How fast do planes fly? How fast do passenger planes fly: maximum speed and required minimum

The question of what speed an aircraft develops during takeoff is of interest to many passengers. Non-professional opinions always differ - someone mistakenly assumes that the speed is always the same for all types of given aircraft, others correctly believe that it is different, but cannot explain why. Let's try to understand this topic.

Takeoff

Take-off is a process that occupies the time scale from the beginning of the movement of the aircraft to its complete separation from the runway. Takeoff is possible only if one condition is met: the lift force must acquire a value greater than the mass of the object taking off.

Takeoff types

Various "interfering" factors that have to be overcome to lift the aircraft into the air ( weather, wind direction, limited runway, limited engine power, etc.) have prompted aircraft designers to create many ways to get around them. Improved not only the design of aircraft, but also the process of their takeoff. Thus, several types of takeoff have been developed:
  • From the brakes. The acceleration of the aircraft begins only after the engines have reached the set thrust mode, and until then the device is held in place with the help of brakes;
  • A simple classic takeoff, involving a gradual increase in engine thrust while the aircraft is moving along the runway;
  • Takeoff using assistive devices. Typical for aircraft carrying military service on aircraft carriers. limited distance runway compensated by the use of springboards, ejection devices, or even additional ones installed on the aircraft rocket engines;
  • Vertical takeoff. It is possible if the aircraft has engines with vertical thrust (for example, the domestic Yak-38). Such devices, like helicopters, first gain altitude from a standstill vertically or when accelerating from a very short distance, and then smoothly transition to horizontal flight.

Consider, as an example, the takeoff phase of a Boeing 737 turbofan aircraft.

Takeoff passenger Boeing 737

Almost every civil aircraft takes off in the air according to the classical scheme, i.e. the engine gains the necessary thrust directly in the process of takeoff. It looks like this:
  • The movement of the aircraft begins after the engine reaches about 800 rpm. The pilot gradually releases the brakes while keeping the control stick neutral. The run starts on three wheels;
  • To start taking off from the ground, the Boeing must acquire a speed of about 180 km / h. When this value is reached, the pilot smoothly pulls the handle, which leads to the deflection of the flaps and, as a result, the rise of the nose of the device. Further, the plane accelerates already on two wheels;
  • With the nose up on two wheels, the aircraft continues to accelerate until the speed reaches 220 km/h. When this value is reached, the aircraft lifts off the ground.

However, in space everything is different, some phenomena are simply inexplicable and defy any laws in principle. For example, a satellite launched a few years ago, or other objects will rotate in their orbit and never fall. Why is this happening, how fast does a rocket fly into space? Physicists suggest that there is a centrifugal force that neutralizes the effect of gravity.

Having done a small experiment, we ourselves can understand and feel this without leaving our homes. To do this, you need to take a thread and tie a small load to one end, then unwind the thread around the circumference. We will feel that the higher the speed, the clearer the trajectory of the load, and the more tension on the thread, if the force is weakened, the rotation speed of the object will decrease and the risk that the load will fall increases several times. With such a small experience, we will begin to develop our topic - speed in space.

It becomes clear that high speed allows any object to overcome the force of gravity. As for space objects, each of them has its own speed, it is different. Four main types of such speed are determined, and the smallest of them is the first. It is at this speed that the ship flies into Earth's orbit.

In order to fly out of it, you need a second speed in space. At the third speed, gravity is completely overcome and you can fly out of the solar system. Fourth rocket speed in space will allow you to leave the galaxy itself, this is about 550 km / s. We have always been interested rocket speed in space km/h, when entering orbit, it is 8 km / s, beyond it - 11 km / s, that is, developing its capabilities up to 33,000 km / h. The rocket gradually increases its speed, full acceleration begins from a height of 35 km. Speedspacewalk is 40,000 km/h.

