Why do planes fly super low?

Why do planes fly super low?

The biggest reason for this altitude lies with fuel efficiency. The thin air creates less drag on the aircraft, which means the plane can use less fuel in order to maintain speed. Less wind resistance, more power, less effort, so to speak. Spending less on fuel is also great for airlines, for obvious reasons.

How low can a fighter jet fly?

In combat, many aircraft will operate at altitudes as low as 100 feet and at high airspeeds to defeat ground missile radars and avoid sophisticated surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft artillery, and enemy fighters.

Can you hear anything at supersonic speed?

At supersonic speeds (those greater than the local sound speed), there is no sound heard as an object approaches an observer because the object is traveling faster than the sound it produces. Only after the object has passed will the observer be able to hear the sound waves emitted from the object.

Can you fly close to water?

Waves. Waves can be dangerous when flying too close to the water’s surface, requiring pilots to react fast or risk losing their drone. Make sure you stay far enough above the surface to avoid this issue entirely.

How low can Helicopters legally fly?

In other words, if you live in a congested area, an aircraft is not allowed to fly any lower than 1,000 feet over the highest obstacle. If you live in a sparsely populated area, an aircraft is not allowed to fly any lower than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure including your house.

Can a pilot hear the 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.

Why do hypersonic airplanes have no tails?

The tails of hypersonic airplanes represent an inherent challenge, too. The top sides of the wings generate expansion waves that distribute the flow away from the airplane. This creates very-low-pressure zones that hinder a tail in doing its job of stabilizing and steering.

How dangerous is it to fly a hypersonic plane?

So as the speed goes up, the dynamic pressure also goes up t dangerous levels. A hypersonic aircraft flying at 30,000 feet would likely disintegrate from the stress. But with thinner air at 95,000 feet, the dynamic pressure equations balance out and the same airplane can fly safely. Boeing’s pursuit of hypersonics has gone public in 2018.

What happens if you fly hypersonic over the North Pole?

There’s one problem with flying so fast, however – the boom as you break the sound barrier. European hypersonic jets would fly over the North Pole and cross the Bering Strait, avoiding populated land. A sonic boom generates a 160-decibel noise that travels to the ground and can permanently damage human ears.

Is hydrogen the future of hypersonic flight?

Fuel choice is important, especially as one consideration for any future hypersonic fleet will be to try to keep its emissions as low as possible. This is why hydrogen was chosen, rather than a fuel based on hydrocarbons. What’s more, liquid hydrogen fuel is not highly combustible mid-flight.