When it comes to speed, it's breathtaking. If we are talking about aircraft flying at supersonic speeds, then this is something fantastic. All these aircraft are a masterpiece of engineering, equipped with the most advanced technologies of his time.

Top 10

He has a truly fantastic speed in 11,230 km/h. Listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Developed using a technology alternative to turbojet engines in our time.

Although its maximum speed is listed as 12 144 km/h He's not in first place. This is explained by the fact that at the time of testing, the X-43 record was not broken. Both the first and second aircraft were developed by NASA using the latest technology.

It is rightfully considered one of the fastest aircraft with a pilot on board. The maximum speed it can reach is 8200 km/h. This is almost seven times the speed of sound. The aircraft was designed for research into hypersonic flight. X-15 is equipped with a rocket engine. However, it can take to the air only on board a strategic bomber, from where it starts. The maximum altitude reached by the aircraft is 107 kilometers.

1. "Blackbird" or SR-71

The aircraft is reconnaissance in the US Air Force. The machine was produced in limited quantities - 32 aircraft. The first air vehicle equipped with stealth technology. Max speed approx. 4102 km/h. The plane was actively used for espionage.

1. YF-12

Outwardly, it does not differ from the Blackbird, except that it carries air-to-air weapons. It was the predecessor and prototype of the SR-71. Max Speed: 3,661 km/h.

1. Legendary MiG-25

It was designed to intercept the American Blackbird and had a speed of 3916 km/h. The characteristics of this combat aircraft are impressive - at a speed of more than 3 times the speed of sound, it was capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 25 kilometers. It proved itself very well in a number of military conflicts.

What makes it unique is that in 1954 it reached an unimaginable speed for that time. But after an unsuccessful flight, the release program was closed. Max Speed: 3,370 km/h.

1. "Valkyrie" XB-70

A truly super-powerful Cold War aircraft. Designed to deliver nuclear weapons in a short time. High speed ( 3672 km/h) allowed to escape from the consequences of a nuclear explosion, as well as from enemy interceptors.

1. MiG-31

With a speed of 3464 km/h. This aircraft, thanks to its most powerful engines, was able to develop such a speed at any altitude. The technical radar filling made it possible to control several aircraft over a fairly large area.

It's incredible, but this aircraft has been in service for 40 years and will serve the US Air Force for at least another 8 years. His speed is 3065 km/h, as well as specifications and scope make it indispensable for the Air Force.

Top 4 passenger aircraft

1. Tu-144

The legendary Soviet supersonic liner, had a speed of 2430 km/h. A truly fantastic result for that time among passenger aircraft. By the will of fate, it gave way to Concorde, which for a long time (until 2003) carried out passenger transatlantic flights.

If we talk about the projected passenger aircraft, this model deserves a place in the top. Even from the name it becomes clear that the future aircraft will overcome the speed of sound ( 2335 km/h). The aircraft will be designed for any category of passengers.

Reaches speed in 1153 km/h. The fastest civilian vessel with the status of a business aircraft. Used mainly as a private for wealthy businessmen and business people.

And, finally, the fastest scheduled passenger aircraft is an engineering masterpiece by Airbus. The latest aircraft, which, in addition to its speed, is also the world's largest double-deck airliner. Max Speed: 1,020 km/h.

Military aircraft

The fastest military aircraft in the world can be called the Russian MiG-25 and the American SR-71. An interesting fact is that the Soviet fighter was actually created to neutralize the American intelligence officer. The MiG set a lot of speed records of its time. The pilots who piloted this machine claimed that the aircraft was able to overcome the mark of Mach 3.5 (speed of sound). This value is greater than that of the American Blackbird. However, this is not documented anywhere. In turn, the SR-71 did not have sufficient reliability. In the entire history of its flights, a third of the vehicles produced have been lost.

