Why Do Planes Fly So High?

We’ve all been flying high ever since the development of the jet engine in the mid-1950s. But why were jets were designed to fly at those high altitudes in the first place?

Hosted by: Hank Green
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Sources:
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/tech_ops/read.main/56218/
http://www.decodedscience.com/why-do-jet-airplanes-fly-at-high-altitudes/9815
https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/BGP/PAT/Fuel_and_Air2_act.htm
https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/K-12/airplane/lift1.html