Sometimes when we raise our eyes to the sky, we see a tiny silhouette of an airplane flying high up somewhere. I wonder how high the planes fly? It should be said right away that the cruising speed of an aircraft and the altitude of its flight are very tightly connected. The air density and, accordingly, its resistance at different heights are also different.

From here, by simple mathematical operations, we obtain that at a speed of 900 km / h, the optimal height, in terms of the ratio of air resistance, lift, will be about 9-10 thousand meters. For the Concorde, with its speed of 2500 km / h, a height of 20 thousand meters is perfect.

Military aircraft, as a rule, do not fly above the mark of 11-12 thousand meters, although they may have one, although for different purposes of military aircraft flights, their own goals are set, for each target its own height is set. Light aircraft usually fly at an altitude of no more than 2 thousand meters, their speed during the flight does not exceed 300 km/h.

Cargo planes fly at approximately the same altitudes as passenger planes. The flight altitude for them is calculated in such a way as to minimize costs, however, the situation is similar to civil aviation.

Looking up into the sky, we can sometimes see a tiny dot moving in a certain direction.

This is a plane flying high altitude. Passenger liners rise to different heights from 10 to 12 km. They do not fly higher, as this is not necessary. For this reason, they are designed taking into account these indicators. Military aircraft can fly higher, depending on their purpose. Some interceptors and reconnaissance aircraft are capable of flying at an altitude of about 25 km.

The cruising speed and flight altitude of an airliner are related. Air density and resistance vary at different altitudes. The aircraft is an aerodynamic design. Its movement occurs due to interaction with air. The higher the liner rises, the thinner the air will be. Accordingly, the air flow resistance decreases. On the other hand, the lifting force also decreases.

Given these aspects, experts determine the optimal flight altitude for a particular aircraft model. It is economically unprofitable for an aircraft to fly above 15 km, since in this case powerful engines and a complicated aircraft design are required. But for military aircraft, even 15 km is not the limit, because their goals are completely different than those of passenger ones. Many aircraft are capable of flying high if it makes economic sense. Therefore, it is possible that in the near future new airliners will appear that will carry passengers at an altitude above 12 km.

If you make simple mathematical calculations, you can find out the following: at an optimal cruising speed of about 900 km / h, it is economically profitable for a passenger airliner to fly at an altitude of about 9-10 km. If we consider the Concorde aircraft, which is gaining speed of 2500 km / h, then the height of 20 km becomes optimal. From this we can conclude that the main factor affecting the flight altitude is financial savings. Passenger safety and weather conditions take a back seat.

Cargo winged vehicles fly at the same heights. For them, the flight altitude is calculated in such a way as to reduce costs to the maximum, as in civil aviation.

As for light aircraft, they usually prefer an altitude of about 2 thousand meters. Their speed never exceeds 300 km/h.

Airspace implies the division into echelons or air corridors along which aircraft move. The movement is carried out in such a way that the distance between the aircraft at the time of approach is at least 10 km (lateral separation). In the area of ​​airports, one echelons are provided, and others on long-distance routes.

What is the maximum height?

The last aircraft flight altitude record is 37650 m. It was set on the MiG-25 on August 31, 1977 by test pilot A. Fedotov. But it should be understood that such records are not horizontal flight. At lower altitudes, where there is still sufficient engine thrust and lift, the aircraft is put into a climb with acceleration, and the maximum altitude is reached already by inertia. And the maximum horizontal flight altitude is just under 26,000 meters, and this record was set by Robert Hilt and Larry Elliot.

The highest of the regularly operated passenger liners is TU-154. Its ceiling, that is, the maximum flight altitude, reaches 12 km. All other passenger liners have a lower service ceiling. Ability to make long flights at the highest possible altitude is very important for saving fuel and increasing flight speed - the higher the flight altitude, the lower the air resistance.

Therefore, the TU-154, in addition, is also the fastest commercial airliner currently in regular operation.

At what altitude do private jets fly?

