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Why jet planes do not fly in troposphere?
Commercial jet aircraft fly in the lower stratosphere to avoid the turbulence which is common in the troposphere below. The stratosphere is very dry; air there contains little water vapor. Because of this, few clouds are found in this layer; almost all clouds occur in the lower, more humid troposphere.
Why do planes not fly at lower altitudes?
It also isn’t the most efficient use of fuel to fly that high in the first place, he says, since planes can fly at a lower altitude with the assistance of wind. Another reason why planes don’t fly higher is due to the weight of the aircraft. An airplane’s potential speed also increases the higher it goes.
Why do planes fly above the troposphere?
You’ll probably discover that it flies somewhere in the troposphere, which is important for two reasons: the air is thin enough to minimize drag, yet it’s also thick enough to produce an adequate amount of lift. For these reasons, commercial jets almost always fly in the troposphere.
Does airplane fly in troposphere?
Most light aircraft and turboprop aircraft fly within the troposphere and this is where most of the water vapour and therefore cloud formation exists. Considerable vertical movement of air occurs in the troposphere – warm air rising and cool air descending.
Do planes fly faster at lower altitudes?
Technically, no. As altitude increases, air density decreases, which decreases engine performance but gives it better fuel efficiency. Each airplane has an optimal cruising altitude range that is the best tradeoff of speed and fuel efficiency.
Is the ozone layer in the troposphere?
About 10% of atmospheric ozone is in the troposphere, the region closest to Earth (from the surface to about 10–16 kilometers (6–10 miles)). The remaining ozone (about 90%) resides in the stratosphere between the top of the troposphere and about 50 kilometers (31 miles) altitude.
Do planes fly in rain?
Flying in Heavy Rain Rain doesn’t usually affect a flight much. Combining with hefty winds causes extra challenges to flight planning. Heavy rain could affect visibility, but planes generally fly on instruments anyway, so this will not be an issue in itself.
Is it safe to fly in rain?
Rain is not actually dangerous to aircraft, and you can often fly through rain with no issues at all. The main problem is that heavy rain often leads to poor visibility. Every pilot should beware of freezing rain, which is very dangerous as it can cause a quick build-up of ice on the wings.
Can a plane fly above or below the troposphere?
Above it, however, is the stratosphere, followed by the stratopause and then the mesosphere. Commercial jets can certainly fly above or below the troposphere, but this layer of the atmosphere offers ideal flying conditions for several reasons. First, the troposphere produces minimal drag or resistance for commercial jets.
Why do commercial jets fly in the troposphere?
First, the troposphere produces minimal drag or resistance for commercial jets. If commercial jets flew below the troposphere, they would burn more fuel due to the increased drag at lower altitudes. This is because air is thicker at lower altitudes, requiring commercial jets to expend more energy to “push” themselves through the skies.
Are there any planes that fly in the stratosphere?
Naturally, not all aircraft fly in the stratosphere. Some military aircraft, including the SR-71 and the U-2, as well as many commercial aircraft fly in the troposphere, which is one layer under the stratosphere. In this layer, there is low resistance and good lift capacity, which results in a smoother overall flight.
What’s the average altitude of a commercial jet?
Although there are exceptions, most commercial jets fly at around 28,000 to 35,000 feet. Being that Earth’s troposphere is between 23,000 and 65,000 feet — depending on the season and latitude, at least — this means that commercial jets are almost always within the troposphere.