The speed of airplanes varies but on an average rate, the speed of a single airplane is 580 miles per hour. A jet plane flies at 600 miles an hour, whereas, some at 2000 mph. The speed completely depends on the aircraft’s engine capacity. Smaller planes can travel much faster than the larger ones. The speed at which the airplanes take off also varies and is on the dependence of plane’s load, design, temperature, height above the sea level and also the winds. All these determine the speed of the airplanes. Most of them take off at around 150 or 180 mph. The commercial airplanes have a speed between 500 and 600 mph. If there are strong winds the speed can reach up to 650 mph.
Measurement of the airplane speed
The speed measurement is usually done by the pilot and it is called mach or the percentage of the speed of the sound, which is 1 mach. This speed also varies as per the pressure of the air. 1 mach is equivalent to 663 miles in an hour. Planes flying for airlines have 0.7 mach, whereas, the military airplanes work up to as high as, 5 mach. The fastest speed as per the Guinness Book is 2193 mph and as per World Book of Encyclopedia, it is 4520 mph.
The ultimate potential
The world record of speed was made on 16th November, 2004 reaching 9.6 mach by X-43A NASA, crossing the limits of all speed records by any airplanes. Still the ultimate speed limit is unknown but the progress continues. Various variables are involved in the determination of the airplane’s speed and this is on the basis of aerodynamics, engine and others. An airplane can speed up on the basis of these characteristics and also on the basis of a pilot’s potential and how much G Force he can bear.
