![]() “A few European charter companies, at peak season, flew them for 18-20 hours a day without problems,” he adds.Ĭompared to Boeing’s previous two jets, the four-engined 707 and the three-engined 727, the 737 was a smaller, more economical plane. “Some of them were even used to land on gravel strips, and they’re still being used to do so in northern Canada. “In the early days, the 737 was a very strong, very reliable aircraft,” says Graham Simons, an aviation historian and author of the book “Boeing 737: The World’s Most Controversial Commercial Jetliner.” United Airlines received its first 737 the following day, in a version stretched three feet to fit more seats – and dubbed 737-200 – that proved more popular. German flag carrier Lufthansa took delivery of the production version of the plane, known as the 737-100, later that year, marking the first time a new Boeing aircraft was launched by a European airline. It was christened by flight attendants from the 17 airlines that had placed orders for it. The first 737 was rolled out on Januand took to the skies for the first time three months later. Airways aircraft that landed on the Hudson, but that’s not typical, Jorgenson says.The maiden flight of the 737 took place on April 9, 1967. ![]() The extreme case of that would be the U.S. So how does the height compare to obstacles in the sky? Do birds ever get in the way?īirds are most likely to obstruct planes at lower altitudes, and can present problems during takeoff and landing. ![]() They are also unable to ascend to the same height an airplane can because instead of wings, helicopters fly by rotating blades. What about helicopters? Choppers are mainly designed to fly short distances and typically fly much lower than airplanes, normally at under 10,000 feet. As the plane ascends, the level of oxygen decreases, which can cause rapid decompression for an aircraft that is not pressurized in the same way as a commercial airplane. That lack of oxygen can occur at higher altitudes due to a decrease in oxygen pressure, according to the FAA. Pilots also refrain from flying these types of planes at greater heights because of potential health risks like hypoxia, which is when tissues do not receive enough oxygen, according to the National Institutes of Health. “The plane that the average guy can rent and fly, those tend to stay usually below 15,000 feet and that’s just a limit on what the plane can do,” Beckman says. This type of engine prevents these smaller planes from reaching the same altitudes as commercial aircraft. So why don’t small private planes fly as high? In most cases, these planes use a piston-powered engine, which operates similarly to the engine in your car and with power that only allows for shorter flights, according to the National Business Aviation Association. Why don’t small private planes or helicopters fly at the same height? This also explains why you feel the plane slowing down during landing. Thomas Carney, Professor of Aviation and Transportation Technology at Purdue University. “Ten thousand feet and above, you can go legally to a much higher speed,” says Dr. “Oftentimes you will find that you will fly at higher altitudes when the winds are at your back.”Īn airplane’s potential speed also increases the higher it goes. “If I’m flying to Europe from Philadelphia, it’s going to take me less time to go over there than go back,” says Bob Cowgill, Managing Director at ACI Aviation Consulting. The direction of the wind is also an important factor. This, combined with the thinner atmosphere at this height, creates less resistance. “Jet fuel weighs about 6.7 pounds per gallon, so the more that you burn as you’re flying, you would actually end up losing a lot of fuel weight,” Jorgenson says. “The more you weigh, the harder it is to get to a certain altitude,” says Jorgenson.Īnd the weight of the plane changes as the aircraft climbs higher into the sky. Another reason why planes don’t fly higher is due to the weight of the aircraft. ![]()
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