What altitude do planes fly at?
What altitude do planes fly at? On average, you will find most commercial airliners flying anywhere from about 31,000 feet to 42,000 feet. That is equivalent to 5.9 to 7.2 miles in the air. Smaller aircraft, whether commercially operated or not, will fly at lower altitudes, often below 15,000 feet.
Can helicopter fly over Mount Everest?
Helicopters can can fly and even land at the height of Mt Everest -- but just barely. The air is very thin up there making it very difficult for helicopters to develop lift. It can only be done in the best of conditions, and only with the best high-altitude helicopters.
Why don t planes fly straight across the Pacific?
Curved routes are preferred by aircraft because they are less likely to encounter obstacles and use less fuel than straight ones. Since a curved path covers more ground than a straight one, it provides additional options for emergency landings.
How high can military planes fly?
The speed record is also held by an SR-71, at 2,193 mph. This is not as high or as fast as the airplane can fly, however, it's absolute speed and altitude limits are classified. Most US military aircraft can exceed 50,000 feet, if they really really try. Again, the limits are classified.
What is the fastest plane in the world?
The North American X-15 may be the fastest plane in the world, with speeds at 4,520 mph and Mach 5.93. It's an experimental aircraft used and powered by NASA and USAF.
What is the highest altitude a 747 can fly?
Different airplanes have different maximum altitudes, depending on their construction. For example, the Airbus A320 has a maximum altitude of 39,000 feet (11,900m) and the Boeing 747 45,000 feet (13,700m).
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.
What is the safest altitude to fly?
An altitude of 500 feet above the surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In those cases, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.
Why do commercial planes not fly faster?
Typical commercial airplanes are not designed to fly faster than the speed of sound, also known as Mach 1. If they get too fast, the air begins forming shockwaves along the wing that can cause the aircraft to become uncontrollable.
What is the longest overwater flight?
The longest over water route in the world is the stretch between the U.S. mainland and Hawaii. Even between Hawaii and Tokyo there are alternate airports available, such as Midway Island (hence the name “Midway”). Going across the North Atlantic, alternates include Iceland and Greenland.
Why planes don t fly over 40,000 feet?
A higher elevation will require a longer climb, meaning the aircraft will burn more fuel in order to reach its cruising altitude. Additionally, 35,000 feet gives more time for airline crew to address any unexpected mid-flight incidents.
What is the highest altitude a plane has ever gone?
It was in 1977 that the highest current altitude record achieved by a manned air-breathing jet engine propelled aircraft was set, when Alexandr Fedotov flew to a height of 123,520 ft in a Mikoyan Gurevitch E-266M. That's about three times the normal cruising altitude of a passenger jet!
What is the slowest speed a plane can fly?
Slowest aircraft The Ruppert Archaeopteryx has a certified stall speed of 30–39 kilometres per hour (19–24 mph). The Vought XF5U can fly as slow as 32 kilometres per hour (20 mph). The Tapanee Pegazair-100 stall speed is 45 kilometres per hour (28 mph).
Can a plane fly 100k feet?
A: No commercial or business airplane flying today can exceed 100,000 feet. Special rocket-powered airplanes can fly over 100,000 feet to gather data, but they are specially designed for it.
Why planes don t fly straight?
Flight plans need to account for the curvature of the earth when they are created. Since the earth is three-dimensional, it would be impossible not to fly in an arc. Another reason that planes would choose to fly in a trajectory that resembles an arc is to account for the amount of traffic that will be in the air.
Why do private jets fly higher?
Commercial jets, however, have more sensors and control measures to prevent midair collisions, meaning they generally aren't affected by traffic. Private jets lack the high-tech sensors and controls of commercial jets, so pilots operating them typically fly at a higher altitude where there's less traffic.
How high can a plane fly without oxygen?
And that at cabin altitudes above 14,000 feet pilots must use oxygen at all times. And that above 15,000 feet each occupant of the aircraft must be provided supplemental oxygen. All of this is spelled out in Federal Aviation Regulations Part 91.211.
How fast does a plane go?
Most commercial aircraft typically fly at around 460-575 mph, or 740-930 km/h, according to Flight Deck Friend. But private jet speed can vary depending on a variety of factors, such as the weight onboard and the weather conditions.