Are airlines getting faster?

In a world where technology is continually advancing, one might expect airplanes to be faster than ever before. However, counterintuitively, modern passenger planes are actually flying at slower speeds compared to the aircraft of the past, even those from the 1960s and 1970s.



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In any case, supersonic air travel for the masses looks like it's genuinely back on the cards. Boom is aiming for the first Overture test flights to take off in 2026 and for the planes to go into public service by 2029.

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Fifty years ago, the federal government banned all civilian supersonic flights over land. The rule prohibits non-military aircraft from flying faster than sound so their resulting sonic booms won't startle the public below or concern them about potential property damage.

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FAQ » Careers, General FAQs » How fast do commercial planes fly? The average cruising airspeed for a commercial passenger aircraft that flies long distances is approximately 880–926 km/h (475–500 kn; 547–575 mph).

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According to the Department of Transportation (DOT), there are tarmac delay rules that US airlines must follow: Carriers are not allowed to hold a domestic flight on the tarmac for more than three hours and an international flight for more than four hours, barring a couple of exceptions (like if the pilot deems it's ...

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According to Drela, today's airplane builders actually favor a smaller, lighter, and therefore slower aircraft that peaks its fuel efficiency at slower speeds. (Cars also become more efficient at slower speeds on highways.)

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The wings of a 747 are nowhere near strong enough to mount an engine capable of supersonic flight. Generally, engines used in aircraft like the Concorde or the F-22 are skinny and long. They also weigh quite a fair amount, further requiring a complete overhaul of the way the engines would be supported.

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The first self-flying cargo planes will enter civil aviation, sharing the skies with piloted airplanes. Small, self-flying planes will begin carrying passengers on short, regional flights. Larger passenger jets will begin operating without a pilot on the flight.

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It's been established that the Pacific Ocean is big ... really big. And with greater distances come greater costs since the plane needs more fuel. Executive Flyers writes that while you could just charge passengers more to fly that distance, this may lead to lots of unhappy customers and airlines losing out on sales.

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Currently, the bragging rights for the longest flight in the world belong to Singapore Airlines' New York City to Singapore route. Its longest flight path, which connects Singapore's Changi Airport with New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, 9,585 miles away, takes 18 hours and 40 minutes.

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The simple answer is yes, pilots do, and are allowed to sleep during flight but there are strict rules controlling this practice.

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Under Part 117, the part of the federal law that covers flight duty limitations and rest requirements for airline pilots, pilots are limited to 100 hours per month and 1,000 hours per year, in addition to daily restrictions.

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A crosswind above about 40mph and tailwind above 10mph can start to cause problems and stop commercial jets taking off and landing. It can sometimes be too windy to take-off or land. The limitations are in place for the safety of the passengers and crew.

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Typical takeoff air speeds for jetliners are in the range of 240–285 km/h (130–154 kn; 149–177 mph). Light aircraft, such as a Cessna 150, take off at around 100 km/h (54 kn; 62 mph). Ultralights have even lower takeoff speeds.

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If you're traveling within your state or a state over, driving is most likely going to be faster. If you're traveling more than 300 miles, flying will probably get you there quicker.

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Fifty years ago, the federal government banned all civilian supersonic flights over land. The rule prohibits non-military aircraft from flying faster than sound so their resulting sonic booms won't startle the public below or concern them about potential property damage.

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The F/A-18 can reach speeds just under Mach 2, almost twice the speed of sound or about 1,400 mph.

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