Airplanes are fast and efficient because they can operate in a low friction environment. There are no wheels (at least in flight) that have to be constantly be rolled over the ground, and at higher altitude the air is thinner which reduces air drag dramatically.
Do planes fly 1 mile high?
But how many of us have stopped to ask ourselves how high do planes fly? According to USA Today, the common cruising altitude for most commercial airplanes is between 33,000 and 42,000 feet, or between about six and nearly eight miles above sea level. Typically, aircraft fly around 35,000 or 36,000 feet in the air.
Is flying faster than driving?
Why are planes faster than cars?
Airplanes are fast and efficient because they can operate in a low friction environment. There are no wheels (at least in flight) that have to be constantly be rolled over the ground, and at higher altitude the air is thinner which reduces air drag dramatically.
Why is flying scarier than driving?
Part of our fear may stem from the perception that, while plane crashes may be rarer than car accidents, they are more deadly. Running into someone's rear bumper feels survivable – falling five miles out of the sky without a parachute does not.