Why Do airplanes have to go up at a very high altitude when traveling?

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Answers:

The aircraft runs much more efficiently at the higher altitudes, also it allows them to get over the bad weather - making the flight much more enjoyable for the passengers.

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The air is thinner which enables the plane to travel faster. Also less noise pollution.

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Get above nasty weather.... um use the gulf streams advantagiosly ?? because so it dosnt disturp the peace?? im sure there are more but thats what i got

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The air is thinner so the aircraft does not burn as much fuel. Also when they are flying that high, they don't have to worry about hitting anything on the ground.

what kind of plane..?

Yes I wish they would stay down a little lower for me to. Just in case I want to get out. I thank about 100 ft would be fine. you never know what's going to happen way up there in the sky do you?

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Gravity? Less gravity with more distance.

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Is the efficiency because more power is used pulling the plane forward rather than just keeping it up?

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I don't know but it is a good question.

Any engineers turned pilot here?

Overall the reason they go very high is because the higher you go the air is less dense and colder, and jet engines are more efficient in those conditions. And in the tropopause wich is way up high aprox 37,000 to 50,000 feet aprox.. where big jets fly you can find the Jet Stream that are streams of very fast moving air that if you get into it and have is as a tailwind you will fly much faster. And also to avoid some weather..

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aircraft must travel at high altitutes.........

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to avoid hitting the mountains.....

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less weight and gravity resulting to a good consumption on fuel........

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enough elevation if in case of emergency to land to a nearest airport

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