Boeing 747-400 Takeoff Speed: What You Need to Know

[Badass]

Does anyone know what speed of take off the 747-400 achieves please? I do know that it differs a bit due to weather conditions but since I've been on them so many times I was getting rather interested.

 

[Danger]

Hi, Badass;
The 747-400 lifts off at 250kph.

 

[Andre]

Whilst 135 KIAS (250 Kph) sounds reasonable, the planes that I flew had also a weight factor. The heavier weight, the higher the T/O speed.

 

[Danger]

Correct of course, Andre. More speed for more lift to overcome more gravity. I was quoting what I assume to be an average for a fully-loaded passenger carrier taken from the Air New Zealand website.

 

[FredGarvin]

The POH is going to tell you what the rotate speed is based on weather and loading. Does anyone happen to have a operations manual for a -400?

 

[Danger]

Glad you mentioned the weather, Fred. I forgot to also clarify that the speed depends upon air density as well as weight. It takes a lot longer to get off the ground in hot air.

 

[FredGarvin]

Don't forget the nasty, three H's Danger...

 

[Andre]

speed depends upon air density.

True, but the pilot won't notice because he is actualy looking at the dynamic air pressure and he is supposed to rotate when the dial hits the mark which is independent of the air density. The actual groundspeed will change though and hence the T/O roll.

 

[Danger]

Don't forget the nasty, three H's Danger...

Maybe things have changed more than I realized in the 29 years since I last had my mitts on a yoke. I've never heard that term.

To Andre: Once again correct, from a pilot's perspective. Badass, however, is obviously not one, so I assumed (yeah, bad habit) that he was referring to ground speed.