Pedal to the Metal - Top Speed

[Gazeem]

I was just crossing an ETP the other day and wondering what altitude you should fly at for top speed.

Say that winds are calm at all levels on an ISA day, fuel is not an issue and you wanted to get somewhere ASAP (let's not get bogged down in airmanship issues) where would you go? Is higher better? Or would you descend to get a better TAS?

[OPEN DES]

Assuming ISA,nil wind: you want to maximise your TAS.

You should fly MMO/VMO at the mach/ias crossover altitude. This depends on the aircraft type (VMO/MMO ratio). FL260/FL300 is a ballpark figure.

Cheers

[FCS Explorer]

in my 738 speed limitations graph the Vmo and Mmo meet at 26000ft...

[411A]

FL310-330 at M.86 is high speed for the L1011....we do it all the time, unless restricted behind an Airboos...which is never good, as the European wonder is very s l o w.....hardly gets out of its own way.

[misd-agin]

Posted - You should fly MMO/VMO at the mach/ias crossover altitude. This depends on the aircraft type (VMO/MMO ratio).

I agree.

[Capn Bloggs]

411A,

FL310-330 at M.86 is high speed for the L1011

Is that at your Vmo? If not, you're not going as fast as you could...

[411A]

Is that at your Vmo? If not, you're not going as fast as you could...

Any faster and the First Officer starts squirming in his seat...

[Old Fella]

Tristar MMO

Try MMO 0.95 Mach. Cruise 0.90 Mach.

[Tight Slot]

411A, stuck behind an Airbooos? Down at FL330 - hmmm, I'd be up at at least 370 in in mine even at MTOW and gladly let you sail on under...

Regards