What is this high flying aircraft over Pennsylvania?What aircraft is this?What is this WWI aircraft?What aircraft is this flying near Greenford?What is this fighter jet that flew over KJST?What is this high-wing jet airplane?What flying machine is this model?Can someone identify this scrapped high-wing plane?What is this aircraft seen over Southern California?What is this high wing, single engine aircraft?What is this aircraft that has flown over my house all day?
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What is this high flying aircraft over Pennsylvania?
What aircraft is this?What is this WWI aircraft?What aircraft is this flying near Greenford?What is this fighter jet that flew over KJST?What is this high-wing jet airplane?What flying machine is this model?Can someone identify this scrapped high-wing plane?What is this aircraft seen over Southern California?What is this high wing, single engine aircraft?What is this aircraft that has flown over my house all day?
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Yesterday afternoon I photographed a Boeing 777-300ER flying over my home, according to radar data it was at approximately 32,000 ft. In the photograph there is another aircraft present, it is much smaller and higher in altitude (40,000-50,000 ft) and it is a small aircraft, possibly a drone or military. It did not appear on any flight tracking sites. I usually see military traffic flying in that particular route and heading. I have numerous "raw" images of this particular aircraft.
I originally though it may be an L-39 although that particular aircraft does not have a T tail design and I think that it would struggle at that altitude. The photographs were taken at 1545 EST over the LVZ VOR.
The aircraft was flying an almost perfect east to west heading usually reserved for military traffic. One interesting note is that it was not leaving a contrail. I routinely photograph B-52's, tankers, and fighter aircraft transitioning over my home at or about that altitude and they almost always leave contrails.
aircraft-identification
New contributor
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|
show 1 more comment
$begingroup$
Yesterday afternoon I photographed a Boeing 777-300ER flying over my home, according to radar data it was at approximately 32,000 ft. In the photograph there is another aircraft present, it is much smaller and higher in altitude (40,000-50,000 ft) and it is a small aircraft, possibly a drone or military. It did not appear on any flight tracking sites. I usually see military traffic flying in that particular route and heading. I have numerous "raw" images of this particular aircraft.
I originally though it may be an L-39 although that particular aircraft does not have a T tail design and I think that it would struggle at that altitude. The photographs were taken at 1545 EST over the LVZ VOR.
The aircraft was flying an almost perfect east to west heading usually reserved for military traffic. One interesting note is that it was not leaving a contrail. I routinely photograph B-52's, tankers, and fighter aircraft transitioning over my home at or about that altitude and they almost always leave contrails.
aircraft-identification
New contributor
$endgroup$
4
$begingroup$
welcome to aviation.SE. If you want help identifying an aircraft, you will have to provide your data here in the open, we don't do anything via other means.
$endgroup$
– Federico♦
yesterday
$begingroup$
Also note that after enlarging it appears to be a single "inline jet" engine configuration similar to a U-2's fuselage? Thanks Joseph
$endgroup$
– user38075
yesterday
2
$begingroup$
I asked a co-worker who flew U-2 and he says that to his knowledge all the wings used have a taper on the rear. But he has not flown ALL the variants. Also he points out that there are no visible pods for sensors, which is common with operational flights. Plus the paint schemes on all the U-2 that he has seen as operational are low reflectivity paints, and would not appear as in the photo. How about giving us more data on your photo acquisition details?
$endgroup$
– mongo
yesterday
2
$begingroup$
as you seem to have created 2 accounts, please have a look on how to merge them and regain control over the question: aviation.stackexchange.com/help/merging-accounts
$endgroup$
– Federico♦
yesterday
1
$begingroup$
please use the edit functionality, if you want to add information.
$endgroup$
– Federico♦
yesterday
|
show 1 more comment
$begingroup$
Yesterday afternoon I photographed a Boeing 777-300ER flying over my home, according to radar data it was at approximately 32,000 ft. In the photograph there is another aircraft present, it is much smaller and higher in altitude (40,000-50,000 ft) and it is a small aircraft, possibly a drone or military. It did not appear on any flight tracking sites. I usually see military traffic flying in that particular route and heading. I have numerous "raw" images of this particular aircraft.
