Is it faster to fly higher or lower?

But a common questions is, do airplanes fly faster at higher altitudes? Technically, no. As altitude increases, air density decreases, which decreases engine performance but gives it better fuel efficiency.

Do you cover more distance at higher altitude?

Originally Answered: In an airplane. Do you travel more distance in the same amount it time, the higher up you fly? If the tailwinds are favorable, the answer is yes. Engine performance peaks at a certain altitude and therefore an important consideration when pilots choose the flight level they decided to take.

Does ground speed increase with altitude?

True airspeed will also generally increase if you climb at a given power setting, because of the decreased drag at higher altitudes. In a no-wind condition, ground speed will be equal to true airspeed. If the winds are different at higher altitudes, your ground speed will increase or decrease accordingly.

Why is it better to fly higher?

As the air is thinner, the plane is able to achieve a much higher True Air Speed (TAS) than lower down, meaning the aircraft travels much faster whilst the engines burn less fuel. The higher the altitude the less dense the air, or put in a different way, the thinner the air is.

Why do commercial planes not fly higher?

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. Also, oxygen starts to become scarce, making it difficult for fuel engine systems to work.

How high can you go without oxygen?

An elevation of about 20,000 feet above sea level is the maximum height at which sufficient oxygen exists in the air to sustain us. By comparison, the summit of Mount Everest (the Earth’s highest mountain) lies at 29,141 feet.

Does an airplane climb higher the higher it flies?

It will climb higher, but legally can’t. Theory aside, given the same amount of power an airplane will fly faster the higher it flies until the aircraft reaches its effective performance ceiling — the altitude at which speed doesn’t increase with additional altitude. Here’s an example.

Does a jet go faster at higher altitudes?

It would actually go faster at the lower altitude, all things equal. If you look at the operating handbook for a Cessna Skyhawk or a Phenom jet, you’ll notice that the true airspeed decreases as altitude increases. This is because you have worse engine performance at high altitudes because of the much thinner air.

Why don’t modern planes fly supersonic?

However, most aircraft not designed for supersonic flight do not have enough engine power to fly at speeds at which this becomes a concern, and so the fact that the speed of sound is higher at higher altitudes won’t allow the plane to actually go much faster, or if it does it will be at ruinous expense to fuel economy.

Why do engines burn less fuel when flying higher?

Engines burn a combination of fuel and air, and that ratio is determined by the weight of the air and the weight of the fuel. When you fly higher, the air is less dense and therefore weighs less, meaning that you have to mix less fuel with it in order for it to combust.