Planes, without a doubt, go fast. It’s a fundamental fact. They transport us across the globe at incredible speeds. But for most of us, they remain distant specks in the sky, leaving us oblivious to just how swiftly they move through the air. However, a fascinating video has emerged, offering a glimpse of the ‘real speed’ of passenger jets, debunking the illusion of sluggishness that often accompanies our view of them. This optical illusion is known as Motion Parallax and is related to how rapidly an object traverses our field of vision.
To put things in perspective, a car racing down the highway with scenery whizzing by seems much faster than an airplane cruising above, which lingers in our sight for longer. Nevertheless, this TikTok video bypasses the Motion Parallax effect and reveals the astounding speed of planes.
Surprisingly, this speed is regarded as being rather low in the field of aeronautics. While the Concorde supersonic jet formerly held sway thanks to its cruise speed of more than 1,340 mph, the 1960s-era Lockheed Martin SR-71 Blackbird now holds the record for the fastest air-breathing aircraft ever constructed. It could outrun surface-to-air missiles with an astounding top speed of 2,200 mph.
The movie shows an airplane smoothly gliding through the clouds, providing the sense of a leisurely voyage, departing from our normal distant perspectives. The quick pace is extremely striking and somewhat bizarre at cruising altitude.
The Boeing 737 featured in the video, a common commercial airliner, boasts a cruising speed of a jaw-dropping 545 miles per hour. It’s no wonder it zooms by in the video.
As for the intricate mechanics of flight, well, it remains a bit of a mystery to most of us. Engineers may explain it with terms like thrust, air pressure, and lift, but for many, it’s akin to magic.
In conclusion, the next time you gaze up at a plane soaring overhead, remember that what appears serene and slow from the ground is, in reality, a marvel of modern engineering hurtling through the sky at breathtaking speeds. It’s a testament to human ingenuity and the ceaseless pursuit of pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of aviation.
