When does an aircraft produce more thrust, while stationary on the ground or at rotation?

The most accurate understanding of when an aircraft produces more thrust is at rotation. During the takeoff phase, particularly at the moment of rotation, the aircraft is transitioning from the ground to becoming airborne, and this is when the engines are generating maximum thrust to achieve the necessary lift for takeoff.

When an aircraft is stationary on the ground, the engines are operating at a certain throttle setting, primarily to maintain engine performance and control the aircraft. During this time, the thrust produced may be sufficient for ground maneuvers but does not reach the peak levels seen at rotation.

At rotation, the thrust must be maximized to overcome inertia and drag as the aircraft begins to lift off, requiring the engines to be at high power output. Once airborne, although the thrust is still significant, it's generally set to a lower level than the peak thrust achieved at the moment of rotation, as the aircraft may be leveling off or climbing at a steady rate.

In the context of descent, the thrust is usually reduced significantly, as the aircraft is utilizing the aerodynamic lift to descend without needing to maintain or produce excess thrust.

Thus, the moment of rotation marks the transition where thrust is maximized to ensure successful takeoff, which clarifies why that would be the peak thrust scenario