I was on a flight looking down at the cars on the highway and it hit me, like the higher you go the higher the radius is to cover the same distance as ground transportation. I’m sure there’s a cool reason and history. To make up for the extra fuel to get up that high and the extra miles added. Anyone? Does it have to do with less air pressure. And the efficiency aerodynamic wise? Or noise pollution? Visual pollution? I just always took it as a non ask, “We’re this high, cuz we’re in a plane. Duh”
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Plane has big engine and wings to take off. Once cruising, most of the power and wing is useless weight. At that point, you better climb to less dense air so the extra wing and engine will drag you less while a little power and a little lift from wings will keep you up.
Distance wise, climbing 6km while traveling 3000 is not a big difference in distance or fuel consumption. But you consume 50% less fuel for 3000km due to less air drag.
There are edge cases when the flight is so short that the plane won’t benefit much from the climb and will climb less.
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