Quote:
Originally Posted by Chocaholic
With 3 of our 4 engines out, how much further do you think this plane can fly?
All the way to the scene of the crash. . .
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Most four-engine aircraft have a problem maintaining altitude with TWO engines failed. You see, the FAA mandates that an airplane in part 121 service needs to be able to maintain a 2.6 degree climb gradient after an engine failure. If you have two engines, then you loose 50% of your power and 80% of your performance. A four engine airplane loses 25% of its power and only 40% of its performance, so four-engine aircraft are allowed to take off at FAR higher weights relative to their total thrust output than twins.
-Go to the airport, and watch airplanes take off. Airbus A300's and Boeing 757's leap off the ground and point their noses WAY high. Then watch a four-engine 747 take off; It appears to barely climb and seems to be clawing its way into the sky. It is. It is probably loaded to the gills with people or cargo.
Blow TWO engines on a 747? You better be VERY LIGHT! Kalitta Air crashed a plane outside Bogota, Colombia last spring when they lost two engines. The Captain had the remaining two engines FIREWALLED. That means wide-open. He still sank slowly into the terrain.
N!