Interesting re TACA 110

[elaw]

So here are a couple of things related to TACA 110.

First I don't know if it's old news here but I just discovered this really cool (and long) interview with the pilot: https://youtu.be/kT4_4_jwj-A

And... I have a question that relates to how they got the aircraft out of there. I think this link will show you the area I'm describing: https://www.google.com/maps/@30.0170788 ... a=!3m1!1e3 Otherwise fire up your favorite map program and go to 30.018848543352505, -89.91714084691132.

So here's my question: as I understand it, they moved the a/c to the road "Saturn Blvd." which years ago was a runway, and took off from the road. Looking at it, the most sensible direction to depart seems to be toward the southwest. And I don't think they could have started any farther to the northeast than the intersection of Michoud Facility Rd. and Saturn Blvd. because there's a large building right next to the road. But traveling soutthwest, the distance from that point to where Saturn Blvd. stops being straight is only about 3000 feet. Can a 733 get off the ground in 3000 feet? Wikipedia gives the takeoff distance for that plane as 7,500 feet but I suppose that may be at MTOW?

[Gabriel]

So here are a couple of things related to TACA 110.

First I don't know if it's old news here but I just discovered this really cool (and long) interview with the pilot: https://youtu.be/kT4_4_jwj-A

And... I have a question that relates to how they got the aircraft out of there. I think this link will show you the area I'm describing: https://www.google.com/maps/@30.0170788 ... a=!3m1!1e3 Otherwise fire up your favorite map program and go to 30.018848543352505, -89.91714084691132.

So here's my question: as I understand it, they moved the a/c to the road "Saturn Blvd." which years ago was a runway, and took off from the road. Looking at it, the most sensible direction to depart seems to be toward the southwest. And I don't think they could have started any farther to the northeast than the intersection of Michoud Facility Rd. and Saturn Blvd. because there's a large building right next to the road. But traveling soutthwest, the distance from that point to where Saturn Blvd. stops being straight is only about 3000 feet. Can a 733 get off the ground in 3000 feet? Wikipedia gives the takeoff distance for that plane as 7,500 feet but I suppose that may be at MTOW?

Remember that the take off distance is not the real take off distance, it is the distance it takes to accelerate to V1, lose an engine, keep accelerating with the remaining engine, rotate at Vr, lift off and clear a 35ft high obstacle, plus a margin of 2 seconds at V1.

A very lightweight 737 (zero payload, minimum fuel) with 2 good engines can easily lift off in much less than 3000 ft. You would have a VR of 99 kts (flaps 15) and you would be accelerating like hell.

[elaw]

Hey for anyone interested in this accident and/or the pilot involved, one of our favorite aviation speakists just did an interview with him: https://youtu.be/wkI6TKYZqK0