|
Aurelian -> RE: OT: Plane Lost Malaysia - You can help (3/15/2014 7:03:59 PM)
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: RisingSun
quote:
ORIGINAL: Aurelian
quote:
ORIGINAL: RisingSun
Even if the plane exploded or break apart high in the air, they should find some debris on the water, some of it is floatation. Now its possible that it has been hi-jacked, look like the pilot or group planned this all along. So no contact? Seem that they manage to collect all cellphones at the right time before disappeared under the radar, in that case, they would have to fly very low altitude to avoid radar. There no telling where they went.
And if they're out of cell range?
As for flying at low altitude:
A 777's cruise altitude for best range performance varies from 30,000 at max weight, to about 43,000 at low weight...Fuel burn at cruise altitude is far less than at low altitude, and again, taking a moderately heavy weight airplane at normal cruise, a 777 burns about 8,000#/hr per engine, but that number drops to about 5,000#/hr per engine at low weights and optimum altitude.
In terms of nautical miles per pound of fuel, being at 5,000 feet gets you less than half the range of being at cruise. (this is a bit of an oversimplification, it depends on the airplane's weight, the temperature, and the airspeed flown, but it's close enough for our purposes here)...so, a 777 loaded with fuel for 4,000 miles likely can't go farther than 2,000 miles if flown at low altitude. Less if it was being flown at a high airspeed (which burns more fuel per mile).
There are so many variables, that I can only speak in generalities...but jet airplanes guzzle fuel when flown at low altitude. In fact, at idle, on the ground, they're often burning about half the fuel per minute that they burn when going 540 MPH in cruise...
That's from a 757/67 rated pilot on another forum
I agreed with you there too, like you said there are so many variables and possibilities.
As far as fuel, yes. But the bottom line is the lower you fly, the more fuel you burn
|
|
|
|