I originally though it may be an L-39 although that particular aircraft does not have a T tail design and I think that it would struggle at that altitude. The photographs were taken at 1545 EST over the LVZ VOR.
The aircraft was flying an almost perfect east to west heading usually reserved for military traffic. One interesting note is that it was not leaving a contrail. I routinely photograph B-52's, tankers, and fighter aircraft transitioning over my home at or about that altitude and they almost always leave contrails.
aircraft-identification
New contributor
$endgroup$
Yesterday afternoon I photographed a Boeing 777-300ER flying over my home, according to radar data it was at approximately 32,000 ft. In the photograph there is another aircraft present, it is much smaller and higher in altitude (40,000-50,000 ft) and it is a small aircraft, possibly a drone or military. It did not appear on any flight tracking sites. I usually see military traffic flying in that particular route and heading. I have numerous "raw" images of this particular aircraft.
I originally though it may be an L-39 although that particular aircraft does not have a T tail design and I think that it would struggle at that altitude. The photographs were taken at 1545 EST over the LVZ VOR.
The aircraft was flying an almost perfect east to west heading usually reserved for military traffic. One interesting note is that it was not leaving a contrail. I routinely photograph B-52's, tankers, and fighter aircraft transitioning over my home at or about that altitude and they almost always leave contrails.
aircraft-identification
aircraft-identification
New contributor
New contributor
edited 18 hours ago
ymb1
67.4k7213357
67.4k7213357
New contributor
asked yesterday
user38075user38075
14123
14123
New contributor
New contributor
4
$begingroup$
welcome to aviation.SE. If you want help identifying an aircraft, you will have to provide your data here in the open, we don't do anything via other means.
$endgroup$
– Federico♦
yesterday
$begingroup$
Also note that after enlarging it appears to be a single "inline jet" engine configuration similar to a U-2's fuselage? Thanks Joseph
$endgroup$
– user38075
yesterday
2
$begingroup$
I asked a co-worker who flew U-2 and he says that to his knowledge all the wings used have a taper on the rear. But he has not flown ALL the variants. Also he points out that there are no visible pods for sensors, which is common with operational flights. Plus the paint schemes on all the U-2 that he has seen as operational are low reflectivity paints, and would not appear as in the photo. How about giving us more data on your photo acquisition details?
$endgroup$
– mongo
yesterday
2
$begingroup$
as you seem to have created 2 accounts, please have a look on how to merge them and regain control over the question: aviation.stackexchange.com/help/merging-accounts
$endgroup$
– Federico♦
yesterday
1
$begingroup$
please use the edit functionality, if you want to add information.
$endgroup$
– Federico♦
yesterday
|
show 1 more comment
4
$begingroup$
welcome to aviation.SE. If you want help identifying an aircraft, you will have to provide your data here in the open, we don't do anything via other means.
$endgroup$
– Federico♦
yesterday
$begingroup$
Also note that after enlarging it appears to be a single "inline jet" engine configuration similar to a U-2's fuselage? Thanks Joseph
$endgroup$
– user38075
yesterday
2
$begingroup$
I asked a co-worker who flew U-2 and he says that to his knowledge all the wings used have a taper on the rear. But he has not flown ALL the variants. Also he points out that there are no visible pods for sensors, which is common with operational flights. Plus the paint schemes on all the U-2 that he has seen as operational are low reflectivity paints, and would not appear as in the photo. How about giving us more data on your photo acquisition details?
$endgroup$
– mongo
yesterday
2
$begingroup$
as you seem to have created 2 accounts, please have a look on how to merge them and regain control over the question: aviation.stackexchange.com/help/merging-accounts
$endgroup$
– Federico♦
yesterday
1
$begingroup$
please use the edit functionality, if you want to add information.
