News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Paul Allen's new rocket-launching plane by Xixi on Thursday June 01, 2017 @08:57AM (#14459825)
The A340-600 has four engines, not six. But the point is still true with, say, a Boeing 787. Here are the figures for the 787-9: maximum takeoff weight: 560,000 lb; maximum landing weight: 425,000 lb [1]. In case of an emergency the pilot has to get rid of fuel before landing if the airliner is above maximum landing weight.

[1] Figures given in pounds on wikipedia, the kg version looks like a "dumb" conversion: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_787_Dreamliner#Specific...

Re:Paul Allen's new rocket-launching plane by rbanffy on Thursday June 01, 2017 @11:36AM (#14461180)
We don't know Roc's maximum landing weight but abort is possible if the maximum landing weight is more than weight of the whole craft plus its cargo minus the fuel. I assume it takes of with a lot of fuel because it has potentially 1.5x time fuel consumption of an old 747.