Ask the Captain: Highest altitudes for planes (2024)

FAQs

Ask the Captain: Highest altitudes for planes? ›

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.

"Most commercial airliners have what we call a 'service ceiling' of up to 45,000 feet," says former pilot Dan Bubb, now a professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. "The service ceiling is the point where the airplane can no longer develop lift, and gravity begins pulling it down to the ground."

On July 17, 1962, American test pilot Robert White took the X-15 to an altitude of 314,688 feet. But it's Russian pilot Alexandr Fedotov who holds the world altitude record, set on August 31, 1977, when his MiG E-266M reached a mere 123,523 feet.

U.S. military aircraft can go above 50,000 feet, while the U2 & MiG-31 have the highest service ceilings. The X-15 reached 354,200 feet, the MiG E-266M hit 123,523 feet, and the SR-71 Blackbird reached 85,135 feet in record-breaking flights.

The maximum height that a commercial airplane is allowed to reach when they fly is 42,000 feet, as this is the universally approved maximum altitude. This max altitude for airplanes is known as the “service ceiling.” Most commercial air jets fly at such a high altitude because it is known to optimize efficiency.

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Aircraft

U-2 Dragon Lady: Service ceiling of approximately 70,000 feet.

The highest altitude a commercial jetliner can reach is approximately 45,000 feet, while corporate aircraft can fly slightly above 50,000 feet, but only if they are specifically designed for that purpose. Achieving an altitude of 60,000 feet would necessitate super-efficient engines and glider-like wings.

Generally, commercial jets fly at cruising altitudes between 30,000 and 40,000 feet (9,000 to 12,000 meters), but some can fly higher, up to around 45,000 or even 50,000 feet (13,700 to 15,200 meters).

Question: What is the highest altitude an airplane can fly? 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.

A few airplanes have exceeded this altitude, but were only able to do so momentarily… they were unable to sustain level flight at that high altitude. The current altitude record, I believe, for sustained level flight by an airplane is about 97,000 feet — a record set by the Helios “flying wing” airplane.

What is the highest altitude a private pilot can fly? ›

Depending on congestion and restrictions, different altitudes may be assigned for ascent, cruising, and descent. Private jets can fly at altitudes ranging from 18,000 feet to 45,000 feet, depending on the specific type of jet and prevailing traffic conditions.

A private jet can fly at a height of up to 45 000 ft, though most cruise at 41 000 ft. This is generally higher than an airline flight and allows for a more direct route – out of the most congested area of the sky. A private jet pilot will choose the optimum cruising altitude depending on the distance of the journey.

Airliners. The longest range jetliner in service is the Airbus A350 XWB Ultra Long Range, capable of flying up to 18,000 kilometres (9,700 nmi; 11,000 mi). The Airbus A380 is capable of flying 14,800 kilometres (8,000 nmi; 9,200 mi) with 544 passengers.

No, there isn't enough oxygen at that height to power the engines. The SR-71 Blackbird flew spy missions over the Soviet Union during the Cold War. It still holds the record for highest altitude for an operated aircraft, and it flew at 85,000 feet.

There is NO ALTITUDE that is absolutely free from Turbulence! so you cant out fly it! As a general rule anything above 30,000 feet, assures you of a smoother ride than lower. But again no altitude assures you a smooth ride.

FAQ » General FAQs » How high do commercial planes fly? The approved maximum altitude for most commercial aircraft is 42,000 feet.

The highest current world absolute general aviation altitude record [56] propelled aircraft is 37,650 metres (123,520 ft) set by Aleksandr Vasilyevich Fedotov, in a Mikoyan Gurevitch E-266M (MiG-25M), on August 31, 1977. The X-15 flew into space and back. 100,000 ft, pffft. No problem.

Commercial planes fly between 35,000 and 43,000 feet. This is usually the most optimal flight to create lift. Aircraft are generally around 7 miles above the ground traveling at nearly the speed of sound. The higher a plane flies, the thinner air surrounding it becomes.

Tim Morgan, a commercial pilot writing for Quora says aircraft can fly above 40,000 feet, and hence it is possible to fly over Mount Everest which stands at 29,031.69 feet. However, typical flight routes do not travel above Mount Everest as the mountains create unforgiving weather.