$endgroup$
– Federico♦
yesterday
4
4
$begingroup$
welcome to aviation.SE. If you want help identifying an aircraft, you will have to provide your data here in the open, we don't do anything via other means.
$endgroup$
– Federico♦
yesterday
$begingroup$
welcome to aviation.SE. If you want help identifying an aircraft, you will have to provide your data here in the open, we don't do anything via other means.
$endgroup$
– Federico♦
yesterday
$begingroup$
Also note that after enlarging it appears to be a single "inline jet" engine configuration similar to a U-2's fuselage? Thanks Joseph
$endgroup$
– user38075
yesterday
$begingroup$
Also note that after enlarging it appears to be a single "inline jet" engine configuration similar to a U-2's fuselage? Thanks Joseph
$endgroup$
– user38075
yesterday
2
2
$begingroup$
I asked a co-worker who flew U-2 and he says that to his knowledge all the wings used have a taper on the rear. But he has not flown ALL the variants. Also he points out that there are no visible pods for sensors, which is common with operational flights. Plus the paint schemes on all the U-2 that he has seen as operational are low reflectivity paints, and would not appear as in the photo. How about giving us more data on your photo acquisition details?
$endgroup$
– mongo
yesterday
$begingroup$
I asked a co-worker who flew U-2 and he says that to his knowledge all the wings used have a taper on the rear. But he has not flown ALL the variants. Also he points out that there are no visible pods for sensors, which is common with operational flights. Plus the paint schemes on all the U-2 that he has seen as operational are low reflectivity paints, and would not appear as in the photo. How about giving us more data on your photo acquisition details?
$endgroup$
– mongo
yesterday
2
2
$begingroup$
as you seem to have created 2 accounts, please have a look on how to merge them and regain control over the question: aviation.stackexchange.com/help/merging-accounts
$endgroup$
– Federico♦
yesterday
$begingroup$
as you seem to have created 2 accounts, please have a look on how to merge them and regain control over the question: aviation.stackexchange.com/help/merging-accounts
$endgroup$
– Federico♦
yesterday
1
1
$begingroup$
please use the edit functionality, if you want to add information.
$endgroup$
– Federico♦
yesterday
$begingroup$
please use the edit functionality, if you want to add information.
$endgroup$
– Federico♦
yesterday
|
show 1 more comment
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
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Using the location you gave, I tracked back aircraft in that area at that time, and found a scenario that fits with your photo:
(Source: Flightradar24)
So, judging by that, the jet in question is actually a Learjet 31, as said by John K.
Here are some blueprints, and the dimensions are similar:
New contributor
$endgroup$
7
$begingroup$
Wow well done!!
$endgroup$
– John K
yesterday
22
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I did a bit of pixel measuring. In the image, the Boeing 777-300ER is 87 pixels long; the Learjet is about 12 pixels long. A 777-300ER in 75 m long; a Learjet 31A is 15 m long. Putting all of these numbers together, we can infer that the Learjet was roughly 1.5 times farther from the camera than the Boeing. That's not too far off from the reported altitudes of 32,000 and 45,000 feet, particularly if the OP was at a higher elevation.
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– Michael Seifert
yesterday
$begingroup$
any idea why the plane didn't leave a trail?
$endgroup$
– Manuki
13 hours ago
4
$begingroup$
@Manuki Contrails require specific atmospheric conditions that may be present at one altitude but not another.
$endgroup$
– ceejayoz
13 hours ago
$begingroup$
(I should note that my pixel values above applied to the size of the original image on my screen. The image has since been changed, and I apparently wasn't viewing it at the highest possible resolution. But the basic logic still holds.)
$endgroup$
– Michael Seifert
9 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I'd say it's a corporate jet. Corporate jets normally play between 40-55000 ft, above the bulk of the airline traffic down in the 30s, so this is a perfectly normal sight.
Based on the wing planform with straight trailing edge and swept leading edge, and what looks like a T tail and ventral fins, I'm going with Lear 45 or a similar Lear variant (Service ceiling 51000 ft). The viewing aspect doesn't look like from directly below so the engines won't stick out very clearly.
