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What is the speed of a passenger plane in km/h?

Published in Aircraft Speed 2 mins read

A passenger plane typically travels at a speed of around 860 km/h.

According to provided reference information, passenger aircrafts generally move around Mach 0.77, which translates to approximately 860 km/h, or about 14 kilometers per minute. Here's a breakdown:

Understanding Passenger Plane Speed

Here is some helpful context to understand passenger plane speed:

  • Typical Speed: As mentioned, the average speed of a passenger plane is around 860 km/h.
  • Mach Number: Mach 0.77 is a unit of speed in relation to the speed of sound. At sea level, this means that the passenger plane is traveling at about 77% of the speed of sound.
  • Kilometers per Minute: A speed of 860 km/h also means the plane covers roughly 14 kilometers every minute. This gives us a better grasp of how quickly passenger planes travel.

Factors Affecting Speed

It's important to note that actual speeds can vary due to several factors:

  • Altitude: Airplanes travel faster at higher altitudes where the air is thinner.
  • Wind Conditions: Tailwinds can increase a plane's ground speed, while headwinds decrease it.
  • Type of Aircraft: Larger planes might have different optimal speeds compared to smaller ones.
  • Phase of Flight: Planes travel slower during takeoff and landing phases.

Summary Table

Aspect Value
Average Speed 860 km/h
Speed in Mach 0.77
Kilometers per Minute 14 km/min

Therefore, a general idea of passenger plane speed is around 860 km/h, with variations based on several elements.

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