Speed ​​in space: record

Maximum speed in space- the record, set 46 years ago, is still holding, it was made by astronauts who took part in the Apollo 10 mission. Having circled the moon, they returned back when spaceship speed in space was 39,897 km/h. In the near future, it is planned to send the Orion spacecraft into the space of weightlessness, which will take astronauts into low earth orbit. Perhaps then it will be possible to break the 46-year-old record. The speed of light in space- 1 billion km / h. I wonder if we can overcome such a distance with our maximum available speed of 40,000 km / h. Here what is the speed in space develops near the light, but we do not feel it here.

Theoretically, a person can move at a speed slightly less than the speed of light. However, this will entail enormous harm, especially for an unprepared organism. Indeed, to begin with, such a speed must be developed, an effort must be made to safely reduce it. Because rapid acceleration and deceleration can be fatal to a person.

In ancient times, it was believed that the Earth was motionless, no one was interested in the question of the speed of its rotation in orbit, because such concepts did not exist in principle. But even now it is difficult to give an unambiguous answer to the question, because the value is not the same in different geographic points. Closer to the equator, the speed will be higher, in the region of southern Europe it is 1200 km / h, this is the average Earth's speed in space.

Fly around the Earth in a couple of hours. It's not a myth, it's a reality if you're a passenger on a super-fast plane.

Boeing X-43

The X-43A hypersonic aircraft is the fastest aircraft in the world. The drone during testing showed fantastic results, it flew at a speed of 11,230 kilometers per hour. This is about 9.6 times faster than the speed of sound.

The X-43A was designed and built by NASA, Orbital Sciences Corporation and MicroCraft Inc. For the record holder to be born, it took about ten years of research in the field of supersonic ramjet engines, which are capable of accelerating aircraft to supersonic speeds. The project cost a quarter of a billion dollars.

The fastest plane on the planet is no different large sizes. Its wingspan is only one and a half meters, while the length is only 3.6 meters. The fastest aircraft was equipped with an experimental Supersonic Combustion Ramjet (SCRamjet) ramjet supersonic combustion engine. And its main feature is that there are no rubbing parts. Well, the fuel on which the record holder flies is a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen. The creators did not begin to allocate space for special tanks for oxygen, it is taken directly from the atmosphere. This allowed to reduce the weight of the aircraft. As a result, as a result of using oxygen with hydrogen, the engine emits ordinary water vapor.

The fastest plane in Boeing world X-43 flies at a speed of 11,230 km/h

It is worth noting that the fastest aircraft in the world was developed specifically for testing latest technology, namely a hypersonic alternative to modern turbojet engines. Scientists believe that hypersonic aircraft will be able to fly to any point on Earth in just 3-4 hours.

Orbital Sciences Corporation X-34

X-34 is also the fastest aircraft. Moreover, he can develop great speed than the previous one, namely 12144 kilometers per hour. However, in the list of the fastest, he is still in second place. This is because in experiments he was able to develop a speed of less than 11,230 kilometers per hour. The aircraft receives acceleration with the help of a Pegasus solid-propellant rocket, which is attached to the aircraft.

For the first time, this fastest aircraft in the world was tested in the spring of 2001. And it took 7 years and 250 million dollars to create and test the Hyper-X engine. Tests of the X-34 ended in success only in the spring of 2004. Then during startup Pacific Ocean near the island of St. Nicholas, the car accelerated to 11 thousand kilometers per hour. This aircraft is more than a record holder. The length of the aircraft is 17.78 meters, the wingspan is 8.85 meters, the height is already 3.5 meters. The aircraft, although it flies quickly, has an impressive mass of 1270 kilograms. The maximum height it can reach is 75 kilometers.

