Airplane Review (Boeing 747-400) by a Pilot : A first for Team-BHP!

kb100 · 3rd April 2009, 13:22

I always wanted to be a pilot- fighter planes - nothing less!

Joined Sainik School with an intent to Join the IAF. Unfortunately there they discovered I had short sight - which in three years progressed to a point where I was medically unfit even for the Army!

But the passion never died. I have read all I could lay my hands on about flying... Have tried and begged my way into the cockpits of an assortment of aircraft - piston, turbo-prop and turbofan. Sat through the pre flight, take-off and landing routines a couple of times .. and am still greedy for more!

I also was heavily into RC Airplanes and Helos at one time. In fact have assembled and flown quite a few too way back in school/college.

*** sigh ****

flyboy747 · 3rd April 2009, 13:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvjascha

Close. He must fly for the flag carrier, Air India. They're the only airline in India that operate 747s.

@flyboy747, where do they send you guys for sim training?

You are right, I do fly for AI. Air India has its own simulator in the Training Headquarters in Bombay. Thats where we all do our intial/recurrency and regulatory training.

MalluDude · 3rd April 2009, 13:29

Great review, flyboy! Another "first" in T-Bhp. Please do put up some pictures of the cock-pit, and the various instruments, if not a problem.

ballkey · 3rd April 2009, 13:29

Awesome. You've whipped all the racerboys on this forum with your top-speed! At-least till an MiG-25 pilot decides to post on TBHP..

What's the top ground speed reached during takeoff ? I remember seeing the map/gps console show about 130km/hr.. could be more.

jkdas · 3rd April 2009, 13:32

That was great. Hope you add more.

Few q: At what speed does it lift off? 120? and at what would be the speed at the time of touching down?

Akshay1234 · 3rd April 2009, 13:37

AFAIK the take off speak is 80 knots or something which is around 150kmph.

kb100 · 3rd April 2009, 13:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkdas

That was great. Hope you add more.

Few q: At what speed does it lift off? 120? and at what would be the speed at the time of touching down?

At 120 it might fall out of the sky!

A 747-400 take off speed at MTOW (Max take off Wt) will be around 187 knots (Flaps 10) and landing speeds will vary between 125-150 knots (with flaps @ 30 Deg) ... all this depends on factors like load, trim, weather, wind direction, altitude of the runway, runway length, friction ratings... I could go on...

quickdraw · 3rd April 2009, 13:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by ballkey

Awesome. You've whipped all the racerboys on this forum with your top-speed! At-least till an MiG-25 pilot decides to post on TBHP..

What's the top ground speed reached during takeoff ? I remember seeing the map/gps console show about 130km/hr.. could be more.

AFAIK take off speed was around 300 km/h.

Areez is also a pilot, he pilots smaller private jets though. It would be nice for him to elobrate as well.

I was/am always fascinated by planes, I know they are much more capable of MACH .96 + never knew why they dont let you fly faster then that. :(

luvjascha · 3rd April 2009, 13:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by akshay1234

AFAIK the take off speak is 80 knots or something which is around 150kmph.

Gosh, no! Even a twin-engined jet has a take-off speed higher than that.

I'm thinking, more like 170-180 knots.

spadival · 3rd April 2009, 13:44

Milage kya hai?

.. Great review there. So Boeing hasn't gone the fly-by-wire way of the Airbus? Is it still all hydraulic?

We have a few Captain Haddocks as well on the forum. So 1Self, if you are out on the sea and reading this, a review from the ship's deck would be nice.

TaciturN · 3rd April 2009, 13:44

Hmm,

1) Has flown an Airbus previously. Check.

2) Flies the 747 currently. Check.

Welcome to Team-BHP, Capt. Air-India Pilot Sir!

Airline if Far from the best but your pilots certainly are!

Also,

The 744 is like THE Best Airliner ever created!

This is coming from a 737 NG Pilot who had once overtaken a Speedbird 744! True story.

Flying Below the Jetstreams, FL260 and vMO and what not ;-)

I'm sure that Brit had the what-the-heck look! lulz

Regards :-)

ballkey · 3rd April 2009, 13:47

Can the tyres handle 300km/hr? I'm not sure they can, especially with something as heavy as the 747..

