The highest flight on air-breathing engine.

[Gr@y]

The idea comes when I was trying to launch my ion-powered orbital spaceplane. So the question comes: how high can we go on the air-breathing engines only? First, I planned to title the Challenge as "Air-breathing to Mun", but now I think, that it is an unnecessary restriction. Maybe someone go higher.

Rules: stock air-breathing engines only, gravity maneurs allowed. If FAR aerodynamics is used, it should be noted.

[neistridlar]

236,655m. Don't think it is possible to go much higher than that. Though for a space plane you probably want to go more horizontal, so you don't have to add so much Delta-V with your ion engines.

 

[zolotiyeruki]

Is this in sustained, level flight, or are ballistic trajectories allowed?

I know with a RAPIER, you can maintain over 28km altitude at nearly 1600m/s

[Klapaucius]

I just came across this. This is a bit different, and not exactly what you are asking for, but it is quite cool and some pretty outside the box thinking by @Stratzenblitz75:

 

 

Edited June 10, 2019 by Klapaucius