Can planes stay still in mid air?

Techincally, there is only one way for the aircraft to remain hanging motionless in the air: if weight and lift cancel each other out perfectly, and at the same time thrust and drag cancel each other out too. But this is incredibly rare. To stay in the air and sustain its flight, an aircraft needs to be moving forward.

What would happen if a plane door opened mid flight?

Pressure on the door is that of 8,000 to 10,000 feet above sea level. Anybody who isn’t pulled out of the plane would be at huge risk of death as the plane would quickly fall apart in the air. There would also be a huge risk of oxygen deficiency for anyone who doesn’t have their oxygen mask on.

Can an airplane stand still in the air?

It can seem that an aircraft is standing still in the air or even seem to go backward under some special circumstances. As a matter of physics an airplane cannot stand still, but there are considerations as to how “still” is defined.

Is it possible to fly a plane stationary in a headwind?

Yes – “relative airspeed” is the key phrase here. It is possible to fly into a strong headwind and hold a fixed point over ground. The aircraft is very much moving with respect to the air, but it would seem to be stationary from a ground-based observer (or even moving backwards with a strong enough headwind!)

Why can’t an airliner’s door be opened in flight?

Technically, an airliner’s door cannot be opened in flight for two reasons. First, cabin altitude during cruise is approximately 8,000 feet above mean sea level, with the cabin pressurized to about 10 pounds-per-square-inch. (Air pressure at sea level is 14.7 psi.) This air pressure pushes firmly against…

Is it possible for an airplane to hover without moving?

No – conventional airplanes generate lift thanks to relative airspeed. If you stop moving, you stop making lift. Not really – it’s possible for aircraft with 1-to-1 thrust-to-weight ratios to point the nose straight up and “hover” at least briefly. Controlling an aircraft in this configuration is effectively impossible for more than a few seconds.