A private jet can fly at an altitude of up to 13,700 m, most aircraft fly at an altitude of 12,500 m. This is usually higher than airline flights regular transportation, which allows you to choose more direct routes.
The pilot of a private jet chooses the optimal altitude depending on the distance to be covered.
To estimate the distance in miles, subtract zero to find the optimal flight altitude in thousands of feet. For example, if you need to fly 100 miles, remove the last zero and then multiply by 1000 to get the optimal flight altitude: 10,000 feet.

Why do airplanes fly at high altitude?

First of all, the plane flies at such a high altitude, primarily because at an altitude of 9-11 km the air is very rarefied, and the engines do not encounter such air resistance. For this reason, much less fuel is burned. Well, you can guess yourself about other reasons for flying at high altitude. Secondly, why do they fly, and how do they rise into the air, are they made of iron? A stupid question from a person who is not familiar with the simplest laws of physics and aerodynamics of an airplane wing. Learn what lift is, what creates lift? What is the driving force and constant mass of an object? The Internet is well told about this. Aircraft wing aerodynamics. If someone at least read this, they would not ask stupid questions. The weight of the aircraft does not matter. Either it is a small single, or it is an A-380, accommodating up to 600 people, and weighing more than one hundred tons. Wings create the so-called air cushion. Throughout the wing are the smallest villi, if you can call it that, air. They envelop the wing evenly and over the entire area. This is called. The plane will therefore never fall if the engines are running. The engines create the driving force, the wing area creates the lift. Therefore, not long before landing with the help of flaps, the wing area increases, as the speed decreases. By increasing the wing area, the aircraft is relatively more stable in the air at low speed. And also the flaps are retracted a few minutes after takeoff, in order to reduce the braking effect when gaining speed and altitude. Failure to comply with these manipulations can end sadly, which happened in the history of aviation. Incorrect control of flaps and slats.

Sources: elhow.ru, aviarate.ru, www.bolshoyvopros.ru, www.privatefly.ru, www.woman.ru

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Such a good, soulful melody. But the point, in general, is not in it now. And I remembered it because when I was thinking about the topic of a new article, an association with interesting words from the text of this song slipped through my head: “A pilot has one dream - height, height.”

These are the words that, one might say, hooked me. The site has existed for more than a year, articles are being written, we have already talked about flight speed more than once, we even remembered low pass, but for some reason we forgot about such an important parameter as the flight altitude of an aircraft.

Or rather, they didn’t forget, but forgot, because the question “why” should, of course, be addressed to me. I don’t know… I lost sight of that and that’s it…. However, now we will quickly fill this gap.

I don’t know what kind of dream the pilot from the song really has, but it doesn’t happen without a flight altitude. As you know, “one who was born to fly cannot crawl” (remember the pilot Kroshkin from the film “The Restless Economy”, which altered the famous phrase of Gorky’s “Song of the Falcon”?).

So, the flight altitude of an aircraft, and how it is measured ... Well, what is the height in this case, I think, is not a question.

Anyone will say that this is the vertical distance from a flying aircraft to a point on the earth's surface, chosen as zero (reference point). Some question is what is this point.

The very principle of measuring height with the development of aviation has been improved (which is natural), and now there are several ways to measure. Once upon a time in maritime business there was such a measuring tool as a lot. In fact, a simple rope with a load at the end, by the length of which it was possible to judge the depth of a place (something similar to height). Lot has long been turned into an echo sounder.

It is clear that for air travel the rope, as a measuring instrument, is, so to speak, of little use. However, a method of measurement that arose at the dawn of the development of aviation (whose history is much shorter than the history of the navy), exists to this day. This method is barometric.

It is based on the natural phenomenon of atmospheric pressure drop with height. It falls in accordance with the conditional distribution of pressure, temperature and air density in the atmosphere. This distribution is called the International Standard Atmosphere (ISA or ISA in English).

It remains only, taking into account the laws of this phenomenon, to display it visually, that is, for example, in the form of an index arrow moving along a scale calibrated in units of height (meters or feet), and a device showing the altitude of the aircraft is ready - an altimeter. Its second name is the altimeter (in Latin altus - high), which is used more often abroad, but for some reason is considered obsolete in our country.

