How Fast Do Airplanes Fly?

Airplanes outpace cars and trains, soaring at impressive speeds. But what speeds are we talking about? Dive into the details of how fast planes really fly, a key question for curious travelers and aviation enthusiasts alike.

Airplanes boast a wide speed range, typically flying from 100 mph to as fast as 1,500 mph, depending on the type and purpose of the aircraft. Small private planes cruise at speeds between 100 and 200 mph, making them perfect for shorter, more personal trips. On the other hand, commercial passenger jets, the giants of the skies, usually maintain a brisk pace of 500 to 600 mph, optimizing both efficiency and comfort for longer distances. At the pinnacle of speed, military aircraft break the barriers of aviation, achieving velocities up to 2,200 mph, showcasing the advanced capabilities of modern aeronautics.

To compile the technical information for this article, we have spent many hours researching the many types of planes in depth with aviation experts.

The airspeed data presented here is sourced directly from the aircraft manufacturers’ websites, serving as the primary reference for the provided information.

What Effects Airplane Speed?

The speed at which an airplane travels is influenced by several key factors, including its design, the type of engine it utilizes, prevailing wind conditions, and the altitude at which it flies.

Altitude

The higher the altitude, the less dense the air. This causes the wing to produce less lift. A 747, for example, may find it more challenging to maintain altitude as a result, and it may also lose speed as it battles to keep its lift. 

High altitudes also cause the air passing over the wings and through the engines to become less dense, which limits the amount of thrust that can be produced by the engines. 

This can result in the 747 losing speed, especially at extremely high altitudes where the air is very thin. On the other hand, as air density goes down at high altitudes, the drag on the plane may go down, letting it keep its speed or even speed up.

Weight

Aircraft speed and performance vary with weight. A heavier Airbus A380 requires more power to match the speed of a lighter A320. As speed increases, the A380 faces more drag, capping its top speed.

Engine Type

Engine type influences airplane speed.

Jet engines, powering aircraft like the Boeing 777, offer greater power and efficiency, ideal for high-speed flight.

Conversely, piston engines, seen in planes like the Cessna 172, are less potent, suited for slower speeds, making the Cessna 172 a favored trainer aircraft.

Air Density

Air density significantly influences airplane speed, affected by temperature, humidity, and air pressure.

Denser air, resulting from high humidity or low air pressure, enhances lift, aiding in maintaining altitude and potentially increasing speed.

Conversely, less dense air, due to high air pressure or temperatures, reduces lift, challenging altitude maintenance and possibly reducing speed.

On a cold, dry day with low humidity and air pressure, air is less dense, diminishing lift for a 747’s wings, possibly hindering its ability to maintain altitude and slowing it down.

Wind Conditions

Wind conditions play a crucial role in affecting airplane speeds, impacting both ground speed and airspeed.

Headwinds, blowing opposite to a plane’s direction, slow it down. A Boeing 747 flying at 500 mph facing a 100 mph headwind will see its ground speed reduced to 400 mph, consuming more fuel in the process.

Tailwinds, on the other hand, boost an airplane’s speed. A Cessna 172 flying at 100 mph with a 50 mph tailwind increases its ground speed to 150 mph, a favorite among private pilots for fuel savings and speed.

Aircraft Design

An airplane’s design is a key factor in determining its speed, with aerodynamics playing a crucial role. This includes aspects like engine placement and wing shape.

Wing shape significantly affects drag, impacting speed. Engine location also influences an airplane’s speed by affecting its thrust and drag characteristics.

Furthermore, the overall aerodynamic design of the aircraft can greatly affect its speed. For instance, a fighter jet’s sleek, streamlined shape enables it to fly faster than a more boxy, less aerodynamically designed plane.

Examples of Specific Aircraft Speeds

Let’s take a quick look at how fast planes go by the specific type of plane:

Commercial airliners

Passenger aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A380 typically cruise at speeds between 500 to 600 mph. While they have the capacity to fly faster, maintaining these speeds is more fuel-efficient.

Military Jets

Military jets, such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the F-35 Lightning II, are engineered for high-speed flight, reaching average speeds of up to 1,500 mph or beyond.

