Ever wondered how fast planes take off? How much do the take off speeds of a commercial plane like the Airbus A380 and a fighter jet like the F-15 Eagle differ? If yes, then we got answers for you.
The speed of planes varies during different stages of flight. It would be different during taking off, cruising, and landing. Similarly, other factors like the type of plane, weight, configuration, aerodynamic design, wind direction, wing shape and size, and weather conditions impact any plane’s take off stage.
As you can see from our infographic, we break down take off speed of different kinds of airliners. So, let’s try to answer your question about how fast planes take off by discussing some famous aircraft as an example.
Factors Influencing Planes Take Off
As we have already discussed, how fast a plane takes off depends various factors. Generally, manufacturers of planes at the time of development and testing ascertain the speculated take off speed and publish it in its regulatory certification for each plane.
Various factors influence planes speed during take off, including;
- Airplane’s weight — the heavier the plane is, the more momentum it requires to get airborne.
- Wings shape & size — wing design also impacts the speed of planes’ take-off and landing, e.g. longer and wider high-lift wings on a plane enable it to get airborne at less speed.
- Wind — wind direction and altitude and even temperatures can affect the take-off speed of a plane.
- Configuration — alterations in configuration can affect the plane weight and even aerodynamics, thus the take-off speed.
How Fast Various Kinds of Planes Take Off
Let’s discuss the take off speed of various kinds of planes — from commercial, and private jets to light aircraft, and how fast some famous planes take off under these categories.
Wide-Body Airliner
Wide-body airliners are big airlines with twin-aisle and two or more cabins. Generally, these operate on long and medium-haul flights. These are so big and wide that they can carry up to 850 passengers.
How fast do different wide-body planes take off? To answer this question, let’s take an example of a few famous wide-body planes.
Starting with the world’s largest passenger airplane, Airbus A380 (a double-deck jet airliner). Some big airline companies operate this humungous plane, including Emirates, Etihad Airways, British Airways, China Southern Airlines, etc. Airbus A380 has a take off speed of 150-170 knots (170-195 mph or 275-315 km/h) under normal conditions.
Next, moving from Airbus to the American plane manufacturer Boeing Commercial. Boeing 777 is a twinjet or twin-engines wide-body jet with a rotation speed of 130-160 knots (around 120-180 mph). Similarly, the quad or four-engine jet by Boeing, which is also the first wide-body aircraft, Boeing 747, takes off at a speed of 180 mph (290 km/h).
Narrow-body Airliner
Narrow-body airliners are single-aisle aircraft that operate for short-haul domestic or international flights. They have narrow bodies and thus can carry up to 400 passengers. Now, let’s answer how fast some narrow-body planes take off.
Airbus A220, a narrow-body airliner, has a take off speed of 240 km/h. Similarly, Airbus A320 takes off at 275 km/h or 170 mph. Boeing 757 takes off at 160 mph (260 km/h), while the Boeing 737 has an average rotation speed of roughly 150 mph or 250 km/h.
Other Planes Take Off Speed
Fighter Jet
If we talk about fighter or military aircraft, these planes are generally faster than cargo planes. McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is one of the fastest fighter jets in the US Air force. It has a twin engine and is a weather tactical aircraft that is highly maneuverable. F-15 Eagle has a minimum rotation or take off speed of 120 – 150 knots (222 – 278 km/h). Similarly, the most lethal fighter jet, the F-22 Raptor takes off at roughly 144 knots (267 km/h).
Business Jet
Private or business jets are strictly for business or tasks to carry a small group of people. They are generally used for corporate or business purposes. Lately, private jet owners and users have been criticized for their excessive use of these jets to show their extravagant lifestyles at the expense of damaging the environment, leading to climate change. Private jets contribute more to greenhouse emissions and have proven to contribute more to environmental degradation than commercial planes.
Generally, private jets have a take off speed between 148-177 mph (238-289 km/h). Gulfstream G500 by Gulfstream Aerospace takes off at an average of 238 km/h (148 mph).
Light Aircraft
Generally, these lightweight aircraft come in handy for sightseeing, photography, marketing campaigns, freight purpose, or other personal or business use. These are lightweight (12,500 lbs or less).
Cessna 150, a light aircraft, takes off at 100 km/h or 62 mph.
How Fast Different Types of Planes Take Off | The Final Words
As you can see, different planes take off at different speeds depending on their sizes and overall configurations. We discussed all kinds of planes, from wide-body big planes like Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 to light aircraft like Cessna 150.
You can also check out our blog post; “Visualizing How High Different Planes Fly” to learn more about the service ceiling (highest altitude) of every type of plane.