In principle, the altimeter was ready back in 1843, when the French scientist Lucien Vidie invented the well-known aneroid barometer. Then, of course, hardly anyone thought about its use in aviation.

But when the planes began to fly, as they say, in full force, he turned out to be most welcome. After all, you cannot take a mercury barometer (having an even more respectable age) into the cockpit with you.

Although it is more accurate, but, of course, for an aircraft (with the possible exception of hot air balloon) is cumbersome and inconvenient. But the compact and sensitive aneroid is quite suitable, despite certain errors in measurements.

There are actually enough errors, as with any analog device. There are instrumental ones due to the imperfection of the device manufacturing, there are aerodynamic ones due to inaccurate pressure measurements, especially at altitude, there are also methodical ones due to the fact that the device cannot, of course, being at altitude in flight, take into account pressure changes near the ground, and also a change in temperature near the ground, which affects (and noticeably) the magnitude of the pressure. However, all these errors have long been learned to take into account.

An altimeter is, in essence, an aneroid barometer. Atmospheric pressure is supplied to its sealed case from the PVD (air pressure receiver), and in the device itself, the sensitive aneroid box, deforming, reacts to its changes, transferring this reaction through a special kinematic system (it is also called a transmission-multiplier mechanism) to the index arrow moving along the scale, which is what the crew sees in the cockpit of the aircraft.

Scheme of the VD-20 altimeter.

All barometric altimeters (both ours and foreign ones) have a fundamentally the same design, but there are enough different variations depending on the type of aircraft, the order of use and additional functions.

The first altimeters used on older aircraft were not very convenient for visual use. Their faceplate was very similar to modern car speedometers. The arrow was one with a measurement limit from 0 to 1000. Moreover, it did not describe a full circle (like the speed arrow on a car speedometer).

And under this arrow there were windows with numbers in them, exactly like a car odometer, only they showed, of course, not the distance traveled, but thousands of feet (meters) of height. That is, the pilot determined tens and hundreds of meters of height by the arrow, and thousands by the digital windows.

Conventional barometric aircraft flight altitude indicators (altimeters) are all two-pointers (there are also three-pointers). Their dial is similar to a watch dial, only the number of digital sectors is not twelve, but ten. The long hand (minutes) makes one revolution when the altitude changes by 1000 m, while the short (hours) moves only one digital sector.

That is, the small arrow counts kilometers of altitude (that is, in fact, the full height), and the large one - meters, and these arrows can work both on one scale, and each on its own.

Altimeter VD-10.

The measurement limits of the instruments may be different. For example, altimeters VD-10, VD-17 measure heights up to 10 thousand meters and are installed mainly on aircraft whose maximum flight altitude is not very high. And such as, for example, VD-20 (it is on TU-134, TU-154), VD-28 (it is on MIG-29), VDI-30 (it is on MIG-23) have large measurement limits, corresponding to the numbers in their name. That is, 20, 28 and 30 km of height, respectively. The letters in all their names mean "two-pointer altimeter".

Altimeter VD-28.

Altimeter VD-28.

There are also single-handers, when there is only one, large hand, but then there is a window on the dial in which the total height is represented by numbers (similar to the old altimeters described above, but in a more convenient form). Such, for example, is the UVID-15(F) altimeter. The letter F means "foot". This is due to the fact that the height in Russia and some other countries is measured in meters, and in the steel world in feet (1 foot is equal to 0.3048 m). Therefore, instruments can be graduated in meters or feet.

Or here is another altimeter, not ours, western. I don't know the brand, but it doesn't matter. Something else is important. On it, as you can see, there are already three windows with numbers.

Altimeter with Kolsmann windows.

These windows (more precisely, the two lower ones) are called Kolsmann windows by the name of the American inventor Paul Kolsmann (Paul Kolsmann, emigrated to America from Germany in 1923), who was engaged in aviation instruments. He just invented these windows. For what?

In fact, it is very important thing in aircraft altitude control, and each altimeter has at least one Kolsmann window. In addition, all these devices have a special rack, kinematically associated with the scale, which is visible in this window. This scale is movable and numbers are applied to it, representing the value of atmospheric pressure.