$endgroup$
3
$begingroup$
And, if you look carefully at the OP's photo, you can actually see a hint of something just behind the wings, in exactly the right place for the engines on a Learjet.
$endgroup$
– Sean
yesterday
$begingroup$
What is the reason for this separation of flight levels?
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– koalo
13 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Corporate airplanes just tend to have higher service ceilings, in the 50k range, while most airliners are in the low 40ish range, and generally operate between 30 and 40. It's unusual to operate right at your service ceiling - you have no surplus energy margin to speak of and it can take forever to get there - unless you are unusually light. You have to monitor your speed very carefully. If you slow down too much you have no choice but to descend.
$endgroup$
– John K
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
@JohnK: IIRC, the most fuel-efficient altitude is around the tropopause, so higher than ~36k isn't better. Just because corporate jets can fly higher doesn't fully explain why they routinely do. But since they can while airliners can't, corporate jets fly higher to stay out of the way?
$endgroup$
– Peter Cordes
2 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
I'd say it's mainly no traffic, and at least in the middle latitudes, you can fly over anvils with decent margin and avoid most CAT, which is usually associated with jets that reside at the tropopause at frontal boundaries. If you're crossing the Atlantic, you can go straight across without having to run in the NA tracks which top out at 41.
$endgroup$
– John K
2 hours ago
add a comment |
protected by Federico♦ yesterday
Thank you for your interest in this question.
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Using the location you gave, I tracked back aircraft in that area at that time, and found a scenario that fits with your photo:
(Source: Flightradar24)
So, judging by that, the jet in question is actually a Learjet 31, as said by John K.
Here are some blueprints, and the dimensions are similar:
New contributor
$endgroup$
7
$begingroup$
Wow well done!!
$endgroup$
– John K
yesterday
22
$begingroup$
I did a bit of pixel measuring. In the image, the Boeing 777-300ER is 87 pixels long; the Learjet is about 12 pixels long. A 777-300ER in 75 m long; a Learjet 31A is 15 m long. Putting all of these numbers together, we can infer that the Learjet was roughly 1.5 times farther from the camera than the Boeing. That's not too far off from the reported altitudes of 32,000 and 45,000 feet, particularly if the OP was at a higher elevation.
$endgroup$
– Michael Seifert
yesterday
$begingroup$
any idea why the plane didn't leave a trail?
$endgroup$
– Manuki
13 hours ago
4
$begingroup$
@Manuki Contrails require specific atmospheric conditions that may be present at one altitude but not another.
$endgroup$
– ceejayoz
13 hours ago
$begingroup$
(I should note that my pixel values above applied to the size of the original image on my screen. The image has since been changed, and I apparently wasn't viewing it at the highest possible resolution. But the basic logic still holds.)
$endgroup$
– Michael Seifert
9 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Using the location you gave, I tracked back aircraft in that area at that time, and found a scenario that fits with your photo:
(Source: Flightradar24)
So, judging by that, the jet in question is actually a Learjet 31, as said by John K.
Here are some blueprints, and the dimensions are similar:
New contributor
$endgroup$
7
$begingroup$
Wow well done!!
$endgroup$
– John K
yesterday
22
$begingroup$
I did a bit of pixel measuring. In the image, the Boeing 777-300ER is 87 pixels long; the Learjet is about 12 pixels long. A 777-300ER in 75 m long; a Learjet 31A is 15 m long. Putting all of these numbers together, we can infer that the Learjet was roughly 1.5 times farther from the camera than the Boeing. That's not too far off from the reported altitudes of 32,000 and 45,000 feet, particularly if the OP was at a higher elevation.
$endgroup$
– Michael Seifert
yesterday
$begingroup$
any idea why the plane didn't leave a trail?
$endgroup$
– Manuki
13 hours ago
4
$begingroup$
@Manuki Contrails require specific atmospheric conditions that may be present at one altitude but not another.
