B747-400 two engine performance
Getline's article did bring up an interesting point though. At or near gross takeoff weights, the BA747 in question would have had dismal performance on only two engines, should another have also failed in flight. Due to the 747's lower thrust to weight ratio than that of ETOP twins, at higher weights with the loss of two engines, does the 747 actually match the performance of a far less heavy twin operating on one engine?
Would the BA747 have been able to have cleared the Rocky Mountains on only two engines should the worse case scenario have developed? What about if another engine had failed over the mid-atlantic? Would the aircraft have been able to descend to max E/O altitude and still have the range to divert? What if weather at lower altitudes mitigated the divert to the nearest suitable landing airport as well?
One can certainly argue the remoteness of a double-engine failure ever have occuring at all of course, but sometimes the impossible and improbable become the possible and inevitable. Stuff happens.
Last edited by Rugerdog; 26th Apr 2006 at 06:32.