Typical Rate Climb

**huanw03187** · 08-22-2003, 07:14 PM

What is the typical rate climb of a commercial jetliner? How about for smaller jets (ie 737,A320), medium jets (ie 767,757), and large jets (777,747,A340)?

**panzerschiffe** · 08-23-2003, 08:44 AM

Depends on each plane and how heavy it is. 737's and A320's are pretty good climbers. Since they're made for short flights at high altitude they have to get there pretty quickly. The 767 is a pretty good climber, but at heaviest weight it might have to step climb. 777's with their monster engines are very good climbers. The 747 is a decent climber, while the A340 is a poor climber.

Most of the time I fly the MD-11 (which is a very powerful airplane and climbs very well). I fly at the max rate of climb (around 4-5000 fpm) to 5,000, then I go to 1,800 FPM at 250KIAS till at 10,000. If I wanted to be technical I'd maintain V2+10 and climb at the rate of climb that that gives me, which would be a dang quick one. After 10,000 I accelerate to 340 KIAS and keep the 1800 fpm speed all the way to 25,000.

**saabpilot98** · 08-23-2003, 09:28 PM

You aren't flying the real MD-11 are you? If memory serves, the reason the majors dumped the MD-11 was it didn't have the performance it was touted to have. I don't think a MD-11 is capable of doing 5,000 fpm in a climb unless it was empty, if it was, you wouldn't be making money with it. To be even more technical, V2+10 is used in an one engine inoperative (OEI) situation if you've lost one on takeoff. Most real world airline pilots accelerate to 250 as soon as possible after passing acceleration altitude for the climb to (1) get out of the terminal area, and (2), the guy behind you is accelerating as well and why would you want to keep the airplane slow?

Capt. Bob

**panzerschiffe** · 08-24-2003, 01:32 PM

Having spoken to a couple of real MD-11 pilots who work for Fedex, they tout the MD-11 as EASILY having too much power. The MD-11 can maintain almost any climb rate you'd dare through at it. For light aircraft, climbout at 25 degrees pitch at 6000+ fpm isn't unheard of. Most of the time, the pilots climb after 10,000 at ECON speed, which can be anywhere from 330-355 knots. This plane is a monster.

To use a quote one of them used to describe its performance, "Everyone else is a moving road block to us."

The only performance attribute which hurt the MD-11 for passenger airlines was the range. It didn't initially meet it's guarantees for 7,850 NM. This hurt airlines that were trying to use the MD-11 for transpacific routes. The subsequent modification packages from McDonnell Douglas and Boeing have brought the MD-11's range to where it should be.

The MD-11 pilots climb as fast as possible to reach 10,000. Up to 3,000 AGL, this is V2+10, after that it will be 250 knots or VCL, whichever is higher.