$endgroup$
– ceejayoz
13 hours ago
$begingroup$
(I should note that my pixel values above applied to the size of the original image on my screen. The image has since been changed, and I apparently wasn't viewing it at the highest possible resolution. But the basic logic still holds.)
$endgroup$
– Michael Seifert
9 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Using the location you gave, I tracked back aircraft in that area at that time, and found a scenario that fits with your photo:
(Source: Flightradar24)
So, judging by that, the jet in question is actually a Learjet 31, as said by John K.
Here are some blueprints, and the dimensions are similar:
New contributor
$endgroup$
Using the location you gave, I tracked back aircraft in that area at that time, and found a scenario that fits with your photo:
(Source: Flightradar24)
So, judging by that, the jet in question is actually a Learjet 31, as said by John K.
Here are some blueprints, and the dimensions are similar:
New contributor
edited 18 hours ago
ymb1
67.4k7213357
67.4k7213357
New contributor
answered yesterday
LFSSLFSS
55115
55115
New contributor
New contributor
7
$begingroup$
Wow well done!!
$endgroup$
– John K
yesterday
22
$begingroup$
I did a bit of pixel measuring. In the image, the Boeing 777-300ER is 87 pixels long; the Learjet is about 12 pixels long. A 777-300ER in 75 m long; a Learjet 31A is 15 m long. Putting all of these numbers together, we can infer that the Learjet was roughly 1.5 times farther from the camera than the Boeing. That's not too far off from the reported altitudes of 32,000 and 45,000 feet, particularly if the OP was at a higher elevation.
$endgroup$
– Michael Seifert
yesterday
$begingroup$
any idea why the plane didn't leave a trail?
$endgroup$
– Manuki
13 hours ago
4
$begingroup$
@Manuki Contrails require specific atmospheric conditions that may be present at one altitude but not another.
$endgroup$
– ceejayoz
13 hours ago
$begingroup$
(I should note that my pixel values above applied to the size of the original image on my screen. The image has since been changed, and I apparently wasn't viewing it at the highest possible resolution. But the basic logic still holds.)
$endgroup$
– Michael Seifert
9 hours ago
add a comment |
7
$begingroup$
Wow well done!!
$endgroup$
– John K
yesterday
22
$begingroup$
I did a bit of pixel measuring. In the image, the Boeing 777-300ER is 87 pixels long; the Learjet is about 12 pixels long. A 777-300ER in 75 m long; a Learjet 31A is 15 m long. Putting all of these numbers together, we can infer that the Learjet was roughly 1.5 times farther from the camera than the Boeing. That's not too far off from the reported altitudes of 32,000 and 45,000 feet, particularly if the OP was at a higher elevation.
$endgroup$
– Michael Seifert
yesterday
$begingroup$
any idea why the plane didn't leave a trail?
$endgroup$
– Manuki
13 hours ago
4
$begingroup$
@Manuki Contrails require specific atmospheric conditions that may be present at one altitude but not another.
$endgroup$
– ceejayoz
13 hours ago
$begingroup$
(I should note that my pixel values above applied to the size of the original image on my screen. The image has since been changed, and I apparently wasn't viewing it at the highest possible resolution. But the basic logic still holds.)
$endgroup$
– Michael Seifert
9 hours ago
7
7
$begingroup$
Wow well done!!
$endgroup$
– John K
yesterday
$begingroup$
Wow well done!!
$endgroup$
– John K
yesterday
22
22
$begingroup$
I did a bit of pixel measuring. In the image, the Boeing 777-300ER is 87 pixels long; the Learjet is about 12 pixels long. A 777-300ER in 75 m long; a Learjet 31A is 15 m long. Putting all of these numbers together, we can infer that the Learjet was roughly 1.5 times farther from the camera than the Boeing. That's not too far off from the reported altitudes of 32,000 and 45,000 feet, particularly if the OP was at a higher elevation.
