Highest Observed Groundspeed/Wind Speed
Mach 3
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 1998
Location: Stratosphere
Posts: 622
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Highest Observed Groundspeed/Wind Speed
I'm just curious as to what kind of groundspeeds and wind speeds aloft, operators have seen...
I've seen 575kts in a 735.
On another day, I've seen a wind of 174kts at FL290. Luckily all crosswind.
Any others care to contribute?
I've seen 575kts in a 735.
On another day, I've seen a wind of 174kts at FL290. Luckily all crosswind.
Any others care to contribute?
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,843
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My 'Personal Best" is 660 Kt in a B727 against a TAS of 480 Kt, a wind component of +180 Kt. Figured that it was the equivalent of M 1.1 in still air, and always pondered whether people on the ground could hear us coming or not.
My 'Personal Worst" is 320 Kt in a B777 against a TAS of 500 Kt, a wind component of -180 Kt. Over Japan of course, where else?
My 'Personal Worst" is 320 Kt in a B777 against a TAS of 500 Kt, a wind component of -180 Kt. Over Japan of course, where else?
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: NAT TRACK FOX
Posts: 160
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Get 621GS over the North Atlantic in 1999.
I didn't know that there was a record book for that.
Next time I will take a foto of that on Nav Display
Bons vents ( Wish to all happy tail wind)
A+
I didn't know that there was a record book for that.
Next time I will take a foto of that on Nav Display
Bons vents ( Wish to all happy tail wind)
A+
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
posted by OldSmokey
well, you would not have dropped a boom because it is AIRSPEED that counts not groundspeed.
My 'Personal Best" is 660 Kt in a B727 against a TAS of 480 Kt, a wind component of +180 Kt. Figured that it was the equivalent of M 1.1 in still air, and always pondered whether people on the ground could hear us coming or not.
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Hongkers
Posts: 469
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ground speeds of over 600kts are a fairly common occurrence in jetstream conditions during certain times of the year.
Seeing a groundspeed difference on the radar of 300 kts between opposite direction traffic who are both pedalling at .84 is a good demonstration of TAS vs GS to new ATC trainees.
I'll try and get a pic of the radar screen next time it happens.
Seeing a groundspeed difference on the radar of 300 kts between opposite direction traffic who are both pedalling at .84 is a good demonstration of TAS vs GS to new ATC trainees.
I'll try and get a pic of the radar screen next time it happens.
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Arizona USA
Posts: 8,571
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
the 'ole TriStar was faster...
...at least on this particular day.
FUK-NRT, L15, IMN .860, FL410, ground speed 728 knots.
Just wizzing right along
Even the ATC folks mentioned it was the fastest they had seen in a long time.
The co-pilot thought he should receive an astronaut badge...
FUK-NRT, L15, IMN .860, FL410, ground speed 728 knots.
Just wizzing right along
Even the ATC folks mentioned it was the fastest they had seen in a long time.
The co-pilot thought he should receive an astronaut badge...
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1992, Washington to LHR in a lightly loaded United (I think) 747 Classic and over the Atlantic the captain announced that for anyone interested we were in a jetstream with a ground speed of 710 knots. He added this was the fastest he's ever travelled.
Aviator Extraordinaire
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma USA
Age: 76
Posts: 2,394
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Fastest ground speed for me was also in a 72. 718 kts. one day from KBFI to KOKC, 2+03hrs liftoff to touchdown. On the decsent passing through FL 240 wind was still well over 150kts on the tail.
AND it was on a friday night with the weekend off!
AND it was on a friday night with the weekend off!
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Europe-the sunshine side
Posts: 755
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
606 kts GS on a 737 NG.
The interesting thing,when descending ,at about FL300,the wind speed went from 100kt aprox to about 25kt in less than 1000'. The result,sudden heavy turbulance,about 2.3g on FDR.
Not funny.
The interesting thing,when descending ,at about FL300,the wind speed went from 100kt aprox to about 25kt in less than 1000'. The result,sudden heavy turbulance,about 2.3g on FDR.
Not funny.
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: EU
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Back in 1991 I was the FO on a flight from LAX-AMS. We were presented with a flight plan that had an average tailwind component of 105 knots. On one section of our flight (around the US-Canadian border) I observed a ground speed of 722 knots. Our TAS was around 500 knots. The entire wind vector was on our tail at that time. The speed in excess of 700 knots lasted about 20 minutes. Since that time I have seen speeds in the high 600’s regularly, but never did I see 700 again. Our total flight time for the sector was 8 hours and 52 minutes. I believe it still stands as the fastest LAX-AMS flight for our company. Shows that it made an impact, being able to recall it with this amount of detail 13 years later.
Regards O.
Regards O.
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Theoretical Best
I know of a military flight (who log airborne to landing rather than chock to chock) flight from Cardiff (CWL) to St Athan, total distance about three miles. Logged to the nearest 5 min that was nil time. So, infinate speed!
Unless you are Shuttle pilot I guess this one takes the prize.
"In his book 'Sled Driver', SR-71 Blackbird pilot Brian Shul writes:
I'll always remember a certain radio exchange that occurred one day as
Walt (his back-seater) and I were screaming across Southern California,
13 miles high. We were monitoring various radio transmissions from other
aircraft as we entered Los Angeles airspace. Though they didn't really
control us, they did monitor our movement across their scope. I heard a
Cessna ask for a readout of its groundspeed.
'90 knots' Center replied.
Moments later, a Twin Beech required the same.
'120 knots' Center answered.
We weren't the only ones proud of our groundspeed that day. Almost
instantly an F/A 18 smugly transmitted:
'Ah, Center, Dusty 52 requests groundspeed readout'.
There was a slight pause, then the response:
'525 knots on the ground, Dusty'.
Another silent pause. As I was thinking to myself how ripe a situation this
was, I heard a familiar click of a radio transmission coming from my
back-seater. It was at that precise moment I realised Walt and I had become
a real crew, for we were both thinking in unison.
'Center, Aspen 20, you got a ground speed readout for us?'
There was a longer than normal pause:
'Aspen, I show 1742 knots'.
No further enquiries were heard on that frequency."
"In his book 'Sled Driver', SR-71 Blackbird pilot Brian Shul writes:
I'll always remember a certain radio exchange that occurred one day as
Walt (his back-seater) and I were screaming across Southern California,
13 miles high. We were monitoring various radio transmissions from other
aircraft as we entered Los Angeles airspace. Though they didn't really
control us, they did monitor our movement across their scope. I heard a
Cessna ask for a readout of its groundspeed.
'90 knots' Center replied.
Moments later, a Twin Beech required the same.
'120 knots' Center answered.
We weren't the only ones proud of our groundspeed that day. Almost
instantly an F/A 18 smugly transmitted:
'Ah, Center, Dusty 52 requests groundspeed readout'.
There was a slight pause, then the response:
'525 knots on the ground, Dusty'.
Another silent pause. As I was thinking to myself how ripe a situation this
was, I heard a familiar click of a radio transmission coming from my
back-seater. It was at that precise moment I realised Walt and I had become
a real crew, for we were both thinking in unison.
'Center, Aspen 20, you got a ground speed readout for us?'
There was a longer than normal pause:
'Aspen, I show 1742 knots'.
No further enquiries were heard on that frequency."
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Surrey UK
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The slowest cruise groundspeed I've ever seen in a 737 was on a PMI-LPL trip last winter - FL330, GS 289!! I think we had about 160kt of wind and were using a crappy Easyjet cost index (18 I think).
3 hours and 15 mins for the trip. I thought we were going backwards.
3 hours and 15 mins for the trip. I thought we were going backwards.