Combat aircraft

Much has already been said about the champions of military aircraft in various years. The fastest combat aircraft currently in use is the MiG-31. The fighter is designed to destroy targets in the air at any altitude and in any weather conditions. It is not a problem for the machine to use thermal and radio interference by the enemy.

Designed to intercept cruise missiles. Nowadays, they are used in military conflicts to solve a wide range of tasks. For some time they were used as "special forces" in the Russian air defense forces.

The video shows the takeoff of this high-speed car

turboprop aircraft

A truly unique aircraft that has been in service since the distant 1952 (!) Years. The speed for that time was amazing - 924 km/h. Engines, with a capacity of 15,000 forces, set a Guinness record for screw engines. The aircraft is still in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces and performs a wide range of combat missions.

An interesting fact is that the speed of the Tu-95 is slightly less than the speed of the jet American B-52. The armament and technical characteristics of the aircraft make it possible to safely hit targets beyond the range of enemy radar equipment.

The relevance of the machine is also confirmed by its use in the military conflict in Syria, where the bomber regiment successfully completed a number of tasks assigned to it.

In conclusion, it should be noted that production technologies aircraft do not stand still. However, those aircraft that were discussed above will firmly take their place in the history of aircraft construction as advanced aircraft at that time. Who knows what records await humanity in the future, and what goals new hypersonic aircraft will fulfill. All this will show time.

Love to learn all the little things related to air travel? Then you will wonder what is the altitude of the plane. The average figure is 10,000 m, but in practice it varies under the influence of various factors. What defines it?

The main factors affecting flight altitude

The flight altitude indicator can be of different types:

• true is the value that actually separates the aircraft from the surface of the earth or water;
• the relative indicator determines how far the aircraft has risen above the point adopted for the conditional reference (runway);
• absolute height means the distance from the liner to sea level.

The height to which air transport rises is determined by the laws of physics: the farther from the surface of the Earth, the rarer the air becomes. As a result, an aircraft that has risen to 10,000 m moves quickly and consumes little fuel. The term “ideal height” is associated with this feature - it means that the liner is at a level where the best ratio of speed and fuel consumption is provided.

But why don't planes fly higher? Technical aspects play a role. After all, excessive rarefaction of the atmosphere is not useful: air currents support the aircraft, like water in the ocean supports the ship. If you rise above 12,000 m, the liner will lose stability, since its wings will be useless.

True, the rule applies only to passenger air transport. Military aircraft are capable of climbing higher, but all records are beaten by models built according to NASA designs. The drone ship, named "Helios", flies at an altitude of 30 km.

Doug Morris, Air Canada Airline Pilot, explains: "The higher the better, the thinner air means less friction."

What else affects flight altitude

The altitude at which an aircraft flies is determined by the following nuances:

• aircraft model;
• carrying capacity;
• speed;
• congestion of air corridors;
• allowable fuel consumption;
• the amount of oxygen and the thinness of the atmosphere.

Why is the standard variant for civil aviation 10,000 m? This is influenced by a number of factors:

• Jet engines require cooling. If you climb 10,000 m, the temperature overboard will be -50 ˚C.
• For current aircraft, the failure of 1 engine will not be a tragedy, but birds getting into the turbines is undesirable. For this reason, the ship rises to a level where birds cannot reach.
• If an unforeseen situation arises, the crew and controllers will have more time to make decisions.
• At this level, the liner is above the clouds. Bad weather will affect him less.

Conclusion

The distance from a high-speed aircraft to the surface is shown by a special device - an altimeter. Usually it reaches 10,000 m, but models from well-known airlines rise to 12-13,000 m. The altitude is determined when compiling air routes, so the pilot can change it only within the echelon.

Is it possible at the present stage to single out the fastest aircraft in the world? After all, they were designed simply great amount. Five aircraft should be singled out that are capable of developing the highest speed.

Which model can be considered the fastest?

