3 ms·

thinner the air, harder it is to generate lift as well. Coffin corner is a real thing.

• mhandley 2y ago
  Unless you're prepared to go supersonic. Not easy to do with electric propulsion though.
  • namibj 2y ago
    Scimitar props are pretty tame, though, or what part do you mean is hard?
  • russdill 2y ago
    Pretty sure for electric aircraft to do anything useful at supersonic speeds you'd need beamed energy. Which would be a pretty cool technology
• jmward01 2y ago
  if you stay subsonic. I hear the U-2 has like 1-2kt of leeway when it is at its max altitude because if it went faster it would be supersonic but any slower and it would fall out of the sky.
  • tonyarkles 2y ago
    To the point where, if you turned too hard, you could stall one wing tip while Mach buffeting the other.
    • FredPret 2y ago
      Obligatory plug for the excellent book Skunk Works by its former director, Ben Rich.
      • sidnb13 2y ago
        +1, immensely satisfying read for any aviation nut