How fast does a plane have to be going to take off?

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t3h2

depends on size/weight/plane design.

Hayz's Peach - Ø£Ù…Ø§Ù†Ø¯Ø§ & ØØ³Ù†

this is the average for commercial flights
but it will still depend on the temp outisde, the weight the plane is carring, etc.
Aircraft Takeoff Weight Takeoff Speed
Boeing 737
100,000 lb 45,360 kg
150 mph 250 km/h
130 kts

Boeing 757
240,000 lb 108,860 kg
160 mph 260 km/h
140 kts

Airbus A320
155,000 lb 70,305 kg
170 mph 275 km/h
150 kts

Airbus A340
571,000 lb 259,000 kg
180 mph 290 km/h
155 kts

Boeing 747
800,000 lb 362,870 kg
180 mph 290 km/h
155 kts

Concorde
400,000 lb 181,435 kg
225 mph 360 km/h
195 kts

Scouse

Depends on design, load (including passengers, fuel and baggage) and windspeed

Tango

This all depends on the type of aeroplane. In World War 2 the 'Spitfire' and 'Hurricane' could take off at low speeds in seconds thus to avoid being bombarded with enemy bombs on the ground and to take flight swiftly to engage the enemy. Jet planes have to use longer runways due to their speed at take off.

jeff hall

faster than a robin reliant but slower than the speed of light - i think

liverpool221

242 mph

terrano

Gee these guys are genned up on aeroplanes but not me now if it was a plane for wood, its as fast as your arms can push it. Now wood planes I am genned up on.

Knowitall

There is no specific speed. Each plane has different lift depending on the plane and the conditions.

There are several different variables that effect the aircraft's lift. Air density, which is effected by temp and altitude, weight of the plane, wing surface, etc.

confucious says

it will all depend on the conditions etc the plane , the load, and the wind so it is impossible to give an answer

Completely depends on the wing design and the load. I read somewhere that theoretically, an old bi-plane could lift off in just a really strong head-wind when it was effectively standing still.

Jack N

0 mph if straight up Harrier plane.

focus

Depends on the plane and conditions, but small two or four seater single engined planes would take off at about 50- 80 mph. larger planes like jet airliners would be about 160 mph. Some planes are designed especially to cope with short runways so they can take off at quite slow speeds compared with the normal planes of the same size.

Sal*UK

T3 is right - many factors!

Have a read here - interesting if nothing else!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeoff

kitkat_137

Jetliners typically takeoff at 160 to 180 mph (260 to 290 km/h), though it depends on how heavily the plane is loaded and whether the pilot is using flaps or slats. These devices increase the planeâ€™s lift so it can take off at slower speeds.

When I say "speed" I mean airspeed (relative to the air). So, theoretically, a plane could just sit there and take off into a 160 mph wind. It would take a strong hurricane.

Airspeed is critical because it provides lift. Thatâ€™s why planes take off into the wind: to maximize airspeed. The wind hits the up-tilted wings and tail and flows downâ€”the path of least resistance. The air exerts an equal and oppositeâ€”upwardâ€”force on the wings and tail. The plane rises due to this lift.