$endgroup$
– Michael Seifert
yesterday
$begingroup$
I did a bit of pixel measuring. In the image, the Boeing 777-300ER is 87 pixels long; the Learjet is about 12 pixels long. A 777-300ER in 75 m long; a Learjet 31A is 15 m long. Putting all of these numbers together, we can infer that the Learjet was roughly 1.5 times farther from the camera than the Boeing. That's not too far off from the reported altitudes of 32,000 and 45,000 feet, particularly if the OP was at a higher elevation.
$endgroup$
– Michael Seifert
yesterday
$begingroup$
any idea why the plane didn't leave a trail?
$endgroup$
– Manuki
13 hours ago
$begingroup$
any idea why the plane didn't leave a trail?
$endgroup$
– Manuki
13 hours ago
4
4
$begingroup$
@Manuki Contrails require specific atmospheric conditions that may be present at one altitude but not another.
$endgroup$
– ceejayoz
13 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Manuki Contrails require specific atmospheric conditions that may be present at one altitude but not another.
$endgroup$
– ceejayoz
13 hours ago
$begingroup$
(I should note that my pixel values above applied to the size of the original image on my screen. The image has since been changed, and I apparently wasn't viewing it at the highest possible resolution. But the basic logic still holds.)
$endgroup$
– Michael Seifert
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
(I should note that my pixel values above applied to the size of the original image on my screen. The image has since been changed, and I apparently wasn't viewing it at the highest possible resolution. But the basic logic still holds.)
$endgroup$
– Michael Seifert
9 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I'd say it's a corporate jet. Corporate jets normally play between 40-55000 ft, above the bulk of the airline traffic down in the 30s, so this is a perfectly normal sight.
Based on the wing planform with straight trailing edge and swept leading edge, and what looks like a T tail and ventral fins, I'm going with Lear 45 or a similar Lear variant (Service ceiling 51000 ft). The viewing aspect doesn't look like from directly below so the engines won't stick out very clearly.
$endgroup$
3
$begingroup$
And, if you look carefully at the OP's photo, you can actually see a hint of something just behind the wings, in exactly the right place for the engines on a Learjet.
$endgroup$
– Sean
yesterday
$begingroup$
What is the reason for this separation of flight levels?
$endgroup$
– koalo
13 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Corporate airplanes just tend to have higher service ceilings, in the 50k range, while most airliners are in the low 40ish range, and generally operate between 30 and 40. It's unusual to operate right at your service ceiling - you have no surplus energy margin to speak of and it can take forever to get there - unless you are unusually light. You have to monitor your speed very carefully. If you slow down too much you have no choice but to descend.
$endgroup$
– John K
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
@JohnK: IIRC, the most fuel-efficient altitude is around the tropopause, so higher than ~36k isn't better. Just because corporate jets can fly higher doesn't fully explain why they routinely do. But since they can while airliners can't, corporate jets fly higher to stay out of the way?
$endgroup$
– Peter Cordes
2 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
I'd say it's mainly no traffic, and at least in the middle latitudes, you can fly over anvils with decent margin and avoid most CAT, which is usually associated with jets that reside at the tropopause at frontal boundaries. If you're crossing the Atlantic, you can go straight across without having to run in the NA tracks which top out at 41.
$endgroup$
– John K
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I'd say it's a corporate jet. Corporate jets normally play between 40-55000 ft, above the bulk of the airline traffic down in the 30s, so this is a perfectly normal sight.
Based on the wing planform with straight trailing edge and swept leading edge, and what looks like a T tail and ventral fins, I'm going with Lear 45 or a similar Lear variant (Service ceiling 51000 ft). The viewing aspect doesn't look like from directly below so the engines won't stick out very clearly.
$endgroup$
3
$begingroup$
And, if you look carefully at the OP's photo, you can actually see a hint of something just behind the wings, in exactly the right place for the engines on a Learjet.
$endgroup$
– Sean
yesterday
$begingroup$
What is the reason for this separation of flight levels?
