Highest Sustained Altitude
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2003
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 977
Likes: 121
From: Oz
Highest Sustained Altitude
A number of threads on here have mentioned zoom climb records, such as the 124,000ft by a Mig 25.
Does anyone one know the highest level flight altitude by an fighter type.
Does anyone one know the highest level flight altitude by an fighter type.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Joined: Dec 2002
Aviation Qualifications: Military (Retired)
Posts: 16,700
Likes: 54
From: Lincolnshire
ORAC, a point and a question.
First that was an experimental aircraft and therefore not strictly speaking a fighter.
Secondly, I was under the impression that service ceiling was the altitude at which the rate of climb dropped below 500 feet per minute and not necessarily the highest sustained altitude.
First that was an experimental aircraft and therefore not strictly speaking a fighter.
Secondly, I was under the impression that service ceiling was the altitude at which the rate of climb dropped below 500 feet per minute and not necessarily the highest sustained altitude.
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,344
Likes: 0
From: Nomadic
F-111 used to get to 50,000', but it was still in a climb and not 'sustained' level, I guess that doesn't count..
..was also accelerating at M2.5 up there, had to stop the climb (no pressure suit
), and had to stop the acceleration, (Skin temperature limit
)......
I am definitely aware that other jets could out do this....
..was also accelerating at M2.5 up there, had to stop the climb (no pressure suit), and had to stop the acceleration, (Skin temperature limit)......I am definitely aware that other jets could out do this....
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Joined: Dec 2002
Aviation Qualifications: Military (Retired)
Posts: 16,700
Likes: 54
From: Lincolnshire
LJR, sustained was the question.
For instance, in theory, the Vulcan could cruise at or above 56,000 feet albeit with a bank angle limit of 15 deg and a Mig 21 could intercept a Vulcan at that altitude but could not sustain level flight.
For instance, in theory, the Vulcan could cruise at or above 56,000 feet albeit with a bank angle limit of 15 deg and a Mig 21 could intercept a Vulcan at that altitude but could not sustain level flight.
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 214
Likes: 7
From: pluto
Wasn"t the standard GR3s airtest to 54000' level, and pushing to zero g at 50000' to see if it would surge. It"s a long time ago and I don't have my notes handy, so it might be just a recurring nightmare - it's a dark and lonely place up there.
Last edited by blimey; 20th August 2012 at 10:19.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Joined: Dec 2002
Aviation Qualifications: Military (Retired)
Posts: 16,700
Likes: 54
From: Lincolnshire
Surely someone must know of a fighter that could sustain stable high altitude flight greater than 50,000 feet. Obviously that is near the limit for a subsonic fighter. Much above that we have to be supesonic.
Joined: May 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 18,633
Likes: 1,072
From: Downeast
The F-4 back in 1959 got to just shy of a 100,000 feet....which is pretty interesting. But...the F-15 is no plow horse either.
The single-seat F15A on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, nicknamed "Streak Eagle," broke eight time-to-climb world records between Jan. 16 and Feb. 1, 1975. In setting the last of the eight records, it reached an altitude of 98,425 feet just 3 minutes, 27.8 seconds from brake release at takeoff and "coasted" to nearly 103,000 feet before descending. It was flown in its natural metal finish to reduce weight for the record-setting flights. To protect it from corrosion, McDonnell Douglas Corp. has since painted it in the gray color scheme of most operational F-15s.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Joined: Dec 2002
Aviation Qualifications: Military (Retired)
Posts: 16,700
Likes: 54
From: Lincolnshire
Come on guys, RTFQ, highest SUSTAINED level flight by a FIGHTER, none of this I'll see your U2 and raise you by an SR71.
Joined: May 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 18,633
Likes: 1,072
From: Downeast
Service Ceiling 90,000 feet....pretty well takes the cake I believe.
Air Force testing
YF-12A
During flight tests the YF-12As set a speed record of 2,070.101 mph (3,331.505 km/h) and altitude record of 80,257.86 ft (24,462.6 m), both on 1 May 1965,[9] and demonstrated promising results with their unique weapon system. Six successful firings of the AIM-47 missiles were completed. The last one launched from the YF-12 at Mach 3.2 at an altitude of 74,000 ft (22,677 m) to a JQB-47E target drone 500 ft (152 m) off the ground.[13] One of the Air Force test pilots, Jim Irwin would go on to become a NASA astronaut and walk on the Moon.
The program was abandoned following the cancellation of the production F-12B, but the YF-12s continued flying for many years with the USAF and with NASA as research aircraft.
YF-12A
During flight tests the YF-12As set a speed record of 2,070.101 mph (3,331.505 km/h) and altitude record of 80,257.86 ft (24,462.6 m), both on 1 May 1965,[9] and demonstrated promising results with their unique weapon system. Six successful firings of the AIM-47 missiles were completed. The last one launched from the YF-12 at Mach 3.2 at an altitude of 74,000 ft (22,677 m) to a JQB-47E target drone 500 ft (152 m) off the ground.[13] One of the Air Force test pilots, Jim Irwin would go on to become a NASA astronaut and walk on the Moon.
The program was abandoned following the cancellation of the production F-12B, but the YF-12s continued flying for many years with the USAF and with NASA as research aircraft.
Last edited by SASless; 20th August 2012 at 14:17.
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,682
Likes: 63
From: Far West Wessex
Absent having my books in front of me, I would say that the highest sustained altitude (level flight, no airframe limits in the red) by an operational fighter would probably be the MiG-25 or MiG-31. I am pretty sure that the MiG-25 recce models would make runs at 70,000 feet or above, and the airframe was much the same as the interceptors.
Joined: May 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 18,633
Likes: 1,072
From: Downeast
Granted it is not a "Fighter" but would not the Space Shuttle easily claim the all time record as it takes off on its own power....and lands back at the point of takeoff on its own wings?
Joined: Aug 2012
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 343
Likes: 173
From: Scotland
Su-27 62,500
F-15 65,000
F-22 65,000 (although not at the moment)
MiG-31 67,600
MiG-25 was 80,000+ & the U-2 although not a fighter (but based partly on one) dodged the undertaker at 70,000+.
F-15 65,000
F-22 65,000 (although not at the moment)
MiG-31 67,600
MiG-25 was 80,000+ & the U-2 although not a fighter (but based partly on one) dodged the undertaker at 70,000+.
Last edited by Thrust Augmentation; 20th August 2012 at 20:52.