This pressure can be represented on instruments in various units. In Russia, millimeters of mercury are used, in America and Canada the same value is in inches (inch-ah, one inch (inch) is equal to 2.54 cm), in Europe and other countries - in hectopascals (or millibars, which is the same) .

In that "western" altimeter, this pressure is shown for convenience in two windows at once (Kolsmann). On the left in hectopascals, on the right in inches.

For any measuring device, in order for it to carry out its functions, the presence of a zero, a reference point, is required. For the altimeter, accordingly, there must also be some initial (zero) height. And since the device is barometric, this height must correspond to a certain initial pressure, for example, the pressure of the place where the flight begins. This very initial pressure is precisely set on the altimeter in the Kolsmann window.

Although in fact there are several such “initial pressures” in flight practice. Therefore, there are also several definitions of aircraft flight altitudes. The first is, perhaps, the true height of Nist .. This is the real flight altitude, counted from the point on the surface of the terrain above which this moment an airplane flies. International designation AGL (Above Ground Level).

An altimeter, like a barometric instrument, does not measure actual altitude directly. He does this indirectly by measuring the pressure difference between the initial pressure and the pressure at the height he is at. We get the so-called barometric altitude. It can be quite different from the actual AGL height. It all depends on the pressure value set on the altimeter.

It is measured from a certain conditional level, usually from the level of the airfield from which the aircraft takes off (or lands). In the international designation, this height is height and it corresponds to the QFE (Q-code Field Elevation) pressure, that is, the pressure at the threshold level of the runway.

Another altitude is the absolute Nabs. This is the altitude of the aircraft, measured from the conditional (average) sea level.

The international designation is altitude. This altitude corresponds to the QNH (Q-code Nautical Height) pressure, which means the pressure at a given point on the earth's surface, reduced to sea level.

When sitting near the porthole in the cabin, we look at the ground below, the question arises at what height above the ground the plane flies. Everything we see is like a map. True, sometimes you can only see the clouds under the wing of the aircraft.

Usually, the flight attendant reports that the plane is at an altitude of 10,000 m. But in fact, this value changes during the flight. Usually the liner flies at an altitude of 9 km to 12 km.

What are the criteria for determining the optimal flight altitude of an aircraft

Many factors influence the choice of flight altitude. First of all, this is the technical condition of the aircraft.

Flight direction, flight time and weather conditions are taken into account.

The flight altitude is determined not by the pilot, but by the dispatch service. Therefore, if the crew encounters an emergency situation, for example, a thundercloud on the course, then they must coordinate their actions with the dispatcher. There are so many planes in the sky that you can collide with another if you go outside your air corridor.

The average flight altitude of 10 km was chosen for the following reasons:

• In most cases, the clouds are below this mark. When an airplane flies above the clouds, it is less dependent on weather conditions associated with them.
• Birds do not fly at this altitude.
• The air temperature overboard at this altitude is more than 40 degrees below zero, which is a necessary additional possibility for cooling the jet engine.
• Air density is significantly reduced, which reduces drag and reduces fuel consumption.
• In the event of an emergency, the distance to the ground is large enough to take the necessary action.

This information is valid for most modern passenger airliners. Supersonic military aircraft can fly at significantly higher altitudes.

In the late 1950s - early 1960s. Lockheed under the leadership of the outstanding aircraft designer K.

Johnson developed an experimental aircraft A-12, made according to the "tailless" scheme, with a wing-mounted engine nacelle, with an all-moving two-keel vertical tail. The glider with a length of about 31 m and a wingspan of 17 m was 85% made of titanium. Based on the A-12, the YF-12 interceptor (did not enter service) and the SR-71 reconnaissance aircraft were created. These aircraft could reach a maximum speed of up to 3300 km / h. Being extremely lightweight, with a minimum supply of fuel and removed avionics, they were able to fly for several minutes at a speed of about 3.5 thousand km / h. The YF-12 and SR-71 set a number of altitude and speed records.

