An airplane s wings are both incredibly strong and flexible. Like tall buildings, they are designed to sway and bend in high winds. A 407,000-pound Boeing 767 s wings can support well over 1 million pounds of weight. With those fears dispelled, let s take a brief look at perhaps the most exciting and miraculous aspect of flight the takeoff. Most jet airliners take off at speeds of 155 to 180 miles per hour.
Pilots control engine power with multiple thrust levers, depending on the number of engines.
Pushing the thrust levers forward increases power, while pulling them all the way back to the stop decreases power to idle. During takeoff on a jet airliner, full power must be set before the plane accelerates through 60 knots. Accelerating to lift-off speed, passengers especially those seated near the front of the plane hear and feel a thump, thump, thump. This is the tires going over the center-line lights of the runway. The center-line lights are raised slightly above the surface of the runway so they can be seen from great distances by airborne pilots.