North American X-15

The X-15 is already an experimental American rocket plane, it is equipped with rocket engines. The X-15 is the first and for forty years the only manned hypersonic aircraft in history to have made suborbital space flights with pilots. This aircraft the main task is to study the conditions of flight at hypersonic speeds, as well as to investigate the conditions for the entry into the atmosphere of winged vehicles. It is designed to evaluate new design solutions, coatings, as well as the psychophysical aspects of control in the conditions of the upper atmosphere. The concept of the project was approved in 1954. And in flight, an unofficial altitude record was recorded, which was held from 1963 until 2004. This aircraft is capable of flying at a speed of 7274 kilometers per hour.

However, despite the impressive speed, the plane weighs quite decently - more than 15 thousand kilograms. But this is taking into account the mass of fuel. When landing, the aircraft weighs half as much. The height to which the X-15 can climb is almost 110 kilometers. Well, the flight range is 543.4 kilometers.

SR-71 ("Blackbird")

The SR-71 is the US Air Force's strategic supersonic reconnaissance aircraft. And this is the fastest aircraft, and also the highest-flying serial aircraft. It has remained so for the past 25 years. It has rather compact dimensions: length 32.76 meters, height 5.64 meters, and a wingspan of 16.95 meters. With such data, the mass of the aircraft is impressive, during takeoff it is more than 77 thousand kilograms, however, an empty aircraft weighs about 27 thousand kilograms. well and maximum speed, with which the SR-71 is capable of flying - 3715 kilometers per hour.

MiG-25 ("Bat")

But this is the fastest jet military aircraft on the planet. It was on it that exactly 29 world records were set. Two versions of this aircraft have been developed and built: an interceptor and a reconnaissance aircraft. The length of the aircraft is 23.82 meters, the height is almost 6 meters, the wingspan is 13.95 for the reconnaissance aircraft and 14.015 for the interceptor. Maximum takeoff weight aircraft 41200 kilograms, and when landing it is equal to 18800 kilograms. MiG-25 flies at a speed of 3395 kilometers per hour.

Fighter-interceptor MIG-25 - the fastest aircraft in Russia

MiG-31

This is a two-seat supersonic fighter-interceptor, which is designed for flights in all weather and is a long-range aircraft. The MiG-31 is the first Soviet 4th generation combat aircraft. It is necessary to intercept and destroy targets in the air at high, medium, low and extremely low altitudes, at night and day, in different weather conditions, with active and passive radar interference from the enemy, even false thermal targets. Four MiG-31 aircraft can control air space at 800-900 kilometers. One aircraft has a length of 21.62 meters, a height of 6.5 meters and a wingspan of 13.45 meters. A car flies at a speed of 3,000 kilometers per hour.

McDonnell-Douglas F-15 ("Eagle")

And this is an all-weather American tactical fighter of the 4th generation. He is capable of gaining air superiority. The Eagle was adopted in 1976. In total there are 22 modifications of the aircraft. F-15s were used in the Persian Gulf, Yugoslavia and the Middle East. The fighter develops a maximum speed of 2650 kilometers per hour.

General Dynamics F-111 ("Aardvark" or "Pig")

F-111 is a two-seat tactical bomber. In 1996, he was withdrawn from the US Air Force. Its speed of movement is 2645 kilometers per hour.
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Passenger aircraft, as a rule, cannot boast of high-speed characteristics. Compared to fighters, they are real snails. And although the speed of passenger liners usually ranges from 800 to 1100 km / h, some unique airliners can be supersonic. At that speed, they can get people from New York to London in about three hours. In this review, a story about the world's fastest passenger aircraft.

1. Hawker-Siddeley Trident HS.121 2


maximum speed 973 km/h
The British aircraft Hawker-Siddeley Trident or simply "Trident" made a real revolution in air traffic. It was operated from the 1960s to the 1990s.

2 Gulfstream G650


maximum speed 981 km/h
The twin-engine business jet is an upgraded version of the popular Gulfstream G550. It can reach a top speed of Mach 0.925 and the G650 has a range of 13,900 km.