YF-12. The absolute speed record at a high-altitude base of 15-25 km is 3331.507 km/h. YF-12. Level flight altitude 24462.596 m. YF-12. The absolute speed record on a closed 500 km route - cf. zn. 2644.596 km / h YF-12. The absolute speed record on a closed 1000 km route - cf. zn. 2718.006 km/h

note: records at the base and in altitude were set in one flight. Records at the base and in altitude were broken by the SR-71 aircraft, records on closed routes - by the MiG-25 aircraft.

July 1976

SR-71. The absolute speed record at a high-altitude base of 15-25 km is 3529.56 km/h (July 28) SR-71. Absolute record on a closed 1000-km route - cf. 3367.221 km/h (27.07) SR-71. Level flight altitude 25929.03 m. (28.07)

notes. The indicator is 3529.56 km / h. indicates the upper speed limit that is theoretically achievable for the SR-71. However, according to the requirements of the FAI, the fluctuations of the trajectory in height should not exceed 100 meters. This requirement imposed restrictions on the setting of records for aircraft whose altitude fluctuation in level flight exceeds 100 m (such are all aircraft except the SR-71, and, in particular, the MiG-25, in which the oscillation exceeds 100 m even at flight speed 3 thousand km/h The SR-71 record should be considered precisely as a record Any combatant MiG-25 without external suspensions but equipped with all the equipment could develop in horizontal flight 3.5 thousand km/h, that is, the MiG-25R reconnaissance aircraft can fly at that speed when performing a combat mission.)

Level flight altitude of 26 km is currently unattainable for any aircraft. More was the design altitude of the horizontal flight of the T-4 aircraft, created in the OKB P.O.

Dry (according to some reports up to 30 km).

All three records remain unbroken.

SR-71. Passing the route West Coast - East Coast cf. zn. 3418 km / h (held for more than an hour) SR-71. Section of the specified route from Kansas to Washington - cf. zn. 3501 km / h. SR-71. Section of the specified route from St. Louis to Cincinnati - cf. zn. 3522 km / h (held for 8 minutes 32 seconds)

note. records were set on a copy that was distilled to the aviation museum. From it, as from all record-breaking aircraft, almost all equipment was removed. In the Russian-language popular literature, erroneous information is widespread (with the light hand of the author of numerous popular books about aviation M. Nikolsky) about the shorter time for passing the last segment and the higher average flight speed of 3609 km / h as a result. The records set during this flight are not FAI records.

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 through 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 in tactical specifications ah the latest model U-2S ceiling height is classified.

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 peace.

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 a height of 18561 m.

During experimental flights conducted by NASA, the NASA Helios drone climbed to an altitude 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.

First-time tourists who have never flown an airplane before are usually very worried before their first flight. In fact, there is absolutely nothing to be afraid of - the plane is considered the safest transport in the world. To get rid of fear, you need to study several articles about turbulence and learn more about the principles of flights. We decided to tell you at what altitude do passenger planes fly and why this height was chosen.

Many people believe that planes fly at an altitude of 10,000 meters. But actually it is not. Large passenger liners go in the corridor from 9 to 12 thousand. It all depends on the model of the aircraft - each has its own “ideal” altitude, at which it consumes the minimum amount of fuel and experiences very little resistance.

Note:the higher the plane goes, the thinner the air becomes. Each aircraft has the most efficient flight path in which the ratio of friction force to combustion air is ideal.

Most passenger airliners fly at an altitude of 9-12 kilometers

Pilots choose their effective altitude based on technical features of your aircraft, choosing the golden mean between speed and fuel consumption. By the way, most of all kerosene is consumed, when the plane takes off : that is why the rise is as smooth as possible, but quickly. After the vessel reaches the values ​​recommended by the dispatcher, the seat belt light turns off in the cabin - now it can be unfastened.

Who determines the ideal height?

The parameter of the most suitable route may vary depending on atmospheric conditions, technical factors and flight range. Usually liners rise to 9-12 thousand meters. Ideal flight altitude passenger aircraftdetermined by the dispatcher on the basis of meteorological indications. The following rule is generally accepted: airliners flying to the east, southeast and northeast move at odd heights (9 and 11 thousand meters); boards flying to the west, northwest and southwest move on even (10-12 thousand meters). According to this rule, the dispatchers of the carrier company calculate which corridor is more profitable for the aircraft to move along and inform the air traffic controllers along the way. The carrier's dispatchers work in equipped headquarters and they control the entire course of flights. Every second they see where the board is, in what state of its system, at what level it goes, what kind of atmosphere is ahead. Dispatchers are in constant contact with the pilots and promptly solve problems that arise. The maximum flight altitude of an aircraft rarely exceeds 12 kilometers - rising higher, the aircraft begins to “fall” due to too rarefied air, engine power drops, and fuel consumption increases greatly.

The controller monitors the flight and selects the optimal altitude for the aircraft

Roads in the sky

Indeed, there are “roads” in the sky. They are laid not only along the echelon height, but also along the most optimal places for flights. These roads are called “jet routes”. Each country gives its own agreement on the use of airspace and blocks part of the territory in the event of natural disasters or armed clashes. This information, along with meteorological information, is used when laying routes, regulating their movement and for optimal traffic control. Every second there are more than 5 thousand aircraft in the sky - all this diversity is controlled by dispatchers. The aircraft can “walk” along the flight level if necessary, if it is necessary to bypass a thunderstorm or turbulent zones, but the pilot does not have the right to change it without the permission of the controller.

Rising into the sky, we often want to look out the window at the Earth left far below, but we see only clouds. Surely, every passenger, at such moments, wondered at what height passenger planes fly, and why ...

Having barely gained altitude, the long-awaited sounds are heard from the speakers: “The captain greets you, we are ten thousand kilometers away, it’s minus fifty overboard, you can unfasten your seat belts, they will feed you soon ...” And only he knows whether the pilot said the truth. After all, in fact, most airliners do not fly at a fixed altitude, but in the interval between 9 and 12 km.

What determines the flight altitude of a passenger aircraft

The choice of flight level (conditional altitude at which the flight takes place) is determined by many factors. First of all, these are technical specifications and. The weather, duration and even the direction of the flight also play a role. According to the vertical separation rules, flights to westbound occupy an even height (30, 32, 34 thousand feet, for example), and moving to the East - an odd (31, 33, 35 thousand feet).

The altitude at which the plane flies does not depend on the captain, but on the dispatch service. It is she who calculates the optimal height for each flight. In emergency situations (danger or storm cloud on the course), pilots are required to coordinate their actions with the dispatcher. Trying to arbitrarily bypass an obstacle, you can go beyond the boundaries of your echelon and create a threat of a collision with another side.

Why do passenger planes fly at an altitude of 10,000 meters

As we found out, the optimal flight level for all flights is different, and 10 thousand meters is the average flight altitude of a passenger aircraft. Why exactly this number? There are several reasons for this.

1. How more height the lower the air density. Accordingly, drag decreases, and hence fuel consumption. However, after 12,000 m, the situation changes: the air becomes too rarefied and there is not enough oxygen to burn the fuel, which is why the plane begins to “fall through”.
2. Modern jet engines need powerful cooling. -50°C overboard is perfect for this.
3. A rare bird will fly to the middle of the Dnieper at a height of 10,000 meters. The lack of birds is another reason why planes fly at high altitudes.
4. Flying above the clouds, the aircraft is not so dependent on weather conditions and phenomena such as thunderstorms, rain, snow, hail…
5. In the event of an emergency situation, pilots have more time to make decisions and perform the necessary maneuvers to ensure safety than at an altitude of 2,000 m, for example.

It should be noted that all of the above is true for most modern international liners cruising speed of which does not exceed 1000 km/h. However, in the near future we will see super-high-speed flights, for which 10,000 meters will not be the limit. Then the answer to the question at what height passenger planes fly will be somewhat different ...

Most "pioneers" of the airspace are very worried before the first flight. Some are afraid of height, others are afraid of speed, the third “what if it falls”, the fourth are worried that there may not be enough air for everyone. In general, there are many reasons. The main thing, of course, is, nevertheless, the height. By and large, there is no reason to worry, because airplanes are the safest means of transportation in the world.

In this article, we will talk about the altitude at which passenger aircraft fly, we will also provide information for comparing the altitudes of other aircraft, and also find out what the phrase “ideal altitude” means.

The height of a passenger aircraft varies from 10 to 12 km

Most people assume that an aircraft is 10,000 meters high. Possibly, but in fact, large passenger ships fly from 9 to 12 km above ground level.

The choice of height, the so-called "ideal", is not random or universal for everyone. Each aircraft has its own defining flight level, where fuel consumption is minimized and drag becomes small.

Important! The higher the liner rises, the lower the air density. Each ship has its own corridor, and the ratio of friction force to the amount of air for combustion is optimal.

The effective altitude is chosen by the ship's commander not by chance, but solely on the basis of the technical characteristics of the aircraft, where the middle between speed and fuel consumption is chosen. Actually, this is the answer to the question why planes fly at an altitude of 10 km.

Aircraft speed and altitude are related to each other

It should be noted that a large number of fuel is consumed precisely at the moment of takeoff, which is why the aircraft smoothly and simultaneously quickly rise up.

When the aircraft reaches the required values ​​in the airspace recommended by the controller, the seat belt light turns off on board and from that moment it is allowed to unfasten the seat belts.

Flight Altitude Determination

The parameters of the most suitable routes vary depending on weather conditions, range and technical characteristics of the aircraft itself. As mentioned earlier, the height passenger liner ranges from 9 to 12 km. But the ideal altitude for the aircraft is chosen by the controller, based on weather conditions.

The rule is often used: aircraft flying to the east, southeast, northeast - their corridor is at an altitude of 9 and 11 thousand meters above the ground; planes that fly towards the west, southwest and northwest - their corridor is 10 and 12 thousand meters.

Based on this, airline dispatchers determine which corridor will be the most beneficial for the liner and report the level and level of following.

All air carrier dispatchers work in specially equipped headquarters and control all flights from takeoff to landing.

The radar screens show where the aircraft is, the state of its systems, the flight corridor and the atmosphere ahead. Moreover, dispatchers are constantly in touch with the aircraft and, if various problems arise, they try to quickly solve them.

There is an opinion that the maximum flight altitude of a passenger aircraft above the ground is above 12 km. This is not entirely true. Rarely, when the level of 12 km above ground level is exceeded. If the plane takes off above this mark, it will simply begin to stall due to the weak air density. Also, when the altitude is too high, the power of the engines decreases, and fuel consumption begins to increase.

heavenly roads

No matter how strange it may sound, but the roads in the sky also exist. And they are laid not only at certain levels from the ground, but also along the most convenient place for flights. Otherwise, they are also called "jet routes".

All countries issue permits for the use of airspace, and in the event of hostilities or natural anomalies, part of the road is blocked. Also, these data are used when laying routes along with meteorological information, traffic control and regulation of their following.

Air traffic controllers work in specially equipped headquarters

It is worth noting that in the sky every second simultaneously fly in different directions more than 5 thousand aircraft, and they are all controlled by dispatchers. For example, if a ship needs to bypass a thunderstorm or turbulence, it can walk along the echelon, but it is categorically impossible for the pilot to change the corridor on his own without the consent of the dispatcher.

It is also worth noting that there is also movement along the corridors between aircraft, it must be at least 10 thousand meters - this is the so-called lateral separation. If this is an airport zone, these are only corridors, if we are talking about routes long distance- other.

You should also be aware that aircraft speed and altitude are related to each other. As mentioned earlier, air density is different at different heights, hence the change in resistance.

Since an airplane is an aerodynamic structure as such, its movement occurs through interaction with air. At high altitude, the density is less, the flow resistance is weakened, and the lifting force also becomes less.

If you connect simple calculations, the picture will be clearer. For example, if an aircraft has an optimal speed of 900 km/h, then it is profitable for it from the point of view of fuel consumption to fly at an altitude of 9-10 thousand meters above ground level. Financial savings for companies in the first place, but the safety of passengers and weather conditions are already secondary.

Aircraft height comparison

Traffic in the sky is as intense as on ordinary roads. And if you watch in clear weather, you can see how several planes fly at different heights at the same time. This sight is undeniably mesmerizing. One can only admire the precise calculations of the dispatchers and the professionalism of the pilots.