Small General Aviation Planes

Small general aviation aircraft, utilized for business, leisure, and personal travel, include examples like the Piper PA-28 and Cessna 172. These planes typically cruise at speeds between 100 and 200 mph.

A small Cessna 172 takes off and lands at approximately 70 MPH. You can read our suggestions for a good cruising altitude for a Cessna 172 here.

We’ve organized the aircraft into three categories: small private, commercial airliners, and military. The tables below highlight the significant variation in top speeds across these different classifications of planes.

Top Speeds of Popular Small Private Aircraft

Top Speeds of Popular Commercial Airliners

Top Speeds of Popular Military Airplanes

All the data presented here is sourced from the websites of the individual aircraft manufacturers. Please note, there may be minor discrepancies due to conversion factors and the various flight configurations in which top speeds are measured.

I’ve written even more about how fast do different Cessna aircraft fly in another article.

Speed Records

The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, utilized by the US Air Force for reconnaissance from 1964 to 1998, once held the title of the world’s fastest aircraft. Its two jet engines, designed for supersonic flight, propelled it to speeds of up to 2,193 mph, making it the fastest manned aircraft for over three decades until its retirement in 1998.

However, the record for the fastest plane ever built goes to NASA’s X-43, an unmanned hypersonic aircraft. Powered by a scramjet engine and launched from a B-52 bomber, the X-43 achieved an astonishing speed of up to 7,346 mph. In 2004, it shattered previous records by flying at Mach 7 (5,224 mph) for 10 seconds.

Brief History On Airplane Speed

Aircraft evolution has sparked major speed leaps. The journey began with the Wright brothers in 1903. Their Wright Flyer hit 35 mph.

Jet engines, emerging in the 1950s, pushed speeds over 600 mph. They outpaced the older piston engines in efficiency.

Supersonic flight also started in the 1950s. It enabled speeds beyond the 767 mph sound barrier. The Concorde, reaching 1,354 mph, shattered speed records.

Units of Measurement

There are many different units to measure just how fast an airplane is going. 

Knots, miles per hour (mph), and kilometers per hour (km/h) are a few of the most commonly used units of measurement.

The speed of ships and airplanes is typically measured in knots. One knot is equal to one nautical mile per hour. A nautical mile is slightly different from a standard mile. One knot is equivalent to around 1.15 standard miles per hour, since a nautical mile is 1.15 standard miles.

In many countries around the world (mostly Europe), the speed of a vehicle is often measured in kilometers per hour (km/h), which is a unit of speed. I know I’m stating the obvious here, but the distance covered in an hour at a pace of one kilometer per hour is equal to one kilometer per hour.

Safety Considerations

Safety takes center stage at high speeds. Increased speed stresses the plane’s airframe significantly.

Planes must withstand these forces to avoid mid-flight breakups. Pilots heed “overspeed” warnings to protect everyone onboard.

Speed limits exist for a reason, even if jets can hit 1,500 mph. Military pilots fly this fast only for critical missions or safety.

Real-World Examples

Here are some instances of how quickly airplanes actually fly in various scenarios:

During Takeoff

Takeoff speeds vary by aircraft size and other factors. A Boeing 747 lifts off at roughly 170-180 mph. In contrast, a smaller Cessna 172 takes off at 60-70 mph.

During Cruising

Cruising speeds depend on aircraft type and environmental conditions. An F-16 military jet cruises at 500–700 mph. A Boeing 777 airliner maintains 500–600 mph.

During Landing

Landing speeds vary by aircraft type. A Cessna 172 lands at 60–70 mph, while a Boeing 747 approaches at 170-180 mph.

The Future of Aviation

Future aviation might see faster flight thanks to technological progress. Electric engines, gaining ground, could outperform traditional ones.

Innovative materials like advanced composites promise lighter, stronger planes. This could increase speed and efficiency.

Computational fluid dynamics are evolving. They aim to make aircraft more aerodynamic, enabling quicker travel.

Final Thoughts

The speed at which an airplane can fly depends on a number of factors, such as the design of the plane, engine type and environmental conditions.

Stay safe if you are a pilot, because “the only thing quicker than a speeding airplane is a crashing airplane,” as the saying goes. Safe travels!

The following video gives a good insight into how fast an airplane can really go!