How can a plane fly far longer than designed?

Question

The current record for longest commercial flight is 21,602.22km by Boeing 777-200LR.

However the designed maximum range for B777-200LR is 15,800 km. So how is this possible?

You may find this question, or better the answers below it, helpful. — Peter Kämpf, Oct 04 '15 at 16:59

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 04 '15 at 16:13

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The design range is fully loaded. This flight had 35 passengers, no cargo, full fuel and was run as a project and flown by a test pilot. It was not a commercial flight in the meaning that most people would recognise.

They had to wait for weeks until the winds aloft, especially the jet stream, were at their most advantageous.

answered Oct 04 '15 at 16:13

Simon

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and they used higher-density fuel. See here (PDF) for specs. – Peter Kämpf Oct 04 '15 at 17:03

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 04 '15 at 18:21

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The designed maximum range is just a number, it is affected by a number of constrained factor like fuels and payload as wells as unconstrained factor like jet-steam.

answered Oct 04 '15 at 18:21

Him

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How can a plane fly far longer than designed?

2 Answers2