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submitted 8 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

Strong high-altitude winds over the Mid-Atlantic sped up sky traffic on Saturday night, getting passengers on at least two commercial planes to their destinations early, after both aircraft hit supersonic speeds topping 800 mph.

Winds at cruising altitude peaked at about 265 mph, according to the Washington, D.C., area National Weather Service office — the second-highest wind speed logged in the region since recordings began in 1948. The highest-ever wind speed recorded in the area at a similar altitude was 267 mph on Dec. 6, 2002.

“For those flying eastbound in this jet, there will be quite a tail wind,” the NWS warned in a tweet.

Sure enough, that tailwind helped cut down the flight time for passengers on a Virgin Atlantic flight from D.C. to London by 45 minutes, according to the tracker FlightAware.

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[-] crazyCat@sh.itjust.works 7 points 8 months ago

What about planes going the opposite direction

[-] throw4w4y5@sh.itjust.works 20 points 8 months ago

if they fly a bit higher or lower, they will avoid the worst of it.

[-] Got_Bent@lemmy.world 7 points 8 months ago
[-] meco03211@lemmy.world 4 points 8 months ago

Alaskan bush planes need to be tied down lest a stiff breeze causes them to "liftoff". I swear I saw a video of one being landed essentially vertically as it was flying into a strong wind.

[-] deranger@lemmy.world 2 points 8 months ago

Look up STOL videos on the tubes and you’ll find a ton of planes landing in less than 10ft/3m

https://youtu.be/VQq2oYAwnqY

[-] IamSparticles@lemmy.zip 2 points 8 months ago

I have a buddy that built a kit plane capable of crazy short takeoff runs, and yeah if there's a good headwind it can pretty much hover in midair.

[-] EdibleFriend@lemmy.world 6 points 8 months ago

To shreds you say?

[-] Buddahriffic@lemmy.world 1 points 8 months ago

At some point, depending on the distance to the destination and the speed of the Jetstream, it makes more sense to fly around the world with the Jetstream than directly towards your destination without it. The faster it gets, the closer that point gets.

this post was submitted on 19 Feb 2024
239 points (100.0% liked)

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