Originally Posted by BOH
A very confusing statement. On the one hand you say the 744 could do what the 343 cannot out of DEL and then claim that actually the only a/c that could is an RR powered 757. Now which is it
I'm saying the 343 can't do what the 744 can do out of SIN heading to Europe - not that the 744 can do what the 343 can't DEL-North America. I mentioned the 757-200 because it has an incredible thrust: weight ratio and climb rate and probably could take a
full load from takeoff at DEL to crossing the Himalayas without having to burn off fuel in a wastefl route. Unfortunately it hasn't go the range to reach N. America non-stop. As a matter of interest, Boeing was demonstrating one engine out climbs out of Lhasa, Tibet (12,000' altitude runway) when trying to sell the a/c to Chinese airlines in the '80s.
Not too many airlines have tried DEL-North America non-stop with any a/c - I think only AC has tried it with a 343 (and 345?) and the only ones doing it regularly now are CO and AA with 777-200ERs (to be joined eventually by AI using 777-200LRs). I thought the 777-200ER cross the Himalayas due to inadequate fire suppression ratings but this doesn't seem to be the case.