How far up can an airplane actually go.. and how fast?

Question

How far up can an airplane actually go.. and how fast?

Answer 1

Note: This list shows the fastest jet and rocket-based aircraft. In this case, I'm listing the top 25

# Plane Top Speed Max. Altitude

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1. X-15, Mach 6.72, 354,200 feet

2. SR-71 Blackbird, (YF-12) Mach 3.2+ 85,000+ feet

3. MiG-25R Foxbat-B, Mach 3.2 123,524 feet

3. X-2, Mach 3.2 126,200 feet

4. XB-70 Valkyrie, Mach 3.1 77,350 feet

5. MiG-31 Foxhound, Mach 2.83 67,600 feet

6. MiG-25 Foxbat, (Ye-155) Mach 2.8 118,900 feet

7. F-15 Eagle, Mach 2.5 60,000 feet

7. F-111 Aardvark, Mach 2.5 60,000+ feet

8. X-1, Mach 2.435 90,440 feet

9. Su-24 Fencer, Mach 2.4 57,400 feet

10. Tu-144 Charger, Mach 2.35 59,055 feet

10. MiG-23 Flogger, Mach 2.35 60,700 feet

10. Su-27 Flanker, Mach 2.35 59,055 feet

11. F-14A Tomcat Mach 2.34 58,000+ feet

12. F-106 Delta Dart Mach 2.31 57,000 feet

13. IAI Kfir Mach 2.3 75,000 feet

13. English Electric Lightning Mach 2.3 60,000 feet

13. MiG-29 Fulcrum Mach 2.3 59,060 feet

13. F-107 Ultra Sabre Mach 2.3 48,000 feet

14. Tornado ADV Mach 2.2 69,997 feet

14. F-4 Phantom Mach 2.2 62,250 feet

14. Mirage 2000 Mach 2.2 59,055 feet

14. F-104 Starfighter Mach 2.2 58,000 feet

(120,800 feet NF-104A)

14. B-58 Hustler Mach 2.2 64,800 feet

15. F-105 Thunderchief Mach 2.1 52,000 feet

15. A-5 Vigilante Mach 2.1 52,100 feet

16. Su-22 Mach 2.09 59,055 feet

17. Tu-160 Blackjack Mach 2.05 49,200 feet

17. MiG-21 Fishbed Mach 2.05 50,000 feet

17. Concorde Mach 2.05 60,000 feet

18. D558-2 Skystreak Mach 2.005 83,235 feet

19. YF-23 Black Widow II Mach 2 (AB) 65,000 feet

19. F-20 Tigershark Mach 2+ 55,000 feet

19. YF-17 Cobra Mach 2+ 50,000 feet

20. Saab JAS 39 Gripen Mach 2 50,000 feet

20. F-16 Fighting Falcon Mach 2 50,000+ feet

20. Saab 37 Viggen Mach 2 60,039 feet

20. Saab 35 Draken Mach 2 65,600 feet

21. Tu-22M Backfire Mach 1.88 43,635 feet

21. F-14B/D Tomcat Mach 1.88 53,000+ feet

22. Su-34 Mach 1.8 45,890 feet

22. F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Mach 1.8 50,000+ feet

22. F-22 Raptor Mach 1.8 (AB) 50,000 feet

23. XF-104 Starfighter Mach 1.79 58,000 feet

24. F-8 Crusader Mach 1.72 58,000 feet

25. F-101B Voodoo Mach 1.66 52,100 feet  

Answer 2

It varies widely, depending on the airplane.  The typical single-engine light plane can climb to 15,000 feet or so, and fly 120-160 MPH.  Some light planes are able to climb to 25,000 or 30,000 feet and fly 250-350 MPH.

Passenger jets typically fly at 25,000 to 40,000 feet when on duty, but some can actually fly much higher.  The Boeing 747-400 is capable of climbing to 55,000 feet.  These airplanes have maximum cruise speeds in the range of 475 to 625 MPH.  Some can go a little faster, but none can exceed about 700 MPH.

Some exotic research aircraft have flown as high as 330,000 feet, which is considered to be in outer space, and have flown faster than 4,520 MPH.

So it's a very wide field and the answers are all over the spectrum.

Answer 3

typical commercial jet will have a maximum altitude of 41-43,000 feet.

they will fly at a max cruising speed of mach 0.80. which is about 600mph over ground if winds are calm.

specialized aircraft or military can go much higher and much faster

the SR71, a true airplane, flies at 80,000 feet and flies at mach 3.2 which is around 2400 mph over ground depending on winds

also the Mig 25 foxbat, also a true airplane, flew once at 125,675 feet for 20 minutes and another time, at mach 3.6. It's engines were totaled afterward though.

other craft have also been higher and faster. they are not true airplanes however. The X-15 an airlaunched rocket powered craft, flew once at over 100km high and went mach 9.8

the spaceshuttle orbits at 17,000mph at a height of 200 or 300 miles. Upon re-entry, it reaches mach 25.

Answer 4

Don't know the answer to this one, but I wanted to comment on the answer that "David S" gave.  Great answer!  You must be interested in aircraft, as I have been all my life.  Thought you might be interesting in the following (which is true):

The # 3 pylon blew off the starboard wing of a B-52H taking off one day at Wurtsmith AFB in Michigan.  This happened at about 300 feet.  Immediately, the # 4 pylon shut down, as it had ingested parts of # 3.

The pilot had no flaps, and only 4 engines (all on port side!).  Could not dump fuel.  Flew over Lake Huron for about 12 hours trying to get weight down.  Landed with right full rudder and NO flaps.  

Answer 5

It...depends.  For military aircraft the highest/fastest was the SR71 (no longer in service) and the MiG 25 Foxbat-A.  The SR cruised at 3.2 mach at altitude 80,000ft; which means its maximum speed was even more than that.  The Foxbat max speed was 2.8 Mach.  (The infamous "3.0 Mach" was a one-time mission. The aircraft was never intended to operate at that speed).

Commercial airliners cruise between .72 - .85 Mach; typically at 35000-39000 feet.

1.0 Mach = about 655 at altitude, it's 761 at sealevel.