Concorde was a comparatively light aircraft, with a 185-tonne MTOW compared to 333 tonnes for the Boeing 747-100. As such, its engine technology made a big difference in allowing it to ‘supercruise’ at more than twice the speed of sound.
Why did Concorde fly higher than normal planes?
Concorde was the first — and still only — passenger aircraft that had turbojet engines with afterburners. Called “reheat” by the British, raw fuel was introduced into the exhaust of the plane’s four engines, immediately increasing the engines’ thrust by almost 20%.
Why was the Concorde sonic boom so loud?
Powered by four after-burning jet engines (yes – the same tech used by fighter jets and B-1 Bombers) the Concorde’s cruising speed of 2,170 km/h meant that the aircraft left an incredibly loud sonic boom in its wake. Slicing through the speed of sound tends to do that.
What altitude did Concorde cruise at?
60,000 feet
Concorde had an average cruise speed of Mach 2.02 (an airspeed of around 2140 km/h or 1,330 mph) with a maximum cruise altitude of 60,000 feet (18 300 metres). It was an ogival delta-winged aircraft with four Olympus engines originally developed for the Avro Vulcan strategic bomber.
Why was Concorde so special?
The Concorde made its first successful flight on March 2, 1969, with a maximum cruising speed of 2,179 km (1,354 miles) per hour, more than twice the speed of sound. It made its first transatlantic crossing in 1973.
Can a plane fly at 60000 feet?
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.
What aircraft flies the highest?
Concorde (of course, no longer operational) was rated to fly up to 60,000 feet. And many private jets operate up to around 45,000 to 51,000 feet. And if you introduce military jets, the SR71 holds the record (for normal flight) at 85,000 feet.
Can pilots hear sonic boom?
If you’re WONDERing about how pilots handle sonic booms, they actually don’t hear them. They can see the pressure waves around the plane, but people on board the airplane can’t hear the sonic boom. Like the wake of a ship, the boom carpet unrolls behind the airplane.
Is it legal to break the sound barrier?
It’s against the law. Within the United States, it is illegal to break the sound barrier. The Federal Aviation Administration regulations are quite clear: “No person may operate a civil aircraft in the United States at a true flight Mach number greater than 1” except in certain, very limited conditions.
Can a sonic boom make you deaf?
When an object travels in fast speed, it creates a sonic boom. Frequent exposure will cause deafness.
Are any Concordes still airworthy?
Commercial service was suspended until November 2001, and Concorde aircraft were retired in 2003 after 27 years of commercial operations. Most aircraft are on display in Europe and America.
| Concorde | |
|---|---|
| British Airways Concorde in 1986 | |
| Role | Supersonic airliner |
| National origin | United Kingdom and France |
Do planes fly at 50000 feet?
The highest that a commercial airplane can fly is 45,000 feet. Most military planes fly at around 50,000 feet and sometimes higher. Some rocket-powered planes can fly as high as 100,000 feet but they are specially designed for this purpose.
Did Concorde have turbulence?
Fortunately, the Concorde and Boom Overture cruise at about 60,000 feet (18,000 m), much higher than the 38,000 feet (11,500 m) of subsonic airliners. At this altitude there is almost no weather, nor turbulence.
What is the fastest jet in the world?
The honor goes to the Concorde, which could cruise at Mach 2.04 or 1,354 miles per hour.
Why did Concorde have a bent nose?
Droop Nose
But Concorde’s long, pointed nose had a hinge. As the plane took off, landed, and taxied, the pilots tilted its nose forward so that they could see the runway. For supersonic flight, the nose was hydraulically lifted, streamlining the plane’s shape and allowing it to efficiently pierce the air.
How loud was the Concorde sonic boom?
Concorde’s sonic boom noise level was 105 PLdB. The PLdB that researchers believe will be acceptable for unrestricted supersonic flight over land is 75, but NASA wants to eventually beat that and reach 70 PLdB.
Can a plane accidentally fly into space?
Airplanes cannot fly into space because they are not designed to fly at the altitudes necessary to reach space. Additionally, the air is too thin at high altitudes for an airplane to generate the lift necessary to stay airborne.
Can turbulence take down a plane?
Can turbulence crash an airplane? NO. Although in its worst form, turbulence may scare passengers to the point where they start praying to the Almighty, asking for mercy for their sins, it’s very, very rare for turbulence to be powerful enough to actually bring a plane down.
Can a plane fly over Mount Everest?
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.
What happens if plane flies too high?
If a passenger jet flies too high, it reaches a point called ‘Coffin Corner’. This is the point at which the aircraft’s low speed stall and high-speed buffet meet and the plane can no longer maintain its altitude which forces it to descend.
At what altitude do pilots need oxygen?
14,000 feet MSL
The flight crew must use supplemental oxygen for the entire duration of flight operations above a cabin pressure altitude of 14,000 feet MSL (14 CFR § 91.211).