The first position is rightfully occupied by the Falcon HTV-2 model. This is the fastest plane in the world. The speed it reaches in flight is 13,000 miles per hour. The model was designed and released in 2010. The second flight on the plane took place already in 2011. The purpose of this aircraft is quite closely associated with the prompt response to any threats of a terrorist nature. Using this model, you can fly from Sydney to London in just 1 hour. True, it is still unknown how this will affect the pilot's well-being. But it is not possible to find out either, since the largest number of launches took place using an unmanned mode.

Maximum speed achieved in a few seconds

Let's continue talking about the rating "The fastest aircraft in the world." 11,230 km / h is capable of developing the X-43A model. This aircraft was developed by professional NASA designers. The distinguishing feature is the fact that it is able to develop maximum speed in just 10 seconds. This model has an engine newest generation. It enables the aircraft to move without the use of oxygen on board. Due to this, maneuverability and lightness are increased. This is another of the fastest aircraft in the world. 11,230 km / h is a vivid confirmation of this.

Powerful and fast model

In the third position is one of the most powerful models. We are talking about the X-15. In a short period of time, the aircraft reaches its maximum speed, which is equal to 4520 miles per hour. This representative of the rating "The fastest aircraft in the world" has a rather original purpose. It contributes to the transformation of ordinary pilots into astronauts. This model is capable of flying to altitudes in excess of 50 miles quite easily. Before flying, astronauts must undergo special training. This aircraft can be quite actively used for space flights. A variant for space walks should be designed soon. In this regard, thrill-seekers can get an excellent opportunity to soon be on board this aircraft.

A model that can withstand high temperatures

In fourth position in the ranking of "The fastest aircraft in the world" is a model called "Blackbird". The speed of such an aircraft reaches 220 miles / hour. The basis for the design of the SR-71 aircraft was a titanium alloy manufactured by Lockheed Corporation. Due to this alloy, the aircraft is able to withstand heating up to 2 thousand degrees Fahrenheit. For about 40 years, this model performed quite complex tasks. And only in 1998 the car was decommissioned. Unfortunately, the flight of this model will no longer be possible to see.

Several variants of one aircraft

The fifth position is occupied by the fastest Russian-made aircraft in the world. We are talking about the MIG-25. The maximum speed that a pilot can achieve while driving this model is 2 thousand miles / hour. Such an aircraft can be seen in several versions. One of the first interpretations took off in the 60s of the 20th century. This model became famous for being able to shoot down a US B-70 bomber. The second option should include a model that first flew into the air in the 70s. Despite the fact that such aircraft had some difficulties in terms of maneuvering, they still managed to get away from the 10 Gulf War F-15 missiles.

Old models that have not lost their power

As you know, for the first time in military operations, aviation began to be used in 1794. This happened during the Battle of Fleurus between Austria and France. It was during those distant events that the French used air means. Their main task was reconnaissance. At present, the development of technology is proceeding at a fairly rapid pace. Therefore, primitive aircraft were replaced by high-class aircraft with helicopters. What is the fastest military aircraft in the world? It should be noted those models that have been produced for a long time.

The F-15 Eagle fighter, regardless of its rather large size, has higher maneuverability characteristics. It was developed by American aircraft designers. It was necessary in order to achieve superiority in airspace. This is what the fastest aircraft was needed for. It is considered stronger than Soviet military aircraft. This was achieved through the use of special materials in the design of the ship. Among the advantages of the fighter, one should highlight the large capacity that characterized the fuel tanks. In addition, there were autonomous power supply systems for engines, which were equipped with supply tanks, as well as a ringing system.

Another fastest aircraft is the F-111 Aardvark bomber. It was designed in America. It is characterized by the presence of variable wing geometry. Among the advantages, one should also highlight the ability to detect enemy objects and then strike at them, regardless of weather conditions and time of day. In addition, with the help of this bomber, you can break through air defenses, regardless of its density. This aircraft was used quite actively during the Vietnam War.

