Originally Posted by
Chris Scott
Yes, as is the climb performance when both donks are working! Since you mention Gatwick, one of the standard departures from the westerly runway in the late 1960s (Rwy 27 in those days, since re-designated Rwy 26L) involved climbing straight ahead before a right turn to the east. The turn was to be commenced at a waypoint a certain distance west of the airfield, or passing an altitude of 1100 ft - whichever happened later. The 1100 ft was to ensure terrain clearance in the turn. All the modern aircraft were well above 1100 ft by the time they got to the waypoint. One day I was P2 on our worst-performing Dakota and, heavily-laden, we were clawing our way skywards on both engines but - having passed the waypoint by a mile or two - were still below the 1100 ft. ATC called to ask why we hadn't turned yet (this was long before transponders and Mode-C altitude read-out became compulsory), so we had to remind them about the altitude requirement.
That is a salutary lesson that many should review!
OAP