountains create unforgiving weather.
How cold is it at 35000 feet?
How cold is it up there? The higher you get, the colder it gets, up until 40,000 feet. If the temperature at ground level was 20C, at 40,000 feet it would be -57C. At 35,000 feet the air temperature is about -54C .
What happens if an airplane flies too high?
If a passenger jet flies too high it reaches a point called ‘Coffin Corner’ . ... At the altitude at which Coffin Corner occurs, the plane can’t speed up, slow down or climb; the only way to keep the aircraft flying safely is to reduce the altitude and go down.
What’s the longest flight you can take?
The longest nonstop commercial flight in the world is scheduled at 17 hours and 50 minutes . This route from Los Angeles to Singapore serviced by United Airlines isn’t the longest by distance, but it has the longest duration due to commonly strong headwinds.
What is the lowest altitude a plane can fly?
The Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 91.119 indicates that, except when necessary for departure or landing, the minimum altitude over urban areas is 1,000 feet above ground level (AGL) and 500 feet AGL over rural areas.
Why do planes do not fly over the Pacific?
The main reason flight don’t go over the Pacific Ocean is because curved routes are shorter than straight routes . Flat maps are confusing as the earth itself isn’t flat. As a result the straight routes don’t offer the shortest distance. You can verify this by conducting a small experiment using a globe.
What is the highest altitude a 747 can fly?
The 747 max altitude is 45,100 ft. The 757 max altitude is 42,000 ft. The 767 max altitude is 43,100 ft.
Can you breathe at 35000 feet?
Partial pressures. You can breath at 35,000 ft without a pressured suit, but go much higher and you can’t . At sea level, you have 760 mmHg of air pressure. ... At 35,000 ft, air pressure is 179 mmHg [1], so if you breath 100% pure oxygen, you’re getting the same amount of oxygen you’d get at sea level.
Can planes fly at 50000 feet?
The highest that a business jet can fly is 51,000 feet. The highest that a commercial airplane can fly is 45,000 feet. Most military planes fly at around 50,000 feet and sometimes higher. Some rocket-powered planes can fly as high as 100,000 feet but they are specially designed for this purpose.
How high can a 777 fly?
| Variant 777X-8 777 Freighter | Maximum Range 8,730 NM(16,170 km) 4,900 NM(9,070 km) | Takeoff distance in International Standard Atmosphere at Mean sea Level. – 2,990 Mtrs(9,800 ft) | Maximum Fuel Capacity. – 181,283 Ltrs(47,890 US Gal) | Service Ceiling – 43,100 ft (13,140 m) |
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How high can a plane 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.
