Dated1 - at least you still have a sense of humour in your old age! I think
John Farley - as ever - has a very valid point when considering the inertia of large aircraft. I have not flown the 737, but have flown a British jet with a similar wingspan, however, it had all the gliding properties of a 'brick-built out-house' especially in ground effect (it was unaffectionately known as The Ground-Gripper). I still think that instinctively most pilots (non-gliders) would trade speed for height to make the threshold. As for getting your old frame and sofa airborne - why not follow your own advice - lower the nose, build up airspeed and wait for the ground effect - ouch!
