Author Topic: airliner question  (Read 5870 times)

Offline Mike

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airliner question
« on: November 30, 2007, 04:51:54 AM »
Ok, here is a question for all you stuck wing drivers.

The Tennis court I play at here in Vegas is right underneath the approach path of McCarran (which makes it hard to concentrate on the game actually cause ever since I was 3 years old I just HAVE to look up when a plane flies over) andI think I noticed something.

A 737 on the approach (SWA) seems to haul ass compared to a 767 or a 777.

Do they have a faster approach speed??

Or is it just an optical illusion 'cause the other jets are bigger?
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Offline Rooster Cruiser

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Re: airliner question
« Reply #1 on: November 30, 2007, 05:00:28 AM »
Its because they're bigger, Mike.
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airtac

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Re: airliner question
« Reply #2 on: November 30, 2007, 05:07:15 AM »
Its because they're bigger, Mike.

You truck drivers are all alike---always talking about how big it is ::rofl::

Offline Mike

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Re: airliner question
« Reply #3 on: November 30, 2007, 06:14:46 AM »
ok, so what is the approach speed of a 737??

and

what's the speed of a 767 ??

I am actually being serious (for once)
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Offline Baradium

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Re: airliner question
« Reply #4 on: November 30, 2007, 07:12:39 AM »
That and SWA is always in a hurry!  ;)

The larger jets do actually get fairly slow depending on their weight.   At least compaired to the twin turboprops I'm flying.  

That said, they always look so slow just becuase they are so big... optical illusion and all that.   Your mind decides the larger jets are a lot closer and thus their relative movement seems slower.


On the beech 1900 the approach speed is 130-140 kts.   However, on a 767 in normal operations the approach speeds can be anywhere from 130 to 110 or 115 (i'm just picking out numbers here). 

We have a ref speed (both in the 1900 and the heavies) which is our ideal threshold crossing speed for our weight.   In the 1900 we have a published approach speed that we use regardless and then slow to ref as we reach the threshold.   Jets, however are much "slicker" and harder to slow down so they use ref speed plus 5 kts for their approaches.   So if a jet has a ref of 115 they will be shooting their approach at 120 whereas we will be around 130.

So the speeds of the jets actually can vary by a fair amount depending on weight and other factors.
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Offline Fabo

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Re: airliner question
« Reply #5 on: November 30, 2007, 02:15:52 PM »
Abither factor important speed-wise is flaps pos. Coming in with 15, 25 or 30 makes a difference, and as a matter of fact it may be that SWAs policy is to keep them up at 15 unless impossible because of LDA, while heavies use them fully out. Also, some planes may want to be at Vref + 5 as soon as they begin glidepath descend, some do only slown down at two miles final or so.
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Offline TheSoccerMom

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Re: airliner question
« Reply #6 on: November 30, 2007, 08:12:04 PM »
....A 737 on the approach (SWA) seems to haul ass compared to a 767 or a 777.

Uhh, Mikey....  you might want to switch to the GOOD tequila in those pre-game margaritas....  that cheap crap can really screw you up, you know...   ::knockedout::

Heh heh, yeah....  right....  next thing we know, you'll be telling us you saw a SWA 737 on final that looked like a WHALE or some such foolishness.....    ::drinking::

 ::drinking::    ::drinking::    ::drinking::    ::drinking::    ::drinking::    ::drinking::
Don't make me come back there!!!!

Offline Mike

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Re: airliner question
« Reply #7 on: November 30, 2007, 08:16:20 PM »
hmmm.... what was I thinking asking this question here in this forum...  ::) ::whistle::

might have to go to the AOPA forum to get my question answered...  ::whistle:: ::whistle::





(HAHA.... just kidding.... I'd NEVER do that)
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Offline G-man

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Re: airliner question
« Reply #8 on: November 30, 2007, 11:02:37 PM »
ok, so what is the approach speed of a 737??

and

what's the speed of a 767 ??

I am actually being serious (for once)

I'll help ya out:

http://www.boeing.com/commercial/airports/faqs/arcandapproachspeeds.pdf

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Offline Mike

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Re: airliner question
« Reply #9 on: December 01, 2007, 12:57:24 AM »
Hey Thanks!

ok, so they do all fly the same speed pretty much. . .

And I thought I was on to something . . . . :P
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