Takeoff is the phase of flight in which an aircraft goes through a transition from moving along the ground (taxiing) to flying in the air, usually starting on a runway. Usually the engines are run at full power during takeoff. Following the taxi motion, the aircraft stops at the starting line of the runway.

Describing a plane taking off is often characterized as a transition from heavy, terrestrial vibration to a sensation of weightless suspension. The process begins with the "spooling up" of the jet engines, a powerful, low-frequency roar that vibrates through the cabin floor and pushes passengers firmly back into their seats as the aircraft accelerates down the runway. This phase feels similar to a high-performance sports car entering a highway, but with a mechanical intensity that rattles the overhead bins and window shades. The "rotate" moment occurs when the nose pitches up; the world outside the window tilts at a sharp angle, and for a split second, there is a "stomach-drop" sensation similar to a rising elevator. Suddenly, the chaotic rattling of the wheels against the tarmac vanishes, replaced by a smooth, whistling glide as the wings take the full weight of the aircraft. As the ground falls away, the landscape below transforms into a miniature map of "Lego-like" houses and silver-thread roads, while the cabin settles into a steady, pressurized hum as the plane climbs through the clouds toward the cruising altitude.