Originally Posted by
G-CPTN
Today I watched a Tornado pass over at high altitude.
It took 'longer' to move out of my field of view than if it had been 'just skimming the rooftops' (which is the usual transit where I live on a low-flying corridor).
That would typically be true of any aircraft, it's just a function of how a given angle of view covers a lot more of an aircraft's flightpath at altitude compared to low level (think similar triangles).
What is the limit of cruising speed at 500 ft and 50,000 ft - does the speed of sound limit how fast aircraft can travel at altitude?
The Tornado can manage around M1.2 (clean) at sea level. Max speed at altitude is about M2.2.