Designed by Soviet specialists, the Su-24 Fenser can also act as the fastest aircraft in the world. Photos that are available in enough in large numbers, show some similarity with the American F-111 model. The Soviet bomber is capable of attacking ground targets at relatively low altitudes. Compared to the American counterpart, it is characterized by the highest speed, high power, small size, and the ability to take off from insufficiently well-equipped airfields.

American-made fighter and interceptor

The 4th generation REO F-14 Tomkat jet fighter was designed in America back in 1970. It is characterized by a variable geometry of the wing, a significant capacity of the fuel tank. In addition, it uses a weapon control system. It was due to her that this fighter got the opportunity to repel missile attacks on ship groups.

The next model is the REO "Super Tomkat" F-14D. This is the latest model of a jet interceptor. They thought about its development at a time when it became necessary to detect and destroy enemy aircraft at night. On top of that, on an airplane of this model it was possible to fly regardless of weather conditions.

Conclusion

What is the fastest plane in the world? We hope that the answer to this question can be found in this review. The article has attempted to consider the most fast models which have been produced in the past and are still in production.

Any person who at least once in his life used the services of civil aviation, undoubtedly, heard the announcement of the pilot about the flight data, among which the concept of “flight altitude” sounded, and wondered at what altitude the planes fly?

The concept of minimum, maximum and ideal aircraft flight altitude

For all passenger airliners, there is the concept of an “ideal altitude” of flight, at which the resistance of oncoming air masses is minimal, wing lift is optimal, and fuel consumption is minimal. All of these factors provide an integral part of all commercial air travel - speed and price.

This ideal altitude is chosen by the pilot-in-command and controllers at specially equipped points on the ground in the range from 9,000 to 12,000 m, forming a working flight corridor 3 km thick. The limit of the lower flight corridor is determined by the physical and chemical properties of the air, which, starting from an altitude of 9,000 m, becomes rarefied enough to still provide lift to the aircraft through the pressure difference above and below the wing, created by its special shape, and in at the same time, eliminate the increased force of air friction against the fuselage, which allows the aircraft to develop maximum speed with minimum fuel consumption.

If you measure atmospheric pressure at an altitude of 9,000 m, the barometer will show only 240 mm of mercury, and at an altitude of 12,000 m - already 140 mm, both of which are 3-4 times lower than normal atmospheric pressure at the earth's surface (760 mm Hg), but aircraft designers include these parameters with safety factors in the design and the mode of normal operation of the combustion chambers of jet engines.

All test benches at the factories are also set up for this indicator and, based on practical observations, many years of work of scientists and practical experience in testing aircraft, it was found that it is the atmospheric pressure indicator of 200 mm or 20 cm of mercury that is ideal for passenger and cargo air travel.

Such an aircraft flight altitude is absolutely unacceptable for human life, therefore, the aircraft cabin is carefully sealed before the flight, as evidenced by the sensors in the cockpit, and inside the vessel, special compressor equipment artificially maintains the oxygen level and normal pressure on board even at an altitude of 10,000 meters. In case of an accident or sudden depressurization of the cabin, each person is immediately provided with oxygen masks with automatic supply of breathing mixture.

The ideal or effective flight altitude that an aircraft gains also depends on the design features and its technical characteristics. Thus, aircraft for short (up to 3,000 km) or medium (up to 7,000 m) distances can rarely climb over 11,000 m, while long-haul airliners can easily overcome the limit of 12,000 m, but are limited by safety laws. air transport and actions of dispatching services on the ground.

But practically no passenger airliner actually rises above 12,000 m or 30,000 feet, except in emergency cases, since the air at this altitude loses a lot of density, which causes the plane to "fall" into air pockets in the case of ascending or descending flows, and jet engines cannot effectively use the power of air masses that have lost their density to ensure the optimal speed of the vessel, which leads to an unreasonably increased fuel consumption and a decrease in the maximum flight range. In this way, maximum height flight of an aircraft with passengers does not exceed 12,000 m.

