Every time I see a large plane in the sky, or even riding in one, it seems like it just flies more slowly. I wonder if it’s an illusion or do they actually fly more slowly?
In: Physics
I don’t know what planes you fly in, but it is probably an illusion caused by the fact that your brain is comparing small planes closer up with large planes farther away. The illusion is compounded by the fact that the smaller plane will look much more maneuverable: it will turn, accelerate, and brake faster than a big plane, especially where you’re seeing them taxiing on the ground or on takeoff and landing, simply because it has far less mass to have to lug into position.
Depending on the decisions the airline has made, that large plane may well be flying much faster than the small plane. The typical cruising speed for a passenger jet, even a large one, is somewhere around 450-500 miles per hour. The cruising speed for a smaller prop plane used for passenger aircraft, like a Dash 8, is down closer to 300 miles per hour.
Latest Answers