Ever wonder how low a private jet can go? Lowest speeds, lowest fuel emissions and more low facts are listed below to continue our series on private jet “highs and lows.”
How low can a private plane fly?
Like all planes, private jets fly low to take off and land. Just how low can they fly during the cruise phase? At heights lower than 10,000 ft. in the sky, smaller aircraft or paragliders use up airspace. That’s why for short trips, private jets typically fly just above 10,000 ft. There are exceptions to the “10,000 ft rule” in controlled airspace situations.
When are low speeds useful for a private jet?
A private jet cruises fast but can approach slow. That is an advantage when using shorter runways. It is also helpful when reducing the take-off distance that may be required.
Which private jet has the lowest pressurized cabin altitude?
When a plane flies higher, the air inside the cabin must feel as low as possible. Low pressure in a cabin reduces fatigue, means better sleep and passengers feel more refreshed upon landing. That’s one advantage to flying on bigger jets and planes. The private jet that achieves a low pressurized cabin environment the best is the Gulfstream G650. It has the lowest pressurized cabin altitude at a cruise altitude of 41,000 ft. The G650 is pressurized to 3,000 ft./914 meters. Compared to commercial airlines, that is twice as low.
Which private aircraft has the lowest fuel emissions?
Today we can say zero emissions thanks to the Solar Impulse. It is the only airplane able to fly day and night on solar power. This revolutionary single-seater aircraft made of carbon fiber has a 72 meter wingspan (larger than that of the Boeing 747-8I) for a weight of just 2,300 Kg, equivalent to a car.
Many private jet companies are now aiming to offset the CO2emissions of every flight through packages that focus on environmentally responsible private jet charters and carbon neutral private flights.
photo courtesy of solar impulse.com
One private aircraft worth mentioning for lower fuel emissions is the DA42 Diamond Twin Star. Its airframe is made largely of composite materials. It was the first diesel-powered fixed-wing aircraft to make a non-stop crossing of the North Atlantic, about 12 hours. It tallied an average fuel consumption of 5.74 gallons per hour (2.87 gallons per hour per engine).
Where is the lowest airport in the world?
The Bar Yehuda Airport is located in the Judean Desert, just west of the Dead Sea in Israel. It is the lowest in the world at 1,240 ft (378 meters) below mean sea level. The airport is based deeper than American Navy submarines are allowed to travel.
Bar Yehuda Airport by Yan Kamintzky
Here in Europe, the Amsterdam Schipol airport is also below sea level.
Are there any other private jet lows you can tell us about?
