Taking Off

[noflyingfan]

For me, and I know many others, takeoffs are the worst parts of flights. In other forums (ahem), I've seen threads about what to expect during takeoff, exactly what noises and feelings and everything to expect, and since I have a flight coming up, I was hoping we could do one of those here. I want to print it out and take it with me so I can go, "yup, there's that noise, must be switching to the alternate flugenhofer" and not be scared that we're about to crash.

Honestly, I probably will think we're about to crash anyway, but if I'm listening for the flugenhofer, I might not be as scared.

[YankssRule]

Taking off and landing are the worse for me..especially when I hear all the noises. I sat on the wing once, well, not directly on the wing :lol , you know what I mean ... anyway, I was very upset that I couldn't see how close we where to landing. Was horrible.

:pokefun flugenhofer??!?!?! what is a Flugenhofer? :rotflmao


Janet

[xiknal]

:hm I always thought it was a Fliegenhofer...

If you look in the Links Forum you'll find several resources which take you through a flight! Scout 'em out!

Overall, this sounds like a question for Captain Ray, though!

[WillFlyToDisney2]

I know I am in the minority here but I LOVE takeoff. It is my favorite part of the flight. After everyone has boarded the plane the plane pushes back from the gate with the help of a tow vehicle (no clue on the real name of that vehicle). The plane will then taxi to the runway and once it has been cleared will line up on the runway. Sometimes the plane stops at the beginning of the runway and waits and sometimes it accelerates as it makes the turn and heads down the runway. You will feel the acceleration as the engines push the plane forward. Your head will be pressed back against the seat. Good time to pull that seatbelt TIGHT. I usually grip the armrests and look out the window. You will probably feel some bumps as you speed down the runway then you will feel the front of the plane lift up and then the back of the plane lift off the ground as you rocket upwards. Once you reach a certain level it may sound like the engines quit but they haven't and you may feel a sinking in your seat as you level off (the pilots can explain WHY you feel these and what is happening). I just know it is a normal part of takeoff. You will of course hear the loud THUMPS as the landing gear retracts. The closer to the landing gear the louder the THUMP you will hear.

Relax and enjoy the view. :bigplane

Kelley

[xiknal]

I love taking off!

It's *sensual*!!, and I love the view out the window just after liftoff, seeing the ground fall away. Even when I really hated almost everything about flying, I couldn't help but enjoy this part. Now I know why. :woohoo

[noflyingfan]

The Fliegenhofer is actually the name of that vehicle that tows the plane. The Flugenhofer is the apparatus which hooks the plane to the Fliegenhofer. It is pulled in when the landing gear is retracted just after takeoff, or "Flugsprungen."

Of course, these are not to be confused with the Flugenschutzer and Fliegenschutzer, which are the two flight attendants in charge.

[xiknal]

der Pilot erklärt den Flugbegleitern bereiten Sie sich für Abfahrt vor

:hyped


But isn't the traditional term for 'Pilot' (a borrowing into German from French) Pushenpullenbankenyankentailschwingen Werker?

Inquiring minds need to know...:uhoh

[xiknal]

flugspringen:

:pokefun :fly

[Passenger Mark]

Ok... well... I don't speak you guy's language, but I will try and post here. Oh... I also copied this over the Captain Ray's forum so check over there as well.

Takeoff... hmm...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/salt lake to ontario/g_taking_the_runway.jpg

At first when they take the runway, and straighten out, you will hear the engines wind up a bit. The plane may or may not move, but what they are doing is bringing the engines up to balance with one another.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/salt lake to ontario/f_taxi.jpg

While on the roll you may hear and feel a repeated noise "thumps". As you gain speed the "thumps" will repeat and a rapid rate. These are the little reflector things in the runway, like the ones on the street that you can run over with your car. If the pilot is right on centerline, the front gear will make this noise as it rolls over the reflectors, or in some cases lights. So no... the wheels are not about to fall of, and they do not have a flat tire.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/salt lake to ontario/h_here_we_go.jpg

There is also the noise of items in the overhead moving about, and sometimes things are not "that secure" in the galley and "might" fall. Making a loud noise. No problem... just something that has to be cleaned up.

So now, the engines have spun up, are balanced, the brakes have been released, and you are rolling along hearing the thumps of the tires, the rattle of the overhead bins, and the possible noise of falling objects in the galley.

As the wheels lift off, the rattling, and of course the thumping stops, and it gets a bit more quiet...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/salt lake to ontario/i_liftoff.jpg

But not for long because now you hear... the "wiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnnn" noise of the gear coming up, and on some planes you will hear that "THUMP" sound as they lock up in the belly of the plane... then comes another "wiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeennnn" noise as the flaps come up. It is usually about this time that someone will push the flight attendant call button wanting a pillow! That can confuse some passengers (ME!) because you are not sure what the "ding" indicates.

Now after this... you are reaching the speed limit allowed below 10,000 feet, so there may be a reduction of power, which is noticeable. Then after the pitch is where the pilot wants it, they may add a bit back. Again the engine coming back up is noticeable as well.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/salt lake to ontario/j_saltlake.jpg

You will also "feel" this speed change in your seat. No biggie, just like you "feel" speed change in a car.

As you climb out there may be a few bumps, which will cause a few more rattles, and possibly the rest of those peanuts in the galley that did not fall on the roll will finish falling.

At about 10,000 feet there is the familiar "ding", and then the PA announcements from the flight attendant advising it is ok to use portable electronic devices, the "welcome to our Superflyer flying club member" announcement etc.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/mark9091/salt lake to ontario/l_flyingalong.jpg

You are off into the wild blue yonder!

[xiknal]

great sequence of images! :jump

flugspringen tailschwingen xiknal 0]

[noflyingfan]

Thanks! The photos help, although they do make me sweat a little.

[spleisher]

Nice post, Mark!

Kelley, the airplane pushy thingy is called a tug... just FYI.. not that it really matters.

Another normal takeoff procedure that a lot of people are nervous about is noise abatemant procedures. A short while after takeoff you will often get a "sinking" sensation and hear the engines change pitch a bit. To the unknowing ear and gut, it can feal like you're plummeting back to earth.

Rest assured this is not the case! In many airports, noise regulations are in place that require the planes throttle back a little bit once they are airborne. This is not caused by a problem with a plane, but more caused by the fact that people who live near the airport get tired of jet noise.

Rest assured the plane is still climbing at this point! I always liked the "elevator reference" when describing this feeling. When you ride an elvator, you often get a sinking sensation just before the elevator stops. In fact, it is still rising, but has slowed in order to stop. Because your body is deprived of its usual sensory perceptions, you are fooled into thinking you are going down, when in reality you are not. The same thing happens a lot in a jetliner. You really can't count on your eyes or the seat of your pants to give you an accurate description of what is going on.

I think they should put and attitude indicator and an altimeter in the seat back in front of you. They could incorporate it into the TV thingies some airlines (think JetBlue) are already installing. It would really help a lot of people. Don't think it will happen, but it would help.

Later all,
Scott:airplane

[WillFlyToDisney2]

Thanks Scott - the tug. Got it. :) I like knowing the "technical terms".

Kelley