How fast can airplanes go?

Question

On a charter airline flight, what is the average speed that planes travel at? I ask this question because my friend has a flight from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to Toronto, Ontario and has an estimated time of 1/2 hr. While a flight from Toronto to Ottawa is around 25 minutes. These two trips have a very different length in distance yet generally the same travel time. Do planes travel slower when the distancene is less?

Answer 1

it depends on the type of the plane and and the altitude of the flight

Answer 2

Technically, they do if the distance is MUCH shorter (less than half an hour in a jet) because they cruise at a lower altitude, resulting in a lower ground speed than if they cruised higher (don't ask how this works).  However, a typical cruise speed in KIAS (Knots Indicated AirSpeed) would be around 290-300 kts, or around 345 MPH.  But that's the speed that the airplane is moving through the air.  During a normal cruise, the airplane's speed over the ground is much faster than its airspeed, around 500 kts, or 575 mph.  But unless you're going around Mach 2.4 (an impossibly fast speed for ANY passenger aircraft, even the Concorde), there's no way you could get from Myrtle Beach to Toronto in half an hour.  (By the way, 1 kt is 1.15 mph, or 1 nautical mile per hour.)  

And just an FYI for Hey Hey - the Boeing 737-800 cruises at Mach 0.77, the Concorde at Mach 2.04, and the Boeing 757-200 at Mach 0.80.  So the speed varies.

Answer 3

It depends on weather

If the planed route has a head wind its going to be slower over the ground speed

or a tale wind Its going to be faster over the ground speed

or no wind at all

In the aircraft it will fly at the same speed in relation to the out side wind

But a different speed in relation to the ground

Answer 4

Look at the estimated time on the ticket and it will tell you the average time scheduled and expected by the airline without delays!! They know how fast the airplane used on that flight goes. Airplanes do not not have to fly slower on shorter flights in general (unless they are flying under 10,000 feet). A jet will travel almost twice fast as a turbo prop (jet driven propeller). The commuter was probably a turbo prop. ALSO it is impossible to fly from ANY of the Carolinas to Toronto in 1/2 hour unless you are in a rocket. Check the times again!

Woody

Answer 5

Different planes travel at different speeds it's like cars some go fast others go slow. Also airlines are slowing down to save fuel costs.

Answer 6

it depends on their route

Answer 7

Well no cause almost all airline planes travel at a speed of Mach.0.82 witch is pretty fast so they both go the same speed not like if its going to new york it goes faster and to toronto is goes slower they all go fast  

Answer 8

Between 150-8500 mph lol

Answer 9

SUPER FAST!!!

Answer 10

300 to 650 mph , although I doubt you could fly to toronto from sc in a half hour. someone is lying.

I think you misread the 1/2 as half, when it means 1/2 hour trip. = 1 - 2 hour trip. which means 2 hours. 2 hours at 600 mph is 1200 miles, which I tend to believe more.

Answer 11

cruising speeds are usually 560 miles an hour  

Answer 12

475-575 mph.  Most around 525-550 mph cruise speed.  Planes take time to land flying around the airport.  Airplanes also take certain routes which may not be the fastest from point A to point B.  In lay mans terms.

Fighter jets can go over 2000 miles and hour!

Answer 13

I would believe it if you told me the SR-71 Blackbird went from Myrtle Beach to Toronto in 1/2 hour, but not an airliner.  Somebody misread something.

Try 2-1/2 to 3 hours.  Most jet airliners that would be in charter service cruise 500-550 MPH.

And yes, to answer your other question.  A short hop like Toronto to Ottawa does not allow time for the airplane to climb to a higher altitude, so it will not cruise at a higher speed.  No need to, as on such a short trip it will spend most of its time speeding up, slowing down, maneuvering to land, and other slower speed operations.

Answer 14

not as fast as spiderman.