Which aircraft is a heavy four-engine jet with TAS 460+ and rate of climb 3000-3500?

• A. KC-135 Stratotanker
• B. Boeing 747
• C. Cirrus SR22
• D. B-52 Stratofortress

Answer: (B)

Think of it in terms of engine count and performance class. A heavy four-engine jet with a high true airspeed and a strong initial climb rate points to a large commercial or cargo jet, not a small general aviation aircraft or a bomber with a different engine setup. The Boeing 747 is the quintessential heavy four-engine jet, and its typical performance matches the described range: a true airspeed around 460 knots or more and a climb rate in the ballpark of 3,000 to 3,500 feet per minute during the climb. The KC-135 also has four engines but is smaller and slower by comparison, the B-52 uses eight engines, and the Cirrus SR22 is a light, single-engine aircraft. So the best match for a heavy four-engine jet with those performance figures is the Boeing 747.