737 take-off question
 

Was flying from Budapest-Amsterdam the other day on one of Malev's nice new 737s.

Question is; to save time, the pilot went to t/o power while still taxying onto the runway, at a 45 degree angle. Is this perfectly normal or a bit "cavalier"?

Personally I thought it was great, and with a light jet we went up like a rocket:)

- Michael

Michael - I was not there and you were, so I cannot be sure BUT I think it UNLIKELY that the pilot selected 'take-off' power at 45 deg to the runway.

More likely he/she had been asked to 'expedite' take-off and was on a high-speed 'slip' and 'stood-up' the throttles to the 40% normally used before rolling (see other threads on PPrune) and then fairly quickly up to take-off power. THIS is not dangerous and is also not that uncommon. Being at full power at 45 deg IS dangerous!

BOAC, thanks for the answer, yes we did start from the high speed slip and I think you're right about the 40% power, it was timed nicely so that the engines were fully spooled up just as we turned on to the centreline.

Maybe I haven't seen it so much at our busier UK airports where one quite often seems to hold for spacing when lined up.

- Michael