When flying below 9,000 m, on the contrary, air resistance is significant and, despite the efficient operation of the engines, the aircraft is not able to reach the maximum cruising speed due to a strong headwind, which also leads to excessive fuel consumption.

So, to the question: “At what height do passenger planes fly?” the answer is the same - to different ones, but within the corridor from 9 km to 12 km, on average, 10 km.

Additional Information! Modern aviation technologies have at their disposal unique aircraft capable of overcoming air echelons of 20, 30, 40, 50 and even 100 km, up to entry into near-Earth orbit. Thus, the world altitude record for an airplane was 112,000 m in 2004 on a ship with a rocket engine Space Ship One.

But these heights are overcome solely for scientific, test or military purposes, when it is necessary to either take air samples, or carry out a training flight for astronauts, or hide a military aircraft from the radar screens of civilians in conditions of strict secrecy, and all passengers, crew members and pilots for a long time they are preparing for strong overloads, both positive and negative, on special simulators, which is not compatible with commercial passenger transportation.

Safety Factors Affecting Optimum Flight Altitude

The optimal high-altitude corridor for the flight of a passenger aircraft is selected according to various criteria, but the average height is 10,000 m. This distance from the ground is also determined for reasons of flight safety, namely:

• At an ideal flight altitude, natural cooling of the engines occurs - at an altitude of over 10,000 m, the air temperature overboard drops below -50 degrees Celsius, which protects the driving mechanisms of an aircraft running on high-octane aviation fuel from overheating, which eliminates the risk of fire and prevents a catastrophe
• At an altitude above 8,000 m, as a rule, all the influence of the earth's surface on the atmosphere ends, and therefore, the formation of clouds, fogs, clouds and thunderstorm fronts, which makes the flight safe in any bad weather, which implies that already with a climb of up to 9 000 m, the vessel rises above the clouds and is not affected by weather phenomena.
• The complete absence of birds, insects and other representatives of the terrestrial fauna guarantees absolute purity and ideal chemical composition of the air masses and excludes the ingress of foreign objects into engines operating on the reactive action of air, which can lead to their ignition and an accident in the air.
• The most important factor is that the higher the flight altitude, the more time the pilots of the vessel have to make life-saving decisions in case of emergencies, which often saves the lives of hundreds of passengers and crew members. Therefore, there is an opinion among aviation workers that the most dangerous stages of a flight are takeoff or landing, when, with the slightest inaccuracy, combined with hazardous atmospheric effects, pilots have no right to make a mistake. And in level flight, after gaining cruising altitude, almost any situation, up to the failure of all engines, can be solved.

Thus, the choice of the minimum altitude corridor for making a horizontal flight by an aircraft is absolutely justified by the requirements for the safety of commercial air transportation, when the airline is fully responsible for the life and health of its customers, as well as material costs to the balance holder of the aircraft.

The human factor in choosing the optimal flight altitude

Within the established air corridor from 9,000 m to 12,000 m, pilots and controllers independently set the ideal aircraft flight altitude according to the following criteria:

• Flight direction rules. Over the years, the development of civil aviation in the world among the participants in the process of air transportation has developed unspoken rules for choosing the optimal flight altitude. Thus, it is accepted that any air flight in the direction of the east, northeast and westeast passes at an odd altitude of 9000 m and 11000 m, and towards the west, northwest and southwest - at an even altitude of 10,000 m and 12,000 m. This allows air traffic controllers to comfortably set the trajectories of aircraft, search for the necessary vessels and monitor radars when the liners are within the jurisdiction of a particular control tower, and, if necessary, ensure the rise or fall of the aircraft by insignificant values.
• In the event of a high thunderstorm front or the approach of mixed updrafts and downdrafts (turbulence zones), the aircraft may move within the air corridor to fly around the obstacle only with the confirmation of the controller in order to avoid possible intersection of the trajectory with other aircraft. The commander of the aircraft, seeing the indicators of changes in the air composition on the instruments located in the cockpit, makes a request to the nearest control tower, and, having waited for permission, performs the necessary maneuver. As a rule, experienced pilots analyze the weather conditions along the entire flight path even before departure and notify controllers in advance of a possible change in the height of their vessel.

