Sylvie Willis
The Boeing 747 is one of the most recognisable airplanes in the world, with a long range and high passenger capacity. The amount of fuel burnt by a 747 depends on the aircraft model, but the four engines of the 747 burn around 1 gallon (approximately 4 litres) of fuel per second. This equates to about 