Who flies faster: AC's A320 vs WJ's B737-700
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Who flies faster: AC's A320 vs WJ's B737-700
Just curious...
Anyone know if Air Canada's A320s and Westjet's B737-700/800 both (in general) are set to cruise at about the same mach speed i.e. .79 on cross-country flights within Canada?
(I say set to cruise i.e. corporate policy for pilots to select a prefered speed rather than a possibly higher technically feasible speed).
I'm interested to know given this day and age of high fuel prices -- and economizing. And I jokingly say in order to know which might be the "faster airline" ;-)
Anyone know if Air Canada's A320s and Westjet's B737-700/800 both (in general) are set to cruise at about the same mach speed i.e. .79 on cross-country flights within Canada?
(I say set to cruise i.e. corporate policy for pilots to select a prefered speed rather than a possibly higher technically feasible speed).
I'm interested to know given this day and age of high fuel prices -- and economizing. And I jokingly say in order to know which might be the "faster airline" ;-)
Last edited by anybodyatall; 20th Aug 2006 at 03:30.
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The 320's usually cruise at .78 or .79 .Don't know about the 737's though I know that when we have one ahead of us we get slowed down considerably so I would guess they are not as fast.
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Don't quite know what it would be prior to $75 oil, can't remember since it's been about 2 years since the cost index has been over 25, but the 73 typically cruises at .78 at a c.i. of 22-24
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Jerricho, just to give you a small bit of information, the top speed of a Navajo is 180 KTS on a good day, approach speed on the average weight A320 would be 140 KTS by 4 to 5 miles from touch down, faster than a 777 or 747. 
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737 NG's are as fast or faster as the A320. I know this cuz I fly a faster bird than both and we pass 320's all the time (especially in the climb) but the NG's are usually able to almost keep up. Must be the cost index is so low that its flying artificially slow.
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There are always exceptions. (A/C increasing speed to meet connections, A/C slowing down for turbulence). But, generally the A320/319/321, and 737-600 or later all fly at the same speed. Whenever I've asked their Mach numbers, it's usually between .78 and .80. The 737-500 and earlier models tend to fly slower than the A320 family.
However, the A320 can't touch the climb rate of the newer 737's.
However, the A320 can't touch the climb rate of the newer 737's.
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dreamland,
I may have misunderstood what you were saying. But a A320 at 140 knots is faster on final that a triple or 400!?!? Most civilian, transport category aircraft are enginered such that the approach speeds (and takeoff for that matter) fall within a reasonable band. If you have too large a disparity in speeds, it impacts the airport utilisation rate. (there are exceptions of course. ie the Concorde) Point of fact, both the triple, and 400, at moderate weights both approach at about 140 knots. However the 400 at MLW is just shy of 160 knots. Add a little gust correction, and your close to 170 knots. It gets fun when your following a smurf jet on final,...
d.
I may have misunderstood what you were saying. But a A320 at 140 knots is faster on final that a triple or 400!?!? Most civilian, transport category aircraft are enginered such that the approach speeds (and takeoff for that matter) fall within a reasonable band. If you have too large a disparity in speeds, it impacts the airport utilisation rate. (there are exceptions of course. ie the Concorde) Point of fact, both the triple, and 400, at moderate weights both approach at about 140 knots. However the 400 at MLW is just shy of 160 knots. Add a little gust correction, and your close to 170 knots. It gets fun when your following a smurf jet on final,...
d.
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Originally Posted by Dream Land
Well you're not a pilot are you, do a search on PA-31 sometime. 
You do need to chill out a litte buddy.You are correct though, I'm not a career pilot.........but next time I'm sequencing YOU with a Navajo, I'll try to keep your input in mind.
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Originally Posted by Jerricho
I can tell you on final that both get run over by PA31s......
The advent of Flight Data Monitoring (FOQA/FDM etc) has brought an end to the "sporty" approaches; as well most carriers have significantly tightened up their approach SOP's.
The days of the curving high speed approach in a jet (at least the transport category type) are just about over.
Havent flown the 737-800 in about four years, but do know our vref was quite high (were at max landing weight) and did have to go around at YYZ because we gained too much on an AC mini bus ahead of us. The 700 series had a slower approach speed and was nicer to fly. Am a bus driver now and approach at 125-130 kts. Cruised the 73 at M .80. BTW not with a Canadian carrier but do come over occasionally.
Last edited by NG_Kaptain; 24th Aug 2006 at 21:18.
Ohcirrej
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Hey Dream Land, were you flying the Ash Can mini-bus that came in here (YWG) about 1530ish local yesterday. Not sure what your IAS was, but looking at ground speeds, the PA31 AND the BE95 ahead smoked your ass on final.....................
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Is it too late to play this game???
The A320 is faster! No wait, the NG is. No wait, ahhh....3-20.
Ahhh, the Boeing has a pointier nose so it must be faster. Isn't it?
.78?
.80?
Isn't that faster at a lower altitude than a higher one? Wait. Wait. Faster in thinner air so it must be a higher altitude. How does that work again??? Temperature dependant, cold air is better?
What if you're in a jetstream?? Not a J-31 but a real jetstream..
Wait. Are the two aeroplanes at the same weight, altitude and speed with similar CIs????
Then my guess is it's a tie!
My dog's still bigger than yours.
