Why do commercial airplanes fly so high?

Why do commercial airplanes fly so high?

The reason aeroplanes fly so high is due to improved fuel efficiency. A jet engine operates more efficiently at higher altitude where the air is much thinner, allowing an aircraft to travel faster whilst at the same time, burning less fuel.

How does weight affect rate of climb?

The greater the weight, the greater will be the RCW (rearward component of weight). Therefore, weight reduces the rate of climb and the angle. Increases lift and drag and alters the lift/drag ratio. Since drag opposes thrust, any increase in drag will reduce the rate and angle of climb.

How does weight affect climb performance?

Weight. A heavier aircraft decreases the climb performance as the power required to maintain a given speed in level flight increases with a higher all up weight. With the same engine but higher weight, there is less excess power available to climb. And as a result, climb performance and service ceiling will suffer.

What are the factors that affect the climb rate of aircraft?

Note that aircraft are able to sustain a climb due to excess thrust. When the excess thrust is gone, the aircraft is no longer able to climb. At this point, the aircraft has reached its limits. Weight. The greater the weight, the lesser the rate of climb and potential angle of climb. Flaps.

How do planes fly at a higher altitude?

A climb is carried out by increasing the lift of airfoils (wings) supporting the aircraft until their lifting force exceeds the weight of the aircraft. Once this occurs, the aircraft will climb to a higher altitude until the lifting force and weight are again in balance.

What is the relationship between lift and weight in aeroplanes?

In a steady climb, lift = weight since there is no upward acceleration. However there are many different ideas about this: A climb is carried out by increasing the lift of airfoils (wings) supporting the aircraft until their lifting force exceeds the weight of the aircraft.

What makes a steadily climbing plane climb?

A steadily climbing plane is in a steady state (if we ignore things like gravity gradients, pressure gradients and so on), so essentially what makes a plane climb is the fact that a component of its velocity vector is vertical.