when a jetliner takes off, does it take off into the wind, or with the wind?

Answer 1

Into the wind.

Answer 2

It definately definately definately takes off into the wind. An aerofoil needs a certain amount of airflow over it to generate lift. It it's sat in a 20knot wind pointing towards it, it's essentially the same as flying at 20knots in no wind conditions (since the wind is passing over the wings). If it has a tailwind, it needs to be travelling over the ground at 40knots before it's generating the same amount of lift (20 to cancel out the wind, 20 to actually achieve the 20).

Many an aircraft has come down trying to land with a tailwind!

EDIT: To the idiot that thinks they take off which ever way a runway faces, a runway faces two directions! They can be used either way! A crosswind doesn't effect the airflow massively but you'd NEVER take off with a tailwind unless it was a tiny breeze (even then it's a huge no no).

Answer 3

It takes off into the wind. Then the plane doesn't have to be taxiing as fast on the runway to get off the ground. And will use less of the runway. Likewise it lands into the wind so it can land slower.

Answer 4

Think about it....it's into the wind. Why? Well because you want the most amount of lift available. Lift is produced as air passes by the wing. So...obviously traveling into the wind would produce more lift, though once in the air would result in a lower ground speed. Note: ground speed and airspeed are totally different.

Answer 5

Planes (large and small) always takes off into the wind. In other words, it is safer to make the plane work a little harder taking off into a headwind than to risk having the wind behind you and not knowing what it is doing.

Answer 6

It have to take off into the wind, if it takes off with the wind, it will never get up.

Answer 7

it would take off in whatever direction the runway went. once in the air, it turns to the direction of it's destination.