Ameer Randolph
The Boeing 747 is one of the largest and fastest commercial jets in the world. With a cruising speed of 580 mph, it covers a mile every 6.2 seconds. This impressive speed comes at a cost, as the 747 burns a gallon of fuel every second, or 18,000 gallons in a 5-hour flight. The 747-8 variant of the plane has a fuel burn rate that is similar to the 747-400, but it achieves this while carrying 50 tons more. The fuel burn rate of the 747-8 is estimated to be about 10-12 tons per hour, depending on weight.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fuel burn per hour | 10-12 tonnes per hour, depending on weight |
| Comparison to other aircraft | The 747-8 burns roughly the same fuel as the -400, but the -8F does that 50 tons heavier. The 747-8 has a 3% per seat cost disadvantage compared to the A380. |
| Fuel economy | 0.18 miles per gallon |
| Fuel burn rate | 1 gallon of fuel every second |
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What You'll Learn
A 747-8 burns 1 gallon of fuel per second
A 747-8 is a large commercial jet and one of the fastest in the world. It has a cruising speed of 580 mph, covering a mile every 6.2 seconds. The 747-8 burns approximately 1 gallon of fuel per second, or 36,000 gallons in a 10-hour flight. This equates to a fuel economy of 0.18 miles per gallon.
The high fuel consumption of the 747-8 is due to its large capacity—it can carry up to 568 passengers. When considered in relation to the number of passengers, the 747-8 becomes much more fuel-efficient. It burns 0.01 gallons of fuel per person per mile, or 100 miles per gallon per person.
The fuel efficiency of the 747-8 can also be compared to other aircraft. The Airbus A380, the largest passenger aircraft, consumes slightly more fuel than the 747-8 due to its higher capacity. The A380 uses 4,600 gallons of fuel per hour, or 1.3 gallons per second. Modern twin-engine aircraft, like the Airbus A350, are significantly more fuel-efficient than the 747-8, consuming 38 lb of fuel per nautical mile.
The actual fuel consumption of the 747-8 may vary depending on several factors, including the aircraft's weight, payload, engine efficiency, flight path, and weather conditions. However, with its high fuel consumption, the 747-8's ability to carry a large number of passengers makes it a viable option for long-haul international routes.
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That's 18,000 gallons in 5 hours
The Boeing 747 is one of the largest and fastest commercial jets in the world. With a cruising speed of 580 miles per hour, it covers a mile every 6.2 seconds. This means that the 747 burns through a lot of fuel. In fact, it consumes approximately 1 gallon of fuel every second, or 36,000 gallons over the course of a 10-hour flight.
Considering this, it's no surprise that a 5-hour flight would see the 747 burn through 18,000 gallons of fuel. That's an average of 3,600 gallons of fuel per hour, or 60 gallons per minute. At this rate, the 747 could empty a 5-gallon bucket of fuel in just 5 seconds!
Of course, the actual fuel consumption of the 747 can vary depending on a number of factors, including the number of passengers on board, the weight of the cargo, the efficiency of the engines, the flight path, and weather conditions. But even with these variables, the 747 remains one of the most fuel-intensive aircraft in the sky.
With sustainability and climate change becoming increasingly important, the high fuel consumption of the 747 has led airlines to phase out this iconic plane in favor of more fuel-efficient twinjet models. Despite this, the 747's impressive size and speed have made it a staple of commercial aviation for decades.
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The 747 carries 48,400 gallons of fuel
The Boeing 747 is one of the largest and fastest commercial jets in the world. With a cruising speed of 580 mph, it can cover a mile every 6.2 seconds. To facilitate such high fuel consumption on long-haul international routes, the 747 carries approximately 48,400 gallons of fuel. This is enough to get from New York to London, but longer routes like Los Angeles to Sydney require more fuel capacity.
The 747's fuel capacity has increased over time, with later variants like the 747-8i Intercontinental carrying 63,034 gallons of fuel. This amount of fuel weighs about 400,000 lbs, nearly as much as the empty plane itself.
