What is the highest altitude a plane has ever flown?

It was in 1977 that the highest current altitude record achieved by a manned air-breathing jet engine propelled aircraft was set, when Alexandr Fedotov flew to a height of 123,520 ft in a Mikoyan Gurevitch E-266M. That's about three times the normal cruising altitude of a passenger jet!



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It was in 1977 that the highest current altitude record achieved by a manned air-breathing jet engine propelled aircraft was set, when Alexandr Fedotov flew to a height of 123,520 ft in a Mikoyan Gurevitch E-266M. That's about three times the normal cruising altitude of a passenger jet!

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In fact, the plane is so fast that one of the F-16 pilots who escorted Air Force One to Washington on 9/11 recalls having to speed up to catch up with it. Air Force One also flies high — it can reach a maximum altitude of 45,100 feet, which is far above than the usual cruising altitude for commercial flights.

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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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Understanding these speeds can provide a fascinating insight into the realm of aviation. On average, commercial planes cruise at about 575-600 mph (925-965 km/h, 500 to 521 knots, 0.78 to 0.81 Mach). Private jets typically cruise at around 500-600 mph (805-965 km/h, 435 to 521 knots, 0.68 to 0.81 Mach).

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And that at cabin altitudes above 14,000 feet pilots must use oxygen at all times. And that above 15,000 feet each occupant of the aircraft must be provided supplemental oxygen. All of this is spelled out in Federal Aviation Regulations Part 91.211.

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The commercial aircraft with the longest range is the Airbus A350-900ULR, with a range of over 17,964 km (11,162 miles). As of 2022, the A350-900ULR is only flown by Singapore Airlines, serving the world's longest flight from Singapore (SIN) to New York (JFK).

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And while the plane features a private residence, meeting rooms, a medical facility, and Secret Service agents, there are no weapons onboard. With an essential role of transporting US officials, let's look at how the Boeing VC-25 can thwart any attack despite being unarmed.

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Some high profile aircraft, such as Air Force One are not displayed. Most other aircraft subject to restriction are shown as anonymized by aircraft type.

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Flying non-stop
The first non-stop flight was made in 1986, using the Rutan Model Aircraft 76 Voyage aircraft. It flew the equator route around the world in nine days, three minutes, and 44 seconds.

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