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is maximised. However, the speed for this is typically regarded as too slow, so propeller aircraft typically cruise at a significantly faster speed. Combustion engines have an optimum efficiency level for fuel consumption and power output. Generally, gasoline piston engines are most efficient between
171:
In the presence of a tailwind, ECON airspeed can be reduced to take advantage of the tailwind, whereas in a headwind, ECON speed will be increased to avoid the penalty of the headwind. In the presence of a tailwind, LRC speed may give a higher fuel burn than ECON. As the aircraft consumes fuel, its
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speed than maximum range speed, so gives less autothrottle movement. However, LRC speed does not take account of winds, or time-related costs other than fuel, so it has little practical value. Instead, the speed for most economical operation (ECON) is adjusted for wind and the
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As the aircraft consumes fuel, its weight decreases and the optimum altitude for fuel economy increases. For traffic control reasons it is usually necessary for an aircraft to stay at a cleared
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156:(CI), which is the ratio of time cost to fuel cost. A higher cost index results in a higher ECON speed. Cost index can be given in "Boeing" or "English" units as
140:). The speed which covers the greatest distance for a given amount of fuel is known as the maximum range speed. This is the speed at which drag is minimised.
172:
weight decreases and the ECON speed decreases. This is because a heavier aircraft should fly faster to generate the required lift at the most efficient
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For jet aircraft, "long-range cruise" speed (LRC) is defined as the speed which gives 99% of the maximum range, for a given weight. This results in a
164:. A typical cost index in these units might be anywhere from 5 to 150. Alternatively cost index can be given in metric or "Airbus" units of
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cruise at Mach 0.85 (490 kn; 900 km/h). The typical cruising altitude for commercial airliners is 31,000 to 38,000
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Commercial or passenger aircraft are usually designed for optimum performance around their cruise speed (
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idle speed and 30% short of full throttle. Diesels are most efficient at around 90% of full throttle.
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for landing. Cruising usually comprises the majority of a flight, and may include small changes in
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176:. ECON speed will also be higher at higher altitudes because the density of the air is lower.
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is balanced against the decrease in engine thrust and efficiency at higher altitudes. Common
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96:) and cruise altitude. Factors affecting optimum cruise speed and altitude include payload,
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568:"Why You Rarely Fly At Best Range Speed In A Prop, But You're Close To It In A Jet"
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100:, air temperature, and humidity. Cruise altitude is usually where the higher
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to climb from one flight level to a higher one, in a manoeuvre known as a
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cruise at Mach 0.78 (450 kn; 830 km/h), while modern
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At the normal stratospheric cruising altitudes of 30,000–38,000 ft
329:"Flying The A350: Airbus's Most Technologically Advanced Airliner"
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397:"Here's How High Planes Actually Fly, According to Experts"
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flight that starts when the aircraft levels off after a
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The cruise makes the longest part of a
Mission Profile.
542:"AERO – Fuel Conservation Strategies: Cruise Flight 3"
425:"AERO – Fuel Conservation Strategies: Cruise Flight 2"
367:
Sforza, P. M. (2014). "Chapter 3 - Fuselage Design".
605:"How to Find the Best Cruising Speed for Your Boat"
351:"787 Airplane Characteristics for Airport Planning"
184:For propeller aircraft, drag is minimised when the
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201:. On long-haul flights, the pilot may ask
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311:"Next-Generation 737 Family Backgrounder"
521:"Top 10 facts or myths about Cost Index"
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369:Commercial airplane design principles
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147:increase in speed. It is also a more
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395:Hacobian, Celine (27 January 2018).
333:Aviation Week & Space Technology
27:Main phase of level aircraft flight
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603:Thiel, Richard (2 February 2018).
493:"Getting to grips with cost index"
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25:
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455:Brady, Chris (14 November 2021).
371:. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.
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458:The Boeing 737 Technical Guide
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273:CAST/ICAO Common Taxonomy Team
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795:. You can help Knowledge by
327:Fred George (May 22, 2015).
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592:Cruising speed definition
356:. Boeing. February 2023.
316:. Boeing. February 2015.
293:"A320 Family Technology"
219:Fuel economy in aircraft
461:. Blurb, Incorporated.
295:. Airbu. Archived from
65:(direction of flight),
791:-related article is a
609:Power & Motoryacht
132:(9,400 to 11,600
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842:Aircraft aerodynamics
525:blog.openairlines.com
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57:, until it begins to
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234:Loiter (aeronautics)
712:Takeoff and landing
249:Visual flight rules
224:Range (aeronautics)
203:air traffic control
229:Lift-to-drag ratio
186:lift-to-drag ratio
180:Propeller aircraft
158:($ /hr)/(cents/lb)
136:; 5.9 to 7.2
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42:at cruise altitude
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468:978-1-006-28058-0
378:978-0-12-419953-8
98:center of gravity
16:(Redirected from
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335:. Archived from
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339:on 2015-05-25.
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797:expanding it
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741:Top of climb
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612:. Retrieved
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575:. Retrieved
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406:23 September
404:. Retrieved
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337:the original
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297:the original
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276:. Retrieved
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199:flight level
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114:Boeing 737NG
106:narrowbodies
102:ground speed
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46:
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664:Main phases
239:Supercruise
122:Airbus A350
110:Airbus A320
836:Categories
736:Step climb
614:29 January
577:31 January
552:28 January
502:31 January
435:28 January
429:boeing.com
278:2016-06-19
269:"Glossary"
255:References
207:step climb
154:cost index
126:Boeing 787
118:widebodies
761:Go-around
474:8 October
162:100 lb/hr
120:like the
108:like the
789:aviation
731:Rotation
548:. Boeing
498:. Airbus
431:. Boeing
213:See also
193:Altitude
71:altitude
67:airspeed
51:aircraft
726:Holding
696:Landing
691:Descent
676:Takeoff
671:Taxiing
244:Takeoff
63:heading
59:descend
746:Loiter
686:Cruise
465:
375:
166:kg/min
149:stable
69:, and
47:Cruise
36:Qantas
787:This
718:types
681:Climb
496:(PDF)
354:(PDF)
314:(PDF)
55:climb
793:stub
616:2022
579:2022
554:2022
504:2022
476:2022
463:ISBN
437:2022
408:2022
401:Time
373:ISBN
145:3–5%
130:feet
124:and
112:and
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512:^
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134:m
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