High-altitude Plane / Stratoplan K.E.Tsiolkovsky

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K.E. Tsiolkovsky invented the high-altitude aircraft in 1932. However, at lower atmospheric layers, planes cannot achieve high speeds. Their economic speed is a mere 50 m/s or 180 km/h. To increase their speed by 2, 3, and 4 times, motor power would have to be increased with constant airplane weight by 8, 27, and 64 times, which is extremely challenging due to several reasons including fragile motors, burst propellers from rapid rotation, and inability of the plane to withstand incoming stream pressure. In contrast, in thin air, it's easier to achieve higher speeds. Calculations reveal that when medium rarefaction reaches 4, 9, 16, or 25 times, aircraft speed can increase by 2, 3, 4, or 5 times provided engine power is also increased by the same factor of 2, 3, 4, or 5, not 8, 27, 64, or 125 times required at constant air density.