Question: What gives you a smoother ride, a business jet like a Gulfstream/Learjet or a larger passenger jet?
— Submitted by reader Garry Terrell, Cincinnati
Answer: The ride is often the result of wing loading, but the mass of the airplane can also affect it. Airplanes such as the Gulfstream have a smooth ride, while the 747 or A380 enjoy the benefits of much greater mass, dampening turbulence.
Some business jets will be smoother than some airliners, but the smoothest ride will normally be the larger A380 or B747.
Q: Do certain aircraft handle air turbulence better than others?