If there is a danger of crossing the trajectories of two aircraft flying in different directions, the controller independently gives the command to the pilot to change the cruising altitude as soon as possible. This work requires great responsibility and care from employees, since even a small deviation from the altitude course can lead to unpredictable consequences.

The controller also always sees on the radar the slightest fluctuations in weather conditions along the route of each flight, and if the crew does not know about the impending bad weather, he can always warn about the need to change the flight altitude in advance, which will allow pilots to do this without abrupt maneuvers.

Note! With the rapid development of civil aviation in the world in last years, on average, up to 5000 aircraft are simultaneously in the sky, moving in different directions, which does not exclude the possibility of crossing flight paths, therefore, the accuracy of the high-altitude positioning of the airliner for safety is specified up to 10 meters.

Also, there are frequent cases in the sky when one aircraft enters the turbulence zone during the flight and the crew has to make a decision to change the flight level on the spot, the controller, being aware of the problem in this zone, has the opportunity to correct the trajectories of other aircraft flying in that zone. same direction.

Altitude records achieved by passenger aircraft

Few of the aircraft are capable of occupying the highest civilian echelon of 12,000 m. For example, the Airbus A310 is able to reach a maximum altitude of only 11,000 m, and as for the Boeing 737-400, its technical characteristics allow reaching 12,000 m. Above this mark, as a rule, passenger aircraft do not rise.

However, history knows cases when, almost simultaneously in the USSR and France, the famous Tu144 passenger supersonic airliners of various modifications and Concorde were produced and put into operation, developing a maximum supersonic speed of up to 2500 km / h, and occupying an air flight level of up to 18,000 m, but they were able to climb up to 20,000 m with a distance covered over 7,000 km. Passenger transportation began in the 70s of the last century and made it possible to almost halve the travel time to the point of arrival compared to conventional aircraft.

But, due to numerous incidents that caused the death of many people, as well as increased fuel costs and the difficulty in maintaining fast-burning jet engines that reduce the life of the aircraft, the equipment was recognized as unreliable, as a result, it was decommissioned in early 2000s Thus, the Tu 144 ceased commercial flights in Russia and abroad during the perestroika period, and the Concorde made its last flight in 2004.

Based on the data presented, it can be concluded that civil Aviation has found for itself the optimal altitude level for commercial traffic, and despite the fact that flights are possible at much higher vertical limits, the pursuit of them does not make any sense. It is the working altitude range from 9 to 12 km that provides the minimum air resistance, maximum speed and optimal fuel consumption, which affects both the travel time to the destination and the cost of flights, which affects the price of tickets for passengers.

Since ancient times, man has been striving for the sky, but the development of technical thought did not allow the cherished dream to be realized. But attempts to conquer the airspace were made repeatedly. The first plane of the Wright brothers took off the ground and climbed 3 m, which was a breakthrough and the beginning of an era of aviation. In aviation, there is the concept of a dynamic ceiling, that is, the maximum flight altitude of an aircraft. Today we will consider at what height military vehicles, as well as passenger liners, fly.

For such types of aircraft, flight altitude is the main characteristic, since this combat vehicle is designed to destroy air targets and gain air supremacy.

Under this name, the American Design Bureau "Lockheed Martin" created a whole family of multifunctional combat vehicles. Today, the service consists of a carrier-based fighter, a ground-based fighter, and an aircraft with a short takeoff and vertical landing.

The practical altitude ceiling of these fighters is 18,200 m. F-35 multifunctional fighters of the fifth generation have already entered service with the US, British, Israeli and Australian armed forces. It is planned to supply aircraft capable of carrying nuclear warheads to the armies of Japan and Italy.