$endgroup$
– koalo
13 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Corporate airplanes just tend to have higher service ceilings, in the 50k range, while most airliners are in the low 40ish range, and generally operate between 30 and 40. It's unusual to operate right at your service ceiling - you have no surplus energy margin to speak of and it can take forever to get there - unless you are unusually light. You have to monitor your speed very carefully. If you slow down too much you have no choice but to descend.
$endgroup$
– John K
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
@JohnK: IIRC, the most fuel-efficient altitude is around the tropopause, so higher than ~36k isn't better. Just because corporate jets can fly higher doesn't fully explain why they routinely do. But since they can while airliners can't, corporate jets fly higher to stay out of the way?
$endgroup$
– Peter Cordes
2 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
I'd say it's mainly no traffic, and at least in the middle latitudes, you can fly over anvils with decent margin and avoid most CAT, which is usually associated with jets that reside at the tropopause at frontal boundaries. If you're crossing the Atlantic, you can go straight across without having to run in the NA tracks which top out at 41.
$endgroup$
– John K
2 hours ago
add a comment |
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I'd say it's a corporate jet. Corporate jets normally play between 40-55000 ft, above the bulk of the airline traffic down in the 30s, so this is a perfectly normal sight.
Based on the wing planform with straight trailing edge and swept leading edge, and what looks like a T tail and ventral fins, I'm going with Lear 45 or a similar Lear variant (Service ceiling 51000 ft). The viewing aspect doesn't look like from directly below so the engines won't stick out very clearly.
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I'd say it's a corporate jet. Corporate jets normally play between 40-55000 ft, above the bulk of the airline traffic down in the 30s, so this is a perfectly normal sight.
Based on the wing planform with straight trailing edge and swept leading edge, and what looks like a T tail and ventral fins, I'm going with Lear 45 or a similar Lear variant (Service ceiling 51000 ft). The viewing aspect doesn't look like from directly below so the engines won't stick out very clearly.
edited yesterday
reirab
14.1k139108
14.1k139108
answered yesterday
John KJohn K
22.3k13166
22.3k13166
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And, if you look carefully at the OP's photo, you can actually see a hint of something just behind the wings, in exactly the right place for the engines on a Learjet.
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– Sean
yesterday
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What is the reason for this separation of flight levels?
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– koalo
13 hours ago
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Corporate airplanes just tend to have higher service ceilings, in the 50k range, while most airliners are in the low 40ish range, and generally operate between 30 and 40. It's unusual to operate right at your service ceiling - you have no surplus energy margin to speak of and it can take forever to get there - unless you are unusually light. You have to monitor your speed very carefully. If you slow down too much you have no choice but to descend.
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– John K
9 hours ago
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@JohnK: IIRC, the most fuel-efficient altitude is around the tropopause, so higher than ~36k isn't better. Just because corporate jets can fly higher doesn't fully explain why they routinely do. But since they can while airliners can't, corporate jets fly higher to stay out of the way?
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– Peter Cordes
2 hours ago
1
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I'd say it's mainly no traffic, and at least in the middle latitudes, you can fly over anvils with decent margin and avoid most CAT, which is usually associated with jets that reside at the tropopause at frontal boundaries. If you're crossing the Atlantic, you can go straight across without having to run in the NA tracks which top out at 41.
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– John K
2 hours ago
add a comment |
3
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And, if you look carefully at the OP's photo, you can actually see a hint of something just behind the wings, in exactly the right place for the engines on a Learjet.
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– Sean
yesterday
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What is the reason for this separation of flight levels?
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– koalo
13 hours ago
1
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Corporate airplanes just tend to have higher service ceilings, in the 50k range, while most airliners are in the low 40ish range, and generally operate between 30 and 40. It's unusual to operate right at your service ceiling - you have no surplus energy margin to speak of and it can take forever to get there - unless you are unusually light. You have to monitor your speed very carefully. If you slow down too much you have no choice but to descend.
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– John K
9 hours ago
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@JohnK: IIRC, the most fuel-efficient altitude is around the tropopause, so higher than ~36k isn't better. Just because corporate jets can fly higher doesn't fully explain why they routinely do. But since they can while airliners can't, corporate jets fly higher to stay out of the way?
