Airplane taking off question?

Question

When taking off in an airplane, do you jam the throttle all the way forward or to a certain spot?

Answer 1

On small planes you take generally take off at full throttle (it's not jammed forward, it's eased forward). For airlines, the more modern jets tend to use Reduced Take Off Power, the setting for which is calculated based on wind direction, weight, temperature and runway condition (not to mention any features they may be running off the engine).

The reason for reduced power is that the engines are built to be overpowered. This way, when at high altitudes that excess power can be used to go faster/higher/whatever is necessary.

New airliners such as the Boeing 777 have auto throttle so the flight crew move the throttles to take-off position and the computer sets what is necessary to get up.

Also, setting wide open throttle on the ground may over torque/over temp the engine. They're designed to fly best in cold, thin air at altitude.

Hope this clears things up.

Answer 2

Small piston engine airplanes use max throttle for all takeoffs. For reasons too numerous to mention here, jet aircraft never use full throttle unless there is FADEC available. Even then, the computers will not let the engine go to full power. In our older 727, we must calculate the EPR setting on the engines prior to every takeoff. This is usually dependent on the temperature. The pilot flying will set that EPR setting initially and then at about a hundred knots or so the engineer will reach up and push the throttles forward a little to reset the EPR to the original setting. It drops off a little as you gain airspeed you see.

Even if an engine fails it's not a good idea normally to go to full power on the remaining engines. The problem then is that if you can put in more asymmetrical thrust than the rudder can handle at the computed second segment climb speed. Everything has already been planned for the loss of an engine so you simply fly with what you've got until you get to a safe altitude and then clean up the airplane and start figuring out what to do next.

Answer 3

Balls to the Wall, is a term used by pilots when accelerating quickly, the throttle is pushed all the way to the panel and the throttle lever (ball) actually touches the panel (wall). Hence, balls to the wall. The throttle has a ball shape on the top of the lever that is why it is referred to as balls. The flap handle looks like a little flap and the land gear have little wheels shapes this is a certification rule incase the pilot has to feel for a certain lever they can tell by the way it feels what it is and controls. The "balls" are knobs atop the plane's throttle control. Pushing the throttle all the way forward, to the wall of the cockpit, is to apply full throttle.

On take off most pilots will push the throttle full forward to apply full power and aircraft engines are designed to run at this setting for a long period on take off and climb out with problems. Unlike automotive engines run them at full throttle and bad things happen. There is a big difference in design in the two type of engines.

If an engine cannot make full power it should not take off this is why there is a run up at the end of the runway for smaller propeller aircraft. On commercial aircraft the pilots will know before take off speed if the turbine will develop take off thrust. If not they will abort take off.

On take off full throttle is usually applied to answer your question.

Answer 4

It depends on what plane your flying. As said above generally on most small airplanes you smoothly advance the throttle all the way open. Some exeptions I can think of are all related to engine/prop limitations. On some turbocharged engines there is a max manifold pressure allowed during takeoff, for most turboprps there's a max torque allowed during takeoff, for turbojets there's usually a max N1 or EPR allowed. On jets with FADECs the engine controller decides how much power is applied, all the pilot does is advance the throttle to the takeoff power detent. But for all normally aspirated piston engine planes that I know of you advance the throttle all the way.

Answer 5

It depends on the airplane.

On a small piston aircraft you will use full throttle, applied smoothly.
On a turbine aircraft you will use a calculated thrust setting. On my airplane that is anywhere from 85% N1 to around 95% N1. If needed in an emergency we would still have some power remaining.

Answer 6

Normally, throttles are smoothly moved to the 'full open' position for taking off.

Runway and weather permitting, a 'reduced power' take off setting can also be used.

The new generation aircraft are capable of computing the needed power for take off. If you feed in all the data, then after lining up for take, the pilots select take off power and the computer does the rest.

Answer 7

Normally, you smoothly increase power to full throttle. You never, ever "jam" the throttle, that's too hard on the engine. Professional pilots always apply power smoothly.

Answer 8

Not quite...

Maximum throttle for take off. There is always a little extra between that and maximum throttle for emergencies. You never run a machine to its maximum as that gives no leeway for problems.

Answer 9

It depends where you're taking off from. If you're at altitude in a single or twin let's say somewhere like Denver or somewhere that is 5,000 or more feet in altitude at ground, you use what is called an altitude rich mixture setting and then you gradually but surely send the throttle to the end of its play.

Answer 10

depends on different weather variables, the size, weight,(etc.) of the plane, and what kind of plane. but usually you don't "jam" the throttle forward.