For example, with a glide ratio of 15:1, a Boeing 747-200 can glide for 150 kilometres (93 mi; 81 nmi) from a cruising altitude of 10,000 metres (33,000 ft).
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Without engine thrust, the 747 had a glide ratio of 15:1, meaning it can glide forward 15 kilometres for every kilometre it drops. After calculating the glide ratio, the crew realized that they had less than 30 minutes to regain power before they smashed into the ground.
The A380 has a glide ratio of about 15:1, which means that for every 15 kilometers (9 miles) it travels horizontally, it loses 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) of altitude. Therefore, if an A380 is cruising at 12 kilometers (7 miles) above sea level, it can glide for about 180 kilometers (110 miles) before reaching the ground.
With it's efficient wings the glide ratio of the B 777 should be around 15:1. Extrapolating, from a Flight Level of 390 gives us a theoretical gliding distance of about 110 Miles.
A fully loaded 747 has a glide ratio of 15:1 meaning that it travels 15 feet horizontal for every foot of vertical drop. That means at 35,000 feet it could travel about 100 miles. The new 787 Dreamliner is around 20:1.
The key measure of performance in gliding is the glide ratio which is related to the lift-to-drag ratio of the aircraft. The glide ratio of a clean A320 is 17:1 which means it can travel 17 units of distance forwards for every 1 unit of distance downward at best glide speed.
Assuming that a Boeing 737-300 has a glide ratio of 17:1 then if at 30,000 AGL it can glide about 96 miles under perfect conditions. The average Cessna 150 I was flying had a glide ratio of about 7:1.
While it is possible for an A380 to operate on a single engine, it is not ideal as the aircraft would experience a decrease in speed, drag, and loss of altitude, making it crucial for the crew to restart the other engines or find a suitable airport for an emergency landing.
For example, with a glide ratio of 15:1, a Boeing 747-200 can glide for 150 kilometres (93 mi; 81 nmi) from a cruising altitude of 10,000 metres (33,000 ft).
The lift-drag ratio for commercial airliners is about 16:1. The distance that a 747 could glide is a function of altitude. Gliding from cruise altitude of 30,000 ft, or about five miles would have a range of 80 miles.
The glide ratio varies from aircraft to aircraft. A Boeing 747- 200 had a glide ratio of 15:1, and a Boeing 727 has a ratio of 17:1, the 787 has a glide ratio of over 20:1. The Airbus A320 is approximately 17:1 while the A330 is 15:1.
It is crazy to think that based on the ratio quoted, a 767 at 30,000 ft could glide approximately 113 miles. That is an impressive distance. Especially when you consider that many people without much exposure to aviation seem to often believe an airliner will nose dive if all engine power is lost.
The pilots of the Airbus A330 were able to glide the aircraft to a landing at Lajes Air Base, Terceira Island in the Azores. They were able to glide for 20 minutes and 115 miles to the airport. The reported landing speed was about 200 knots indicated airspeed, higher than the normal speed of 130 to 145.