How high do non jet planes go?

Question

I was flying in a non jet plane operated by Calgon yesterday and was asked how high I went, and I could not remember if it was 1200 or 12,000 feet. Most likely the second, but I would like to know.

Answer 1

20.000 for commercial

Answer 2

I would say probably 12,000. Not enough information but if you told me what airport you flew out of I could give you an exact approximation. This altitude is usually busy for private pilots.

Answer 3

Well if one considers a turbo-prop "non-jet"  TU-95 Bears fly at FL 310 - 370 routinely.

During WW2, the German Luftwaffe's strictly piston-engined Me-109K and Ta152s could achieve FL 320.

Answer 4

depends, most turboprops only go up to the mid 20's, most piston aircraft even lower unless they are turbocharged. Pressurization is also required above certain altitudes, so even if the aircraft is physically capable of going higher it cannot because of the crew.

It really varies with the type.

Answer 5

it all depends on the kind of plane and the engine, that question is way too vague to be answered

Answer 6

Typically it's 25,000 feet because they're based on the pressurization ability according to the FAA.  If a jet aircraft has half of its pressurization system inoperative it's limited to 25,000 ft whether it's a 747 or a Lear Jet.

That's not to say you didn't fly lower, it depends on your route.

Answer 7

What is a non-Jet?  

A Turbo-Prop is a propeller driven airplane, but the propeller is driven by a turbine engine, using the same technology as a Jet.

The rest of them are Reciprocating engine powered.  But, within that group there are pressurized and unpressurized, plus some unpressurized planes have oxygen so the flight crew and passengers can go higher.

In addition, there are Turbo or Super Charged engines which can fly higher than "Normally Aspirated" engines.  Your automobile is probably "normally aspirated".  Turbo Charged and Turbine engines are not similar at all.

Turbo Chargers take exhaust gas and force it across a small turbine which drives a compressor which pumps the oxygenated air into the cylinders to make up for the thinness of the air at high altitudes.  Turbo chargers and Super chargers both pump extra oxygen into the cylinders for combustion, but Turbo chargers are driven by exhaust gas and Super chargers are either gear or belt driven.

Most normally aspirated light aircraft have a service ceiling of 18,000 feet, but as a practical matter can never go that high because FAA regulations prohibit it without extra equipment and oxygen for the crew and available for the passengers.

Higher performance planes in this broader classification (I have to avoid FAA definition words such as High Performance and Category since those words have specific definitions which doesn't really adequately answer your question) often have a service ceiling of as much as 21,000 feet and they are capable of carrying a load large enough to make it reasonable to carry oxygen for several people.

Yes, you probably went to 12,000 feet, since 1,200 would barely clear ground obstacles such as towers and hill tops.

Answer 8

Sorry, Rachel, but "non-jet" could mean too many different things.  If you are referring to a turbo-prop airplane, you could easily have flown above 30,000 feet.  The propulsion and cabin pressurization systems are comparable to those of turbojet aircraft, and it is more economical to fly higher, except on short hops.

"Non-jet" could also mean piston engine, though less likely.  Piston engine passenger aircraft with pressurized cabins routinely cruise at 25,000 feet or so.

But you certainly were not at 1,200 feet, and 12,000 feet would have been for a short hop.  (less than 250 miles)

The world altitude record for a supercharged piston-engine airplane is 44,600 feet, and the record for a commercial turbo-prop airplane is 38,750 feet.