3 Boeing 7478


maximum speed 988 km/h
Boeing 747 8 is the longest passenger aircraft in the world. Its length is 76.25 m, and its wingspan is 68.45 m. At a speed of 988 km/h, it can fly 14,100 km.

4. Convair 880


maximum speed 989 km/h
The Convair 880 jet airliner developed by General Dynamics was produced for only 3 years (65 units were produced in 1959-1962). Due to its low popularity, it was discontinued despite being considered the fastest airliner of its time.

5 Boeing 777


maximum speed 1036 km/h
Boeing 777 is considered one of the best airliners in the world today. These aircraft are equipped with the most powerful engines for passenger liners.

6 Boeing 787


maximum speed 1049 km/h
Boeing announced the development of the 787 Dreamliner in 2003. Made in the form wide-body airliner long range, the 787 can reach speeds of up to 1049 km/h.

7. Dassault Falcon 900 EX


maximum speed 1065 km/h
The French Dassault Falcon 900 EX is a corporate jet capable of transcontinental flights. Its design is notable for the fact that the Falcon 900 EX has three rear-mounted jet engines.

8 Bombardier Global 6000


maximum speed 1097 km/h
The Bombardier Global 6000 is an ultra-long range executive aircraft. It allows any entrepreneur to quickly travel the world and easily get to right place with a speed reaching 1097 km / h.

9. Dassault Falcon 7X


maximum speed 1110 km/h
This business jet was developed from the Falcon 900 and is designed to travel around the world in style and comfort. It is 2 such Canadian-made aircraft that are used in Russia to transport high-ranking state officials.

10 Airbus A380


maximum speed 1087 km/h
Designed in Europe, the Airbus A380 is a high-performance, double-deck, long-range airliner. It is considered the world's largest passenger aircraft.

11 Cessna Citation X


maximum speed 1126 km/h
Another favorite business jet is the Cessna Citation X. It is a turbofan, twin-engine, long-haul medium airliner business class. Citation X is operated by both individuals and companies.

12 Cessna Citation X+


maximum speed 1153 km/h
This is an improved model of the previous aircraft. The Citation X+ has received significant improvements, as well as a much more powerful engine. Today this aircraft is the fastest civil and business aircraft.

13. Concorde


maximum speed 2179 km/h
The Concorde was a supersonic marvel of its time as it traveled twice the speed of sound. The Concorde was primarily used by wealthy people for fast air travel in an atmosphere of luxury. However, despite the aircraft having been in service for decades, the Concorde was discontinued in 2003.

14. Boom Supersonic


maximum speed 2335 km/h
Boom Supersonic is currently under development. It's supersonic commercial airliner, capable of reaching speeds of Mach 2.2 or 2,335 km / h. However, unlike the Concorde, the Boom Supersonic will be a low-cost airliner for all passengers, not just the wealthy.

15. Tupolev TU 144


maximum speed 2430 km/h
The Tupolev TU 144 was the first supersonic aircraft in the world developed by the USSR Soviets, and immediately after it came the Concorde. Although this aircraft was withdrawn from commercial use, the Russian space program used it for training purposes until 1999.

Today, airplanes are gradually turning into individual transport. Recently appeared.

The speed characteristics of the aircraft on the way show different values, but these parameters do not match the figures that are indicated in the technological papers. Such criteria are measured by the flight altitude and the direction of the course of the liner, and the pilot does not influence such values ​​- they are set by the dispatcher. In addition, air currents also influence here, which significantly affects the acceleration during flight. Finally, the path factor is known, which measures the speed of an airliner in relation to the surface of the earth. Let us clarify some details of this issue.

Since aircraft movement coefficients measure travel time, such data become important criteria in the development of new aircraft models. We will consider step by step the question of what speed an aircraft has when flying - after all, a similar problem occupies both aviators and passengers. Note that modern modifications of liners are able to move at rates of 210–800 kilometers per hour. However, this value is not the limit of possibilities.

