Investigating the airplane flight: efficiency and optimal altitude at which they can perform best.
At what height do airplanes fly? Who defines it
How planes do not crash into each other and at what altitude the situation with turbulence is better
Every plane has a height it can climb to, and it’s different for everyone. As a rule, airliners reach the flight altitude that provides the greatest range or energy efficiency. The height is also determined by the technical capabilities and safety requirements of the aircraft.
From a technical point of view, flight altitude depends on the balance of engine thrust, drag, mass and lift of the aircraft. The greater the height, the less traction, resistance and lifting power. Engines in a rarefied atmosphere do not work at full power, and air that has lost part of its density does not provide sufficient lifting power.
At what altitude do passenger planes fly?
Passenger planes on regional flights fly at an altitude of 6,000 to 10,000 m. Long-haul airliners fly to an altitude of 10,000 to 13,000 m.
Business jets are able to fly much higher than passenger liners. At higher altitudes, the air is thinner. This reduces turbulence and makes the flight smoother and, therefore, more comfortable for passengers. As a bonus, the plane can fly at a higher speed, reducing the flight time.
Light aircraft usually fly at an altitude of several hundred meters to 2-3 thousand meters. Such a low flight height allows them to maneuver and also avoid turbulence. There are also sports planes that can climb to a height of 5,000-7,000 meters. This gives them the opportunity to develop great speed and perform complex aerobatics.
At what height do cargo planes fly?
The altitude range of cargo planes is approximately the same as that of passenger planes. However, the flight height of a transport aircraft may be slightly lower due to the heavy weight of the cargo. The optimal height for them is usually in the range of 6000-7000 meters.
At what height do military aircraft fly?
Fighters can climb to a height of 20,000 m or more. Some experimental units are capable of reaching greater heights. In turn, the altitude range of bombers varies depending on their type and purpose.
Usually, fighters fly at an altitude of 15,000 to 20,000 meters. At high altitudes, the air is more compressed, which reduces resistance and allows you to develop high speed.
Strategic bombers, as a rule, fly at an altitude of 10,000 to 15,000 meters. This allows them to be out of range of most anti-aircraft missiles and provides a longer flight range.
Tactical bombers can fly both at high and low altitudes. They can descend to a small height for accurate strikes on ground targets.
A reconnaissance aircraft can fly both at high and low altitudes, depending on the task at hand. Military transport aircraft usually fly at a relatively low altitude. This provides comfortable conditions for transporting people and cargo. This is from several hundred meters to 10,000–12,000 meters.
What affects the flight height
Permissible flight altitudes are determined by aviation authorities, aircraft manufacturers, and aircraft controllers and crew. State bodies responsible for regulating public aviation establish general rules and restrictions for all aircraft. The manufacturing company determines the technical characteristics of the aircraft, including its maximum flight altitude.
During a flight, air traffic controllers coordinate the movement of aircraft in the airspace. They set specific flight altitudes for aircraft, taking into account many different factors. Pilots and flight engineers are required to follow the instructions of air traffic controllers. They control the flight altitude taking into account current conditions. They also monitor the condition of the aircraft.
What are the factors affecting the flight height?
Escalation
The sky is very busy these days, and to eliminate the possibility of collision of planes, they are separated by height. How is a comfortable height determined? For this, in aviation, there is a flight echelon, where the height of the aircraft is determined by an altimeter and is expressed in hundreds of feet or meters. For example, FL300 is 30,000 feet. At the same time, FL300 is even, and the echelon FL110 is odd, since it is customary to discard the last digit to determine evenness and oddness.
Eastbound aircraft occupy odd-numbered echelons, and westbound aircraft occupy even-numbered echelons. Some echelons may be fully occupied, so in order to avoid a disaster, controllers may prohibit the aircraft from taking off for some time.
Fuel efficiency
In aviation, fuel efficiency is achieved by choosing the optimal altitude and flight speed. This is the height at which the engines work most efficiently, that is, they produce the power necessary to maintain the necessary flight parameters with minimal fuel consumption.
Logically, the higher the plane climbs, the less air resistance it has to overcome, which makes it easier to fly, but in practice this is not the case. The plane needs lift, which does not increase when the air density is too low. The engine runs better in cold air, but it takes a lot of it to keep the kerosene burning.
Weather and turbulence
Modern airplanes can fly in severe weather conditions, but there are limitations. Encountering dangerous weather phenomena in the sky does not bode well. Therefore, pilots try to avoid thunderclouds and fly at altitudes where there is less turbulence. There is no icing and strong headwinds.
As a rule, all these troubles do not go beyond the troposphere. Therefore, it is safer and more comfortable to fly at an altitude of 11,000 meters. If the plane’s thrust reserve does not allow it, a lower free echelon is chosen.
Emergency situations
Pilots love altitude because it gives them time to correct mistakes and make decisions in extreme situations.
If the engines fail, the plane can continue to glide to make an emergency landing at the nearest airport. In the event of a cabin fire or rapid depressurization, pilots will have to descend very quickly. This is to reach the height at which a person can breathe without oxygen masks below 3000 meters.
Parameters and type of aircraft
Different aircraft models have excellent technical characteristics, including maximum flight altitude. Fighters can climb much higher than passenger liners. Those, in turn, fly higher than light aircraft. In addition, the heavier the plane or the more loaded it is, the less altitude it has.
Engine power and economy affect the aircraft’s ability to climb and maintain altitude. Aerodynamics is also important. The shape of the wing and fuselage determine the lift of the aircraft and its ability to overcome air resistance.
- Atmospheric pressure and temperature
The higher the altitude, the lower the atmospheric pressure, which affects the lifting force of the wing. Air temperature also affects air density and, accordingly, lift.
- Radiation
It is known that solar radiation increases with altitude. However, scientists assure