Why Planes Don't Fly Faster

Why are planes slow? Everything else is speeding up: smartphones, the Internet, the pace of life in general! So when are we going to get a superfast passenger jet that can cross continents in the time it takes to watch just one inflight movie versus several?

Speed has always interested engineers and pilots. At least at first, they were pretty good at getting these metal birds to fly faster and faster. As long ago as in 1945, a German test pilot reached a speed of 610 mph. But then, something happened and speed stopped growing. Any guesses why?

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TIMESTAMPS:
The Biking Downhill Effect 0:29
How air can cause problems with controlling a plane 1:19
When a Boeing 747 survived a fall at supersonic speed 🛬 4:10
Passenger planes that fly faster than sound 5:09
... and why we don't use them now 6:07
Btw, it's for the best. Wanna know why? 👉 6:52

#planes #aviation #brightside

SUMMARY:
- If you’ve ever stuck your hand out the car window, then you know how much force air can have. You don’t feel anything if the car isn’t going that fast.
- Just imagine the aerodynamics of a plane flying faster than 767 mph. Air particles, which used to move around the plane in a kind of circle, now can’t keep up the pace.
- Flying at supersonic speeds against all that pressure from the air in front of you is like trying to run through a crowd.
- Still, there was a case in 1985 when a Boeing 747 survived a fall at supersonic speed.
- But what about planes actually meant to fly faster than sound? They have sharp edges and straight lines – unlike the softer contours in subsonic planes. They also have arrow-shaped or triangular wings.
- There were 2 jets used for commercial flights too: the British-French Concorde and the Soviet Tupolev TU-144. These bad boys could reach speeds of about 1,550 mph at a height of 60,000 ft.
- The fate of TU-144 was dramatic and short-lived. It was only used for 3 years from 1975 to 1978 with just the last 6 months being commercial.
- Concorde burned through 5,600 gallons of fuel per hour, while a Boeing 747 uses 4,600 in that time.
- On top of that, when Concorde started flying across the Atlantic in the ‘70s, the 1st-class cabins did have bigger seats than economy, but they still weren’t very comfortable.
- And that’s probably for the best. Aviation engineers have worked out ideal shapes of planes and the most efficient speed.
- The faster the plane is flying, the more the engines have to work. If the engines are constantly on full-blast, they don’t last as long and need to be replaced or repaired more often.
- After all these years of experimentation, aviation engineers have found the ideal speed of flight: 560 mph.

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[BRIGHTSIDEOFFICIAL]

Hey there, BrightSiders! What’s your favorite part about flying by plane?

[ScottSwalwell]

Makes sense. Is it strange that I actually like flying? Kick back, watch some movies, read.. I really enjoy it.

[jamiec]

Here’s the fast answer. Planes fly at the most efficient speed. It’s a business move, save as much fuel as possible.

[dhruvkapadia]

Probably the best graphic show on YouTube.. the narrative style is way too good. Keep it up🔥
Love from India

[chillmushroom]

Title: why can't plane fly fast

Eleon musk: I can change that

[elyas-tavakkoli]

I like this Guy’s voice 🤘🏻 and his manners of narrative skills

[elikemkunneh]

Bright Side: Why can't planes fly faster?
Elon Musk: Tesla Planes coming right up!

[WeaponsGG]

Thank you so much for adding Metric Measurements in Brackets along with the imperial ones. REALLY helpful!

[violinforever]

Thanks for making the video. Also one of the reasons super-sonic commercial planes didn't last long was due to the sonic boom which made the planes restricted to only trans-Atlantic flights.

[farhanmuzakki]

Bright side : why passenger plane can't fly faster

Concorde : am i a joke to you?

[tonymccarthy]

It's much faster than it was when the 707 first was introduced. It took nearly 2 days to get from Australia to Britain because they had to land and refuel every couple of hours and that meant over an hour to on the ground each time (no in flight movies then).

[konquer]

Teleportation is the best way to transport
says my Alien friend. 😁

[feeberizer]

Concorde:
1) The original program cost of £70M soared to £1.3B along with numerous delays meaning fewer planes were built. Only Air France and British Airways purchased and operated the aircraft...seven each.
2) Due to the increased unit price, a round trip from New York to London in 1997 was $7, 995 USD ($12, 780 USD today) making it cost prohibitive for all but the rich.
3) The sonic boom limited where the plane could fly which meant only ocean crossings. London, Paris, New York, Dulles in Virginia, and Barbados were the only airports used by the two airlines.
4) Consumer confidence decreased sharply with the crash at the Paris airport in 2000. All 100 passengers and 9 crew members were killed on takeoff.
5) Concorde last flew in 2003 due to the downturn in airline travel post Sept 11th and the end of the Airbus maintenance contract.

Side bar: Back in 1980 I was sitting in a British Airways 737 waiting for takeoff from Heathrow in London. The captain informed us that we would be delayed while the Concorde took off. Even inside the 737 I had to plug my ears with my fingers because Concorde was SO LOUD. The 737 shook and I could feel the rumble in my chest. The only other aircraft I saw with the same power was an SR-71 taking off from Boeing's Payne Field after an airshow in the late 80s. I'm very thankful I got to see both magnificent birds in flight before they were retired.

[Yui]

The real reason is that the simulation we're in can't render viewing distance any faster for that many people at once in one sector. Any faster and people would crash.

[mikeejhordan]

Safety is the most important things in life. I rather wait for 7-9hrs travel rather than less time but not safe.

[Maky]

I swear almost every time I see an upload on here it’s the same video I saw on another popular channel a month or two ago. Used to love this channel, now not so much

[averagewindowsenjoyer]

Hey bright side please keep on posting aviation vids. Btw your vids are amazing

[emersonsrandomvideos]

Why passenger planes can't fly faster?

Simple: so passenger can maximized their netflix subscription.

[charlitavisado]

For me, affordable price rates (plane tickets) comfortable and convenient. No delays (4-5hrs delays or cancelled flights) 😂
As long as I will reached to my destination safe and sound (vice versa).

[GRSG]

I used to fly Concorde. It was great getting to London in just over 3 hours. Yes it was expensive, but definitely worth it. I don't care how comfortable a 777 cabin is, I don't want to sit in it for extended periods of time. Speed is king.