Supersonic aircraft move much faster. breaks the barrier of 8,200.8 km/h. True, now such ships are not operated in civil aviation due to an insignificant guarantee of safety. In addition, the following nuances served as the reason for the refusal here:

  1. Design Difficulties. The streamlined shape of ultra-high-speed vessels is difficult to combine with the dimensions of the passenger side.
  2. Excessive fuel consumption. Such models consume an increased amount aviation fuel as a result, air tickets for passengers on such flights are more expensive than regular flights;
  3. Lack of airfields. There are not many landing sites in the world that are capable of allowing the landing of a supersonic aircraft.
  4. Frequent breakdowns. Exceeding the permissible limits of speed indicators is fraught with mandatory unscheduled diagnostic and repair work.

Taking into account a considerable number of other reasons, the lack of sufficient safety for passengers remains the key point in refusing to operate an aircraft of this type.

World board classification

Aviation specialists have several varieties and models of aircraft: according to the parameters of the wings, the type of landing gear, the nature of the takeoff. By pace of movement aircraft divided into 4 types. Here, aviators distinguish subsonic, transonic, supersonic and hypersonic models.. Note that modern civil Aviation uses liners of the first category, although in some European states designers are testing modifications of the sides of the second group.

Leadership among hypersonic models today went to the X-43A drone, which belongs to NASA. The device moves with an indicator of 11,231 kilometers per hour. For comparison, civilian airliners are gaining up to 900 kilometers per hour. Earlier for passenger traffic used only two supersonic vessels. This is the Tu-144 model and the Concord liner. But today, manufacturers are working on new modifications that will soon begin to be used.

Today, cases of unfinished versions of supersonic aircraft are known. Here, an example is the modification of the Boeing Sonic Cruiser. The developers could not finish the project that had been started for various reasons. In addition, in America, the law prohibits flights on boards that break the sound barrier. However, in the EU countries there is no such prohibition if the device does not cause a sonic boom.

Acceleration rate of transonic airliners equal to speed sound, and supersonic and hypersonic models - exceeds this value. These aircraft are used today in the military industry. The speed characteristics of attack aircraft, fighters and drone bombers are equal to those of spacecraft. Hypersonic developments are rarely exploited so far. Their movement capabilities are an order of magnitude superior to those of transonic models. The first liner with a similar functional load appeared in the early 60s in America. It was used for space flights, as the board gained more than a hundred kilometers in altitude.

Speed ​​coefficient of civil aviation

Aviators divide the acceleration ability of passenger liners into cruising and maximum performance. Please note that this value is a separate criterion that is not compared with the sound barrier. With the values ​​of cruising parameters, aviators note that the values ​​of the flight rate here are 60% lower than the declared criteria for the maximum values ​​of the aircraft movement. After all, a ship with passengers will not develop the full power of the engine.

At different models airliners speed characteristics are different. Tu 134 moves at 880 km / h, Il 86 - at 950. Most people ask how fast a Boeing passenger plane flies. Such boards are gaining acceleration from 915 to 950 kilometers per hour. The highest value for a modern civil airliner today is approximately 1,035 kilometers per hour. Definitely, such parameters are less than the speed of sound, but at the same time, the developers have achieved stunning results.

In the technical documentation, the designers indicate both acceleration values. The average speed of a passenger aircraft is calculated by the developers from the value of the maximum indicator. This figure is up to 81% of the highest flight rate.

If it's about passenger airliners, such vehicles are characterized by low cruising and maximum speeds. We give the following characteristics of certain models of liners, where the values ​​\u200b\u200bare indicated in km / h:

  • Airbus A380: highest score - 1019, cruising acceleration - 900;
  • Boeing 747: limit value - 989, flight standard - 915;
  • IL 96: maximum speed - 910, cruising value - 875;
  • Tu 154M: highest acceleration - 955, normal pace - 905;
  • Yak 40: maximum criterion - 550, normal speed - 510.

