A340-600 vs. -300
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: South America
A340-600 vs. -300
I'm often reading about the slow climb of the A340-200/300 and how much more powerful the -500/600 are.
I would like to hear first-hand about it. Is any pilot here flying both? Or with experience in both?
Is the difference wery noticeable?
If you are flying both of them, do you say YES!! when you find out that you are going to fly the -600 on the next trip?
How about numbers; whats the typical rate of climb of the -300 and the -600?
I saw the -600 performing at le Burguet this year, GREAT airplane!
Thank you for your replies!
For me they are both rocketships, I feel superb performance when I switch from the C152 to the C182!
SGAS
I would like to hear first-hand about it. Is any pilot here flying both? Or with experience in both?
Is the difference wery noticeable?
If you are flying both of them, do you say YES!! when you find out that you are going to fly the -600 on the next trip?
How about numbers; whats the typical rate of climb of the -300 and the -600?
I saw the -600 performing at le Burguet this year, GREAT airplane!
Thank you for your replies!
For me they are both rocketships, I feel superb performance when I switch from the C152 to the C182!
SGAS
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 207
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From: Hello Kitty City
I fly the A330, A340-300 and -600.
The sad fact is the A340-300 has a terrible Rate of Climb (compared to the other two). Its unfair to give to 'numbers' to compare as we fly them at such staggeringly different weights. (but to say that the -600 climbs at about 1.5-2 times the rate to the -300)
But some of these number may amuse you:
We took off in the -600 from HKG to LAX about 3 months ago at MAUW (368,000kgs) *the -600 rotates very slowly because of its length and the fact that you need to use 'Config 3' to help prevent a tail strike* Vr was 167kts.....but the main wheels didnt come off the ground until 192kts!
The sad fact is the A340-300 has a terrible Rate of Climb (compared to the other two). Its unfair to give to 'numbers' to compare as we fly them at such staggeringly different weights. (but to say that the -600 climbs at about 1.5-2 times the rate to the -300)
But some of these number may amuse you:
We took off in the -600 from HKG to LAX about 3 months ago at MAUW (368,000kgs) *the -600 rotates very slowly because of its length and the fact that you need to use 'Config 3' to help prevent a tail strike* Vr was 167kts.....but the main wheels didnt come off the ground until 192kts!
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 775
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From: there
192 kts - holy moo cow!!!
jungly - I am interested to know what the max wheel rotation speed is on the 340-600? I thought most jet transport AC had a maximum somewhere in the region of 200 kts. Plus there must be a fair few seconds from the time the departure threshold disappears beneath the glareshield and liftoff. You could be gardening and not even know it!!(joke) 
bat fastard
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Back home in Alba
I've heard from a few pilots that the a340-2/300 is underpowered but surely if it can take off at near MTOW at Princess Juliana (Air France) (runway length at said airport around 7500ft) in high temps it can't be too bad?
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: California USA
Plus there must be a fair few seconds from the time the departure threshold disappears beneath the glareshield and liftoff. You could be gardening and not even know it!!(joke)
Don't get me wrong--It has nothing at all to do with the replies on this thread. It's just something that struck me when I read slice's post. People just seem pretty quick on the trigger lately.
Somebody help me out. Is it the beer talking? Am I just getting old?
Dave
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: UK
<<I thought most jet transport AC had a maximum somewhere in the region of 200 kts>>
Was over 200K G/S in a 767 out of Bogota getting airborne. Usual IAS/TAS/GS thing hot / high and no wind. Can't remember what the limit was....
NoD
Was over 200K G/S in a 767 out of Bogota getting airborne. Usual IAS/TAS/GS thing hot / high and no wind. Can't remember what the limit was....
NoD
bat fastard
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Back home in Alba
jtr: check it out all in and out of Princess Juliana, probably not MTOW
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: UK
At Nairobi (elev 5000'), with a nice, very long 12,000' runway, hot still night, loaded up with 420 people in a B747-136 (Pratt & Whitney JT-9d engines), it used to take a long time to get airborne. I've timed it at 55 seconds and the radio altimeter used to read 50' as you passed over the end of the runway. Then you have Mount Kenya to get around. It was a take-off and departure that required care.
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From: .
Thanks G-ALAN, I dont doubt they go in and out of there, however, as I said earlier, NOT AT MTOW (or anything close to it off a 7500' rwy).
Sorry cant be arsed looking up the figures for your benefit, you will just have to believe me.
Sorry cant be arsed looking up the figures for your benefit, you will just have to believe me.
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 110
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From: las vegas
As far as I can tell - the new A330s & A340-00/600 ARE ALL NEW AIRPLANES - AIRBUS HAS SPENT A FORTUNE REDESIGNING THESE AIRPLANES - Lufthansa Technic has carved out a nifty little niche market making the A340-100'200'300 engines live - IE they have a health maintenance program & Ive heard some sort of engine monitor program ..The A340-500/600 is a fine bird - the A330 is 'better" - but still no 777 ..
