How far can an airplane fly after engine failure?

Answer 1

Assuming you're talking about a total engine failure of all engines (i.e., no partial power available), then the distance an aircraft will travel will be a function of the glide ratio for that particular aircraft, the configuration it's in, and the ability of the pilot to maintain the proper descent profile. (i.e., speed) Most modern airliners have pretty good glide ratios, anywhere from 12:1 to as much as 18:1. Assuming the aircraft was in a clean configuration (gear and flaps up, slats retracted), and was maintaining the proper descent profile, an airliner at 35,000 feet should be able to glide somewhere around 100 miles with no power available. But again, every plane is different and speed and configuration will definitely affect performance.