How Fast Is Airliner Takeoff Speed?

An airliner takes off at 80 m/s — 290 km/h. A 747 needs about 3 km of runway to reach this speed before lifting off. The nose-wheel rotates first; the plane then 'unsticks' from the runway as the wings generate enough lift.

A 747's takeoff weight can be over 400 tonnes — about the same as a fully loaded blue whale. The wings deform upward by several metres in flight to support it.

• Same as helicopter cruise
• 747 needs 3 km of runway to reach takeoff