Service Ceiling

[Riderocket]

the service ceiling for the La-5 is 9500m, i thought i could beat it!

 

imgur.com/a/ItxcG

 

9780m 

 

i was using boost and alot of flap, as you see i was going 150kmh, thats 3kmh away from critical stall speed (147kmh) 

 

[AndyJWest]

The service ceiling isn't the maximum altitude an aircraft can possibly reach, it is instead a practical limit for useful operations. I'm not sure what definition was used in WW2, but this definition is from the EAA website: "the height above sea level at which an aircraft with normal-rated load is unable to climb faster than 100 feet per minute under standard air conditions". https://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/eaa-news-and-aviation-news/bits-and-pieces-newsletter/09-13-2016-aviation-word-service-ceiling