Watch the take off on this 787-9 and the landing doesn't seem to need much runway.

[LiberalArkie]

[packman]

1. That almost vertical take-off

reminded me of every flight I ever took. My toes would curl in my shoes gripping for the carpet below the seat. Horizontal flight was a nothing, but those banks, turns , and take offs made me want to grab something. Once coming into Cancun, Mexico, the plane was experiencing turbulence right over the treetops and I could swear I saw some critters in the trees below looking at the plane.

[randys1]

2. Holy cow...handles like a plane a tenth the size...amazing

[Arkansas Granny]

3. Some of the turns looked as graceful as a figure skater.

[NV Whino]

4. That's a beautiful plane

I don't know about that takeoff, though. They'd still be prying my hands loose from the armrests when it was time to deplane.

[Sherman A1]

5. Cool!

Thanks for posting.

[liberal N proud]

6. Graceful but agile plane - but I still love to watch a 747 land and take off

[LiberalArkie]

7. I have seen a 747 do a barrel roll, I wonder if this one could do it.

I wonder how the 787-9 would handle with the space shuttle on top of it?

[Buns_of_Fire]

9. While watching this, I was wondering if it would do aerobatics, too.

Not that I'd want to be a passenger if the pilot was feeling kinda frisky, mind you.

[tclambert]

15. Are you talking about this video?

Not so surprisingly, they say it's a hoax. The flaps aren't down. The landing gear is down. No control surfaces seem to move as far as I could see. In simulations, the 747 loses a lot of altitude during a roll, and this one doesn't.

I searched and could not find a verifiable 747 roll on video. Several simulations, but not a real one.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

17. Yeah that's totally fake

But this isn't:

[SeattleVet]

18. Don't see why not.

A barrel roll is actually a very safe, 1G maneuver that doesn't stress the airframe like loops or some other maneuvers.

But after that little Tex Johnston incident over Lake Washington in the 707, there aren't many Boeing test pilots willing to see how management would react.

[Buns_of_Fire]

8. Wow. I mean just... wow. nt

[WhiteTara]

10. watching that take off almost made me

[yorokmok]

11. Keep in mind...

...although this is truly an amazing aircraft built largely out of composite materials so as to save weight and also fuel, it is carrying no passengers, no cargo, and probably has just enough fuel to complete this run and possibly divert to another field. With that said, I could imagine that climb out would come in handy at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, CA!

[Hoppy]

12. The Duke would abide.

[Half-Century Man]

13. Just what I look for in a flying bus

A reason for a fighter pilot wannabe to show off.


The agility would be helpful during crisis, but probably not needed 99% of the time.

[GETPLANING]

14. It flies like a much smaller plane because it is empty.

This aircraft is built with a lot of carbon fiber, magnesium, and aluminum. It is designed to carry a lot of weight, but empty, it is very, very light. And it has a LOT of power.

[Populist_Prole]

19. That's right

Watching the video, it looks the same as any other lightly loaded airliner ( maintenance or position ferry, or test flight ) in regards to takeoff/landing lengths. Telephoto lens taking the video naturally compresses the scene as well, making long distances look shorter.

[L0oniX]

21. You'd never see that vertical clime angle with a full load IMO.

[jtuck004]

16. Are we there yet? n/t

[L0oniX]

20. Empty aircraft except for pilots and minimal fuel.

You wouldn't see the same actions with a fully loaded aircraft.

[davidpdx]

22. Wow!