Akshay1234 · 3rd April 2009, 13:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvjascha

Gosh, no! Even a twin-engined jet has a take-off speed higher than that.

I'm thinking, more like 170-180 knots.

my bad. google and it says 180mph.

luvjascha · 3rd April 2009, 13:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by spadival

Milage kya hai?

More like 10 tons/hour

vito_parry · 3rd April 2009, 13:56

wow an air craft review indeed its first on tbhp. great to know in detail about an 747

Pics would bring more life to the review (if you are allowed to take and post the pictures)

3rd April 2009, 13:22	#16
kb100 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bangy Boy! Posts: 1,555 Thanked: 21 Times	I always wanted to be a pilot- fighter planes - nothing less! Joined Sainik School with an intent to Join the IAF. Unfortunately there they discovered I had short sight - which in three years progressed to a point where I was medically unfit even for the Army! But the passion never died. I have read all I could lay my hands on about flying... Have tried and begged my way into the cockpits of an assortment of aircraft - piston, turbo-prop and turbofan. Sat through the pre flight, take-off and landing routines a couple of times .. and am still greedy for more! I also was heavily into RC Airplanes and Helos at one time. In fact have assembled and flown quite a few too way back in school/college. * sigh ** Last edited by kb100 : 3rd April 2009 at 13:24.
	() Thanks

3rd April 2009, 13:29	#18
MalluDude BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kochi Posts: 397 Thanked: 56 Times View My Garage	Great review, flyboy! Another "first" in T-Bhp. Please do put up some pictures of the cock-pit, and the various instruments, if not a problem.
	() Thanks

3rd April 2009, 13:29	#19
ballkey BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Chennai Posts: 425 Thanked: 35 Times	Awesome. You've whipped all the racerboys on this forum with your top-speed! At-least till an MiG-25 pilot decides to post on TBHP.. What's the top ground speed reached during takeoff ? I remember seeing the map/gps console show about 130km/hr.. could be more.
	() Thanks

3rd April 2009, 13:32	#20
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapu Posts: 9,687 Thanked: 1,492 Times View My Garage	That was great. Hope you add more. Few q: At what speed does it lift off? 120? and at what would be the speed at the time of touching down?
	() Thanks

3rd April 2009, 13:37	#21
Akshay1234 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 10,265 Thanked: 12,317 Times	AFAIK the take off speak is 80 knots or something which is around 150kmph.
	(1) Thanks

3rd April 2009, 13:44	#25
spadival Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Melbourne, AU Posts: 1,773 Thanked: 26 Times View My Garage	Milage kya hai? .. Great review there. So Boeing hasn't gone the fly-by-wire way of the Airbus? Is it still all hydraulic? We have a few Captain Haddocks as well on the forum. So 1Self, if you are out on the sea and reading this, a review from the ship's deck would be nice.
	() Thanks

3rd April 2009, 13:44	#26
TaciturN BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: KA19 Posts: 28 Thanked: 43 Times	Hmm, 1) Has flown an Airbus previously. Check. 2) Flies the 747 currently. Check. Welcome to Team-BHP, Capt. Air-India Pilot Sir! Airline if Far from the best but your pilots certainly are! Also, The 744 is like THE Best Airliner ever created! This is coming from a 737 NG Pilot who had once overtaken a Speedbird 744! True story. Flying Below the Jetstreams, FL260 and vMO and what not ;-) I'm sure that Brit had the what-the-heck look! lulz Regards :-)
	() Thanks

3rd April 2009, 13:47	#27
ballkey BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Chennai Posts: 425 Thanked: 35 Times	Can the tyres handle 300km/hr? I'm not sure they can, especially with something as heavy as the 747..
	() Thanks

3rd April 2009, 13:56	#30
vito_parry BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 63 Thanked: 39 Times	:-) wow an air craft review indeed its first on tbhp. great to know in detail about an 747 Pics would bring more life to the review (if you are allowed to take and post the pictures)
	() Thanks