Failure To Climb

摘要

Almost 20 years ago, I rode coach from JFK to Osaka, Japan on a Northwest Airlines 747-400. Taking my time in deplaning, I managed to sneak a peek at its cockpit and chat briefly with the crew. I was astonished to learn the airplane weighed nearly 900,000 lbs at takeoff, close to or at its maximum gross, and burned almost half that weight in fuel before landing. I can presume the airplane's handling characteristics at takeoff versus landing.