The 747 burns through a significant amount of fuel, with estimates ranging from 3,500 to 3,800 gallons of fuel per hour at cruising speed. This equates to a fuel economy of about 0.18 to 0.19 miles per gallon. However, when considering the number of passengers on board, the fuel efficiency per person improves significantly.
The high fuel consumption of the 747 is partly due to the fuel-intensive takeoff process, where the jet needs to get up to speed and climb to cruising altitude while at its heaviest. Additionally, the number of engines, passenger capacity, and engine efficiency can impact the overall fuel burn rate.
With sustainability and climate change becoming increasingly important, the high fuel consumption and associated CO2 emissions of jet aircraft like the 747 are facing greater scrutiny. Despite the 747's fuel requirements, its ability to carry a vast amount of fuel has made it a popular choice for international flights.
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Fuel burn rate depends on speed
The fuel burn rate of an aircraft depends on several factors, one of which is speed. The Boeing 747, for example, cruises at 580 mph, burning approximately one gallon of fuel per second or 5 gallons per mile. This equates to a fuel economy of 0.18 miles per gallon.
The speed of an aircraft has a significant impact on its fuel burn rate. As speed increases, so does the airflow speed around the aircraft. This increase in airflow speed affects the flame stability within the engine, with higher airflow speeds potentially leading to flame extinction and reduced fuel evaporation. This phenomenon is known as the Damköhler effect and can result in a decrease in the overall burning rate of the fuel.
Additionally, the speed of an aircraft can influence the fuel concentration in the combustion process. At higher speeds, the flame temperature may decrease more gradually due to increases in suspension-specific heat capacity. This effect is more pronounced for larger particles burning in the diffusive mode. However, for smaller particles, the decrease in flame temperature may not significantly impact the combustion rate.
The laminar burning velocity, or the speed at which a flame propagates through a combustible mixture, is also influenced by speed. As an aircraft travels faster, the airflow and pressure around the engine change, affecting the laminar burning velocity. This, in turn, impacts the fuel burn rate and the engine's performance and emissions.
Furthermore, the speed of an aircraft can affect the heat transfer to the fuel surface. As speed increases, natural convection may be overwhelmed by wind-forced convection, resulting in more intensive heat transfer. This change in heat transfer can further influence the burning rate of the fuel, making it a complex process that depends on various factors, including the scale of the fuel pool and the type of fuel used.
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A 747-400 burns 82,353 litres of fuel London to New York
The Boeing 747 is one of the largest and fastest commercial jets in the world. It has a cruising speed of 580 miles per hour, meaning it covers a mile every 6.2 seconds. The 747 burns approximately 5 gallons of fuel per mile, or 1 gallon (about 4 litres) of fuel every second. This equates to 18,000 gallons of fuel in a 5-hour flight.
However, the fuel consumption of a 747 varies depending on several factors, including the number of passengers, the payload, the efficiency of the engines, the flight path, and weather conditions. For example, a 747 flying from London to New York carrying 450 passengers will burn approximately 82,353 litres of fuel. This works out at a cost of about £41, or €52, per passenger.
The fuel efficiency of the 747 can be improved when the number of passengers is taken into account. A 747 can carry up to 568 people, but even if only 500 seats are sold, the plane is still burning only 0.01 gallons per person per mile. In other words, the plane is getting 100 miles per gallon per person.
Despite this, the 747 is still less fuel-efficient than some other aircraft. Modern twin-engine aircraft, such as the Airbus A350, are significantly more efficient than the 747's quadjet engines. The Airbus A380, the largest passenger aircraft, also consumes slightly more fuel than the 747 due to its higher capacity.
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Frequently asked questions
A 747-8 burns approximately 1 gallon of fuel per second, which equates to 3,600 gallons per hour.
No, the Airbus A380 is slightly less fuel-efficient, burning 4,600 gallons of fuel per hour.
On a 10-hour flight, a 747-8 would burn approximately 36,000 gallons of fuel.
A typical car gets about 25 miles per gallon. A 747-8 gets approximately 0.18 miles per gallon, making the car significantly more fuel-efficient.
The range of a 747-8 depends on various factors, including payload and flight path. However, it can carry up to 63,034 gallons of fuel, enabling routes such as Los Angeles to Sydney.
