In late 2001, steve Fossett tried to fly a balloon nonstop around the world .
why on his attempted circumnavigation of the globe did Steve attempted to travel at an altitude of approximately 10000 m?
That is a typical stratosphere flight altitude, where the pilot can usually have the benefit of a strong jet stream (west to east) and good fuel economy because of the lower air density. Althought the air density continues to decrease at higher altitude, there is an optimum fuel-economy flight altitude around 10,000 m, for most planes, where the lift matches the plane's weight with the engines operating at efficient thrust levels.
In Steve Fossett's attempted circumnavigation of the globe in 2001, he chose to fly at an altitude of approximately 10,000 meters for several reasons. Firstly, this altitude is within the stratosphere, which is the layer of the Earth's atmosphere above the troposphere. Stratosphere flights are common for this type of long-distance journey because of the benefits they offer.
One advantage is that at this altitude, pilots often encounter a strong jet stream blowing from west to east. The jet stream is a high-speed wind current that can greatly aid in propelling an aircraft, reducing the amount of time required to travel a certain distance. By flying within the jet stream, Fossett could take advantage of its significant tailwind, which would increase his speed and potentially shorten the duration of the flight.
Additionally, the lower air density at higher altitudes can lead to improved fuel economy. As an aircraft flies higher, the air becomes thinner, meaning there are fewer molecules for the aircraft to push aside. This reduced resistance allows the engines to operate more efficiently, consuming less fuel while still generating sufficient thrust to maintain flight.
However, it is worth noting that while there is an optimum fuel-economy flight altitude around 10,000 meters for most planes, this may vary depending on the specific aircraft type, design, and engine performance. Pilots and flight planners carefully calculate the most efficient altitude for a specific journey, considering factors such as aircraft capabilities, weather conditions, and overall flight objectives.
To summarize, Steve Fossett attempted to fly at an altitude of approximately 10,000 meters during his circumnavigation of the globe because it is a typical stratosphere flight altitude with the advantages of a strong jet stream and good fuel economy due to lower air density.