Boeing is now building an aircraft capable of accelerating up to 5,000 kilometers per hour. But you should not count on the maximum movement of the liner during the flight, because the pilots fly on average speed for the safety of airline customers and to avoid wear on engine parts.

Boeing 737 Takeoff Power

It is important to figure out how fast it takes off airplane. Almost every liner lifts off the ground in accordance with individual technical parameters. In this case, the lifting parameters exceed the weight of the aircraft, otherwise the ship will not leave the runway. Consider the details of this procedure using an example. A similar process occurs in the following sequence:

  1. RPM set. The movement of the aircraft begins when the engine reaches approximately 810 rpm. The pilot gently releases the brakes while keeping the control lever in neutral.
  2. Acceleration. The aircraft is gaining speed indicators when the board is moving on 3 wheels.
  3. Takeoff from the ground. To take off, the ship accelerates to a value of 185 kilometers per hour. When the required indicator is reached, the pilot slowly pulls back the handle, which leads to deflection of the flaps and raising the nose of the side. After that, the liner continues to move already on 2 wheels.
  4. Climb. When the above actions are performed on the part of the pilot, the liner moves until it picks up acceleration of 225 kilometers per hour. When the required value is reached, the aircraft takes off.

The takeoff speed of an aircraft depends on the mass of the model - for the Boeing 737 this figure is 225 km / h, and for the Boeing 747 - 275 km / h

True, the latter indicator varies depending on the modification of the aircraft. The Boeing 747 is able to take off from the ground at a value of 275 kilometers per hour, and the Yak 40 takes off when the instruments show a figure of 185 kilometers per hour. Readers will find information about civilian boards here.

The nuances of lifting off the ground

For the correct operation of airliners, it is important for designers to identify the rate of modification of the aircraft during climb. This process continues from the moment the board moves along runway until the full separation of the aircraft from the surface of the earth. will succeed if the lift mass exceeds the aircraft weight values. For different brands and models, these indicators are different.

The speed of the passenger board during takeoff is also influenced by external factors: wind direction, movement of air masses, humidity and quality of the runway surface.

To tear off the landing gear from the asphalt, you need a huge force of the aircraft, and this result will be achieved with sufficient acceleration of the aircraft. Based on the foregoing, for heavy liners, such indicators are higher, and for light ones, they are lower. In addition, the following nuances affect this process:

  • wind direction and speed;
  • airflow;
  • humidity;
  • the structure and serviceability of the runway.

Sometimes situations arise that the maximum speed characteristics are not enough for takeoff. Usually for similar cases characteristic gusts of wind against the movement of the side. Here, lifting off the ground will require a force that is twice the standard values. In reverse situations, when a tailwind blows, the liner will need to develop speed to the minimum parameters.

Landing

The most responsible process of the flight is the landing of the aircraft. Before landing, the pilot takes the aircraft to the airfield and prepares for landing. This procedure takes place in several stages:

  • gradual decrease in height;
  • straightening;
  • mileage retention.

The speed during landing of the liner is determined only by the mass of this side

For aircraft with a high mass, landing starts from a height of 25 m, and for light models, landing is also available from nine meters. The speed of a passenger aircraft during landing approach is directly determined by the weight of the airliner.

Pilots do not often achieve maximum speed due to the necessary precautions. Therefore, it is not reasonable to hope that the flight time will be minimal due to the high speed parameters of the model. Here it is appropriate to focus on the cruising value of acceleration.

The Question of Learning Speed passenger liner interesting for both aviators and ordinary people- after all, this indicator determines the flight time
Today, the NASA X-43a drone has become the leader among hypersonic models, the speed of which exceeds 11,000 km/h.
Modern liners distinguish between maximum and cruising speed, and during the flight the aircraft produces 60 - 81% of the maximum resource
Among the achievements of the designers of the USSR - passenger supersonic liner Tu-144, the speed of which exceeded 2,000 km/h