Aircraft Acceleration

[Bonzo 2000]

I never fail to be impressed by the acceleration of a fully laden airliner prior to take-off, compared to most normal cars. What sort of 0 - 60mph time does the average airliner achieve?

[Clanad]

Probably around 10 seconds or so. Problem is, the airspeed indicator, whether it's the older round indicator with a needle indicator on a dial (steam gauge in airline parlance) or a moving vertical tape on the side of a multi-information indicator, only begins to register at 40 knots and 60 knots is not an airspeed that has any importance on takeoff so wouldn't be noted. A Boeing 737, for example, needs to reach about 145 knots for a safe take-off speed (although it will fly at a slower speed) for an average load and meterological conditions and this would take approximately 40 to 45 seconds. the first call out by the pilot not flying (PNF) is usually 80 knots to assure both indicators are working and reading the same... second call is 100 knots to assure constant acceleration, next call is V1 which is the safe lift off speed, followed by command to "rotate" and followed by V2 which is the safe obstruction clearing minimum airspeed. These last three all occur in rapid sequence... A good drag racing car will out acclerate the aircraft for some distance, before being overtaken by the plane...

[kempie]

Although this is not representative of the 'average airliner', the most powerful commercial jet engine, the GE90-115B, is manufactured by General Electric Aircraft Engines and are fitted in pairs to the Boeing 777-200 and 777-300.

I believe this was the basis of an advert by GEAE which used the strapline "How do you get a 777 from 0-60 in 6 seconds?"