Linked Questions

4 votes
3 answers
18k views

Why do we need to know both groundspeed and airspeed? [duplicate]

As far as I understood it correctly: airspeed: is obtained by measuring the difference in airpressure (using Pitot tubes I guess?) around the aircraft and the airpressure caused by propulsion. ground ...
traducerad's user avatar
0 votes
6 answers
2k views

Please describe ram pressure in simple terms [duplicate]

Please someone describe the following sentence in simple words: The Airspeed Indicator is calibrated for 'standard' sea level density, so it will only read TAS if the density of the air through which ...
Kqt's user avatar
  • 27
-3 votes
4 answers
1k views

How can ground speed be higher than airspeed? [duplicate]

I've heard that ground speed is higher than air speed when the plane is being pushed by wind wind. But how is this possible? Wouldn't your AirSpeed also increase since you're going faster?
Boeing787's user avatar
  • 6,530
1 vote
3 answers
8k views

What is the difference between TAS and GS? [duplicate]

I'm looking for an explanation of true airspeed and ground speed.
Don's user avatar
  • 11
-1 votes
3 answers
395 views

Is the point of “groundspeed” in aircraft just to have a second reference of speed but two totally different measurements of speed? [duplicate]

From not understanding groundspeed will always be significantly higher than airspeed, unless the plane is pitching up and down. Is the ground speed just there for pilots to look at and say “okay we ...
George Clooney In a Mooney's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
2k views

How can an aircraft travel faster than speed of sound without breaking the sound barrier? [duplicate]

An excerpt from the BBC article here https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-51433720 "Despite travelling faster than the speed of sound the plane would not have broken the sonic barrier as it ...
Samer Tufail's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
4k views

What is the difference between ground speed and airspeed? [duplicate]

What is difference between ground speed and airspeed? Is ground speed used only for takeoff or is it used for flight too?
user13555's user avatar
  • 613
1 vote
1 answer
284 views

Why can’t aircraft use GPS to generate the IAS, instead of using pitot tubes? [duplicate]

I’m mostly asking after reading about Aeroperu Flight 603, which was caused by a piece of tape blocking the sensor. Is there any other way to gather IAS or is this the best way to do it?
George Clooney In a Mooney's user avatar
-3 votes
1 answer
226 views

Fighter Jets speed [duplicate]

How does an aircraft measures (or calculates) its speed while in air? Which equipment or sensors are used for measurement of speed? Does it takes Earth as a reference frame for its speed measurement ...
scico111's user avatar
  • 155
16 votes
6 answers
11k views

What is the commercial passenger aircraft top speed record?

Aircraft manufacturers claim that commercial passenger aircrafts cruise at the speed of 400-500 knots. But, is the top speed of a commercial passenger aircraft recorded (while in air)? If so, what is ...
Gokul Nath KP's user avatar
25 votes
3 answers
44k views

Why are planes slower at higher altitudes?

On many flight simulators, I have noticed that planes tends to get slower with increasing altitude. For example, I can reach 1100 knots just above the sea level in Google Earth flight simulator(F16), ...
zbz.lvlv's user avatar
  • 353
20 votes
2 answers
3k views

What is a jet (unit) shown in Windows 10 calculator? [closed]

From Windows 10's calculator: What is a "jet" (physical unit)? And why does it equal 480 knots or 888,88 km/h, if a jetliner's cruising speed is around 950 km/s? Or why does it equal 0.73 M, if a ...
trejder's user avatar
  • 4,160
19 votes
3 answers
4k views

What is the reference used when measuring flight speed?

I'm a physicist who was amused by the argument in the comments of this question about gravity. The correct answer about the affect of the accelerating reference frame of the plane on the apparent ...
Paul T.'s user avatar
  • 293
3 votes
8 answers
19k views

How do head- and tailwinds affect airspeed?

I'm sure this was asked somewhere, I just can't find it. So if it's a dupe, let me know. Anyway, I'm one of those guys that actually looks at the flight information when I'm flying. I fly ...
Mennyg's user avatar
  • 241
6 votes
2 answers
3k views

Is it right to extend flaps only in the white arc?

If the cruise speed is >80kts on the downwind leg but I can only extend flaps in the white arc, am I right in saying I need to get to the white arc, even if I'm on - for example - 100kts? For ...
user44056's user avatar

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