"Bird of Prey", this is how the name of this US Air Force multi-role fighter is translated, was put into service in 2005. The F-22 was the first fifth generation aircraft in the United States Army.

To date, 197 vehicles have been produced, and the total cost of the project amounted to almost 67 billion US dollars. The fighter, whose practical ceiling is 20,000 meters, was first used in combat operations against Islamists in Syria. Many experts criticize the model for its high cost, low maneuverability, and other technical shortcomings.

The fifth-generation multi-role fighter, created by Chinese designers, first took to the air in October 2012, and now the tests are coming to an end.

In one of the test flights, the combat vehicle reached a height of 18,000 meters, but the creators say that this is not the limit, and after some refinement, the J-31 will be able to overcome the mark of 20 thousand meters. The new Chinese fighter was named "Krechet", but the tail number of the first test sample "31001" is still used at exhibitions.

Perspective Russian project is still under development, but the test flights of the SU-57 are already in the final stage, and soon the fifth generation combat fighter will be on combat duty of the Russian Aerospace Forces.

The fighter with the factory index T-50 made its first flight in 2010, and after 3 years the serial assembly of prototypes began. The dynamic ceiling is achieved due to the high-tech high-altitude equipment of the aircraft and a special aerodynamic design, due to which the Su-27 can rise to a height of 20,000 m.

Today, the interceptor aircraft, created at the Mikoyan Design Bureau, is the fastest and highest-altitude aircraft among machines of this type.

The practical ceiling of a combat vehicle in service with the Aerospace Forces Russian Federation, is 20,600 m. Note that the MiG-31 is the only aircraft in the world capable of intercepting low-flying cruise missiles. Work is currently underway to upgrade the interceptor into a high-grade fifth-generation multirole fighter.

reconnaissance aircraft

To avoid being detected by ground-based tracking devices, these types of aircraft were designed in such a way as to conduct reconnaissance at the highest possible altitudes.

The B-57 tactical bomber also performed reconnaissance functions, and entered service with the US Air Force in 1954. Today, the project is closed, but NASA uses two aircraft for experimental purposes.

At one time, it was widely used in areas where the US Army was conducting hostilities, and was also in service with the armies of Taiwan and Pakistan. The practical ceiling is 13,745 m, although the modified RB-57F could perform reconnaissance at an altitude of 22,860 m.

The high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft was adopted by the US Air Force in 1957 and is still in use today. Today, 35 combat vehicles are in service, which are actively used for their intended purpose.

Naturally, for such a long period of operation, the U-2 went through more than one upgrade. The dynamic ceiling of modern models is 26,800 m. Although the height ceiling is classified in the performance characteristics of the latest U-2S model.

M-55 "Geophysics"

In 1988, the M-55 high-altitude subsonic reconnaissance aircraft entered the armed forces of the Soviet Union, which received the nickname “Mystic-B” according to NATO classification.

The creation of such types of aircraft in the USSR was thought about after the American reconnaissance U-2 was shot down over its territory in 1960. In the late 60s, the design bureau of V. Myasishchev began work on the creation of a Soviet intelligence officer. The M-55 is a two-beam cantilever wing aircraft with a ceiling height of 21,550 m. Today, only one M-55 aircraft remains in the Russian Aerospace Forces.

Flight altitude for civil aircraft not so important, but still there are cases when climbing is simply necessary, for example, to bypass a lightning storm.

Soviet airliner, modernized already in the period new Russia, has been operated on air routes since 1972. The model has proven itself both in long-haul aviation and in flights over short distances.

The maximum altitude at which it can fly Russian airliner Tu-154 is equal to 11,100 meters. Interestingly, some aircraft of this type have their own names. And after the plane is written off, the name goes to the new board.

One of the best airliners in the world, today it has become the most massive in the history of the passenger aircraft industry.

