Originally Posted by
Winemaker
Ah, but don't forget that there is the weight of the rocket itself holding it down; the arms only have to hold against the delta between thrust and weight.
I believe also, according to something I read a long time ago, that when the Saturn V engines actually ignited the total overall weight of the complete assembly is too heavy for them to lift it. During the first few seconds when the engines were getting up to full power sufficient fuel is burned off in that start up process that the overall weight of the complete craft is reduced such that the engines do then have the power to lift it. Sounds right somehow to this totally non expert.