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How high can a 747 fly?

A Boeing 747 has a cross height of 35,105 ft, while the Embraer climbs 190 to 39,370 ft. The Airbus A380 can even fly at 43,097 ft.



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Different airplanes have different maximum altitudes, depending on their construction. For example, the Airbus A320 has a maximum altitude of 39,000 feet (11,900m) and the Boeing 747 45,000 feet (13,700m).

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Commercial jetliners have a limited elevation ceiling of about 45,000 feet. While corporate aircraft can fly higher, slightly above 50,000 feet, they are specifically designed for such purposes. However, reaching an altitude of 60,000 feet would require super-efficient engines and glider-like wings.

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The highest certified altitude of an airliner was Concorde's 60,000 feet. Today some of the corporate jets can fly at 51,000 feet. Q: What is the highest cruising altitude allowed? A: Most airliners are limited to 45,000 feet or less.

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To maintain their operational ceiling of 70,000 feet (21,000 m), the early U-2A and U-2C models had to fly very near their never-exceed speed (VNE). The margin between that maximum speed and the stall speed at that altitude was only 10 knots (12 mph; 19 km/h).

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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.

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A: No commercial or business airplane flying today can exceed 100,000 feet. Special rocket-powered airplanes can fly over 100,000 feet to gather data, but they are specially designed for it.

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The Airbus A380, for example, is 43,100 feet and the A350 and Boeing 787 are the same (although the larger 787-10 and A350-1000 are lower at 41,100 feet and 41,450 feet). The A380 has a ceiling of 43,100 feet. Photo: Curimedia Photography via Wikimedia Commons.

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On average, the typical cruising speed of a large commercial aircraft, like a Boeing 747, is somewhere between 475 and 500 knots (roughly 575 mph). So what is the cruising speed of a 747? Depending on passenger load, the average cruise speed of a 747 is 490 nautical miles or Mach 0.85.

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Thirteen passenger configured 747-400s are currently in VIP service for government and military transport, primarily in the Middle East, though five remain in service in China, Korea, and the United States.

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There were 440 Boeing 747 aircraft in active airline service as of August 2023, comprising 0 747-100s, 2 747SPs, 19 747-200s, 4 747-300s, 261 747-400s, and 154 747-8s. These aircraft are listed by airline operators and variant in the following table.

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Most flights are intended to spend as little time as possible over water, since storms are more common over the ocean than on land. An aircraft would not be safe to fly over the Pacific Ocean due to the stormy weather and frequent lightning strikes that occur there.

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Large part of the Black Sea is considered a risk area as well, due to Russian fleet operations. Furthermore, due to sanctions, western airlines do not fly through Russian airspace.

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The mountainous region of Tibet increases the risk of turbulence, making it disruptive for passengers and potentially dangerous. Low temperatures in the region pose a risk of jet fuel freezing, which can lead to severe crashes, highlighting the importance of temperature for jet fuel flow.

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Aerodynamic altitude: If a commercial airliner flies too high, it will encounter less dense air passing over the wings to create lift. This can cause the plane to stall and fall out of control. Depending on the weather conditions and aircraft weight, this can occur anywhere between 40,000 and 45,000 feet.

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Very rarely would you breathe pure O2, it's typically mixed (using a rebreather, diluter, or cannula) with cabin air. At high cabin/unpressurized altitudes Diluter-demand systems can provide up to 100% Oxygen when needed for a flight crew.

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Also, the air becomes thinner as height increases, so private jets flying at altitudes of 41,000 feet have lower chances of experiencing bad weather. This enables private jet passengers to enjoy smooth flights with minimal chance of turbulence. Additionally, the thinner air also contributes to a faster flight.

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A higher elevation will require a longer climb, meaning the aircraft will burn more fuel in order to reach its cruising altitude. Additionally, 35,000 feet gives more time for airline crew to address any unexpected mid-flight incidents.

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