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Cruise (aeronautics)

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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
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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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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 336: 310: 128:
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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is balanced against the decrease in engine thrust and efficiency at higher altitudes. Common
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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
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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.
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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 833: 515: 513: 816: 641: 536: 534: 510: 419: 417: 326: 823: 809: 648: 634: 596: 560: 531: 201:. On long-haul flights, the pilot may ask 487: 485: 414: 311:"Next-Generation 737 Family Backgrounder" 521:"Top 10 facts or myths about Cost Index" 394: 80: 29: 450: 448: 446: 14: 834: 482: 388: 366: 629: 602: 454: 369:Commercial airplane design principles 360: 179: 147:increase in speed. It is also a more 775: 443: 395:Hacobian, Celine (27 January 2018). 333:Aviation Week & Space Technology 27:Main phase of level aircraft flight 24: 603:Thiel, Richard (2 February 2018). 493:"Getting to grips with cost index" 76: 25: 863: 655: 455:Brady, Chris (14 November 2021). 371:. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. 779: 585: 458:The Boeing 737 Technical Guide 343: 320: 303: 285: 273:CAST/ICAO Common Taxonomy Team 261: 13: 1: 254: 795:. You can help Knowledge by 327:Fred George (May 22, 2015). 7: 212: 192: 10: 868: 774: 704: 663: 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. 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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 838:: 607:. 570:. 544:. 533:^ 523:. 512:^ 484:^ 445:^ 427:. 416:^ 399:. 381:. 331:. 271:. 209:. 168:. 138:mi 73:. 34:A 824:e 817:t 810:v 799:. 649:e 642:t 635:v 618:. 581:. 556:. 506:. 478:. 439:. 410:. 281:. 134:m 93:C 91:V 20:)

Index

Cruising speed

Qantas
Boeing 747-400
aircraft
climb
descend
heading
airspeed
altitude

VC
center of gravity
ground speed
narrowbodies
Airbus A320
Boeing 737NG
widebodies
Airbus A350
Boeing 787
feet
m
mi
stable
cost index
lift coefficient
lift-to-drag ratio
flight level
air traffic control
step climb

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