Passengers note not only comfort, but also flight safety. As part of our review, we note that the maximum height that one of the modifications, namely the Boeing 737-500, can climb is 11,300 m. This fact introduces this airliner into the Top 10 highest-altitude passenger aircraft in the world.

But there is a very interesting one on the site about the most dangerous aircraft in the world.

A380

Jet wide-body airliner of the company «Airbus S.A.S.» the largest aircraft of this type. He joined the airlines in 2007, and has established itself as a safe and comfortable form of air transport.

The A380 can reach high speeds at various altitudes, and the service ceiling is 13,115 m, which is a record among passenger airliners. The reliability of the aircraft led to the fact that they began to make models for special orders.

The Russian wide-body aircraft entered service in 1993, and today it is one of the most popular long-haul aircraft with a range of 13,000 km.

In addition to the distance record, the Russian Il-96 can fly at an altitude of 12,000 m, which makes it the absolute record holder among Russian passenger liners of this type.

Historical altitude record holders

At one time, these aircraft surprised the world with their tactical, technical and flight characteristics, and went down in history as the highest in the world.

SR-71

This aircraft, operated from the mid-60s until 1998, is called by many experts and aviation enthusiasts the most beautiful aircraft of all time. For the entire period of operation, the US Air Force did not lose a single car, although the SR-71 crashed 12 times due to pilot error or technical problems.

But not only beauty singled it out among other aircraft. This strategic scout also excels at high speed. Lockheed SR-71 was able at one time to take to the skies to a height of 26,000 meters. The expensive project was closed, although many noted its prospects.

The operational reconnaissance aircraft MiG-25RB was a modified model of the Soviet fighter-interceptor. Like the prototype, the reconnaissance aircraft could reach high speeds, as well as climb to high altitudes.

The dynamic ceiling of the 25 RB model was 23,000 m. Today it has been decommissioned by the Russian army, so it has been replaced by more efficient combat vehicles. But some instances of the legendary MiG-25 continue sorties in the Algerian and Syrian air forces.

The rocket plane did not go into mass production, and only a few prototypes were designed. The X-15 became a historic aircraft that was able to climb to a height of 107,960 m. This record flight took place in 1963, and the pilot Joseph Walker, who raised his car to such a height, developed a speed of 6 thousand km / h. It was the highest flight in the history of aviation, and most importantly, it surprised the public, specialists and the entire editorial staff of the site. In 1970, for a number of reasons, the project was closed, but several prototypes are used by NASA for experiments and astronaut training.

Altitude records set by different types of aircraft

At the end of our review, for the overall picture, we present Interesting Facts high-altitude records set by various aircraft in different periods of the history of world aviation.

Wright brothers plane

In 1903, the brothers' aircraft rose to a height of 3 meters, which at that time was an absolute record among all previous attempts by a person to rise into the sky.

Two records

In 1959, pilot B. Jordan set two records for machines with a turbojet engine on a Lockheed F-104 Starfighter. It was a record for speed and also a record for height. He raised the plane to a height of 31,534 m.

Felt weightless

Soviet combat pilot Georgy Masolov in 1961 on a light version of the MiG-21F-13 aircraft set an absolute record for fighters, raising the combat vehicle to a height of 35,000 m. During the flight, the pilot was in a state of weightlessness for several minutes.

sortie

In 1977, pilot Alexander Fedotov flew a MiG-25 to a height of 37,650 m. The self-control systems noted that the pilot had experienced great overloads.

propeller plane

The propeller plane Grob Strato 2C in 1995 broke the record for this type of aircraft, and climbed to an altitude of 18561 m.

During experimental flights conducted by NASA, the NASA Helios drone climbed to a height of 29,524 m, which became an absolute record among aircraft not equipped with jet engines. This device moves only due to solar energy.

Manned spacecraft SpaceShipOne

In October 2004, pilot William Binney took a private rocket-powered manned spacecraft to an altitude of 112,000 meters.