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– Peter Cordes
2 hours ago
1
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I'd say it's mainly no traffic, and at least in the middle latitudes, you can fly over anvils with decent margin and avoid most CAT, which is usually associated with jets that reside at the tropopause at frontal boundaries. If you're crossing the Atlantic, you can go straight across without having to run in the NA tracks which top out at 41.
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– John K
2 hours ago
3
3
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And, if you look carefully at the OP's photo, you can actually see a hint of something just behind the wings, in exactly the right place for the engines on a Learjet.
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– Sean
yesterday
$begingroup$
And, if you look carefully at the OP's photo, you can actually see a hint of something just behind the wings, in exactly the right place for the engines on a Learjet.
$endgroup$
– Sean
yesterday
$begingroup$
What is the reason for this separation of flight levels?
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– koalo
13 hours ago
$begingroup$
What is the reason for this separation of flight levels?
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– koalo
13 hours ago
1
1
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Corporate airplanes just tend to have higher service ceilings, in the 50k range, while most airliners are in the low 40ish range, and generally operate between 30 and 40. It's unusual to operate right at your service ceiling - you have no surplus energy margin to speak of and it can take forever to get there - unless you are unusually light. You have to monitor your speed very carefully. If you slow down too much you have no choice but to descend.
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– John K
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
Corporate airplanes just tend to have higher service ceilings, in the 50k range, while most airliners are in the low 40ish range, and generally operate between 30 and 40. It's unusual to operate right at your service ceiling - you have no surplus energy margin to speak of and it can take forever to get there - unless you are unusually light. You have to monitor your speed very carefully. If you slow down too much you have no choice but to descend.
$endgroup$
– John K
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
@JohnK: IIRC, the most fuel-efficient altitude is around the tropopause, so higher than ~36k isn't better. Just because corporate jets can fly higher doesn't fully explain why they routinely do. But since they can while airliners can't, corporate jets fly higher to stay out of the way?
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– Peter Cordes
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
@JohnK: IIRC, the most fuel-efficient altitude is around the tropopause, so higher than ~36k isn't better. Just because corporate jets can fly higher doesn't fully explain why they routinely do. But since they can while airliners can't, corporate jets fly higher to stay out of the way?
$endgroup$
– Peter Cordes
2 hours ago
1
1
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I'd say it's mainly no traffic, and at least in the middle latitudes, you can fly over anvils with decent margin and avoid most CAT, which is usually associated with jets that reside at the tropopause at frontal boundaries. If you're crossing the Atlantic, you can go straight across without having to run in the NA tracks which top out at 41.
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– John K
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
I'd say it's mainly no traffic, and at least in the middle latitudes, you can fly over anvils with decent margin and avoid most CAT, which is usually associated with jets that reside at the tropopause at frontal boundaries. If you're crossing the Atlantic, you can go straight across without having to run in the NA tracks which top out at 41.
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– John K
2 hours ago
add a comment |
protected by Federico♦ yesterday
Thank you for your interest in this question.
Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).
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welcome to aviation.SE. If you want help identifying an aircraft, you will have to provide your data here in the open, we don't do anything via other means.
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– Federico♦
yesterday
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Also note that after enlarging it appears to be a single "inline jet" engine configuration similar to a U-2's fuselage? Thanks Joseph
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– user38075
yesterday
2
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I asked a co-worker who flew U-2 and he says that to his knowledge all the wings used have a taper on the rear. But he has not flown ALL the variants. Also he points out that there are no visible pods for sensors, which is common with operational flights. Plus the paint schemes on all the U-2 that he has seen as operational are low reflectivity paints, and would not appear as in the photo. How about giving us more data on your photo acquisition details?
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– mongo
yesterday
2
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as you seem to have created 2 accounts, please have a look on how to merge them and regain control over the question: aviation.stackexchange.com/help/merging-accounts
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– Federico♦
yesterday
1
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please use the edit functionality, if you want to add information.
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– Federico♦
yesterday