Sage-Tips

How high can a jet engine operate?

51,000 feet
Jet Engine Efficiency Maximum operating altitudes for general aviation turbojet airplanes now reach 51,000 feet. The efficiency of the jet engine at high-altitudes is the primary reason for operating in the high-altitude environment.

What aircraft has the highest service ceiling?

Answer: The highest commercial airliner altitude was 60,000 feet by Concorde. The highest military air-breathing engine airplane was the SR-71 — about 90,000 feet. The highest airliner flying today reaches 45,000 feet.

What is the absolute ceiling of an aircraft?

The absolute ceiling is the highest altitude at which an aircraft can sustain level flight. Due to the thin air at higher altitudes, a much higher true airspeed is required to generate sufficient lift on the wings.

What height do military aircraft fly at?

fixed-wing aircraft flying down to 250 feet from the ground. rotary-wing aircraft (for example helicopters) flying down to 100 feet from the ground.

Which private jet has the highest service ceiling?

Gulfstream G650
An aircraft’s maximum altitude is called its service ceiling, and the Global 6000, the Falcon 5X and the Gulfstream G650 all currently fly the highest with a service ceiling of 51,000 feet.

What determines a plane service ceiling?

The definition of the service ceiling is the height above sea level at which an aircraft with normal-rated load is unable to climb faster than 100 feet per minute under standard air conditions.

What is the highest ceiling altitude of a commercial airliner?

A: The highest commercial airliner ceilings are 45,000 feet. It is not uncommon to fly at the certified ceiling of the airplane. Q: At cruising altitude for a 767, what is the cabin pressure vs. altitude?

What are the limitations of air- breathing engines?

At high altitudes air breathing engines will get difficulties eventually. Due to the lower air density the mass flow through the engine is reduced up to a point where it causes a flame out. The other limitation is the speed of sound, at least for subsonic aircraft.

What is the highest altitude achieved by an electrically powered aircraft?

The highest altitude obtained by an electrically powered aircraft is 96,863 feet (29,524 m) on August 14, 2001 by the NASA Helios, and is the highest altitude in horizontal flight by a winged aircraft.

When do you reach your service ceiling on a plane?

When you can no longer climb with more than 100ft per minute (for propeller aircraft) or 500ft per minute (for jet / turbofan aircraft) you have reached your service ceiling. If the aircraft maximum altitude is determined by thrust, the absolute ceiling will take very long to reach.