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From: ark@alice.UucP (Andrew Koenig)
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Re: Commercial aircraft power-to-weight
Message-ID: <4750@alice.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 28-Dec-85 10:30:42 EST
Article-I.D.: alice.4750
Posted: Sat Dec 28 10:30:42 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 28-Dec-85 23:35:43 EST
References: <59200011@trsvax>
Organization: Bell Labs, Murray Hill
Lines: 13

> Hi there. I have a question for you knowledgeable types out there on
> commercial aircraft. Of the currently flying (subsonic) airliners, which 
> one has the highest power-to-weight ratio? I have flown in Boeing 7*7's, 
> DC-{9,10}'s, a Lockheed L-1011, and an Airbus A300. I have noticed they all 
> will accelerate at different rates, and seem to climb at different angles. 
> Subjectively, the fastest accelerator seemed to be a Boeing 737 with 
> Rolls-Royce something or other engines.

A commercial airliner must be able to lose an engine at the worst
possible moment during the takeoff roll and still make it off the
ground with specified obstacle clearance limits.  Thus, the fewer
the engines, the more reserve power there must be.  A 747 with one
engine out is running on 3/4 power; a 737 is running only on 1/2.