Jet stream helps flight reach 801 mph due to jet stream: reports

Fox News ^ | February 20, 2019 | Luis Casano

[C19fan]

A Virgin Atlantic flight from Los Angeles to London reached the ground speed of 801 mph with the help of strong winds, according to reports. The blistering speed was reached while at 35,000 feet above Pennsylvania. The Boeing 787 twin-jet aircraft was given a boost by a furious jet stream, the high-altitude air current along which storms travel.

[C19fan]

I was on a Lufthansa 747-800 recently from Dulles to Frankfort. We must of had a nice boost from the jet stream as the flight took only 7 hours compared to the avg of 8 and a half.

[Stosh]

Isn’t that above Mach 1?

[C19fan]

The 801 MPH is ground speed not airspeed. Mach 1 is based on airspeed not motion relative to the gound.

[Moonman62]

Redundant title award.

[Blue Jays]

"...title award..."

---

You do understand it was clearly approved by the Department Of Redundancy Department at the news agency, correct?

[43north]

On March 31, 1980 (the 4th Full Moon of 1980, 2nd Blue Moon) I had to accompany a Medevac from Prudhoe Bay to Anchorage, AK. Poor patient had a crushed chest. We were flying in an ERA Aviation Lear 25 that had been modified so it could load basket stretchers. It is 625 air miles to Anchorage from Prudhoe and normally takes 75 minutes. It was a gorgeous clear night, smooth flying, and Mt. McKinley was beautiful in the moonlight. At 45 minutes into the flight I could see the lights of Anchorage through the windscreen. I went forward and asked Oly the pilot how we got here so quickly. “Oh, we’ve got a bit of a tailwind. Go aft and make sure everything is strapped down because its going to get bumpy on the way in.” We passed through a thin wispy layer of cloud and the rodeo was on. After two severe negative G downdrafts Oly dove for the deck and I could see the whitecaps of Cook Inlet out the starboard cabin windows as we approached. We were so low we had to climb to land at Anchorage and had traveled 625 miles in 59 minutes. We had passed out of the jet stream into the winter “wind event” that was buffeting the airport with 125 mph crosswinds. If I never fly in anything like that again I’m OK with it.

[Blue Jays]

I was on a transcontinental flight years ago and it just felt like we were absolutely hurtling through the air, yet simultaneously calm.
The pilot came on and announced we were doing a remarkable 750 mph (ground speed) due to a very beneficial and efficient tailwind. It was something to behold.
Very fun, indeed. While disembarking he shared it was the fastest elapsed time he had ever completed that route. So cool!

[Blue Jays]

Whoa, cool story. That is awesome on such a little jet!

[ArcadeQuarters]

Fast plane is fast.

[mylife]

801~Flight 19

[Jed Eckert]

Yea, it always starts with "Ooh, ah," then later there's running and screaming when you end up like these guys ;‑)

The Odyssey of Flight 33 ;‑)

[vmpolesov]

Did the pt survive?

[NativeSon]

I had to take a xanax after reading that.

[Bell Bouy II]

In late 60 early 70’s I ustah go from Opa Locka to Gran Turk in an HU16E(goat) think it only took us about 5 hours plus ?
The C123 was neck breaking took about 4

[ConservativeMind]

Food helps make me full due to food.

[Bell Bouy II]

Heres the 123......good memories

https://www.flugzeuginfo.net/galleryphoto_en.php?photoid=11012

[mountn man]

I was a young kid when I first saw that episode (7-8 years old).
Still my favorite episode.

[exDemMom]

I’m not sure why this is news.

When I came back from visiting Asia, the jet stream propelled the plane to 810 or 815 mph ground speed. I knew because I like to watch the flight map on the in-flight entertainment. It was pretty awesome to know we were traveling so fast but not, I think, newsworthy.

[43north]

The patient survived and made a full recovery. ERA aviation had two of those little Lear 25 rocket sleds. Within 2 years of this particular night both had crashed killing all souls aboard.

The Lear 25 is an unstable aircraft with the glide slope of a rock. So is an F-4 Phantom. Oly was a retired F-4 pilot and THANK GOD for that!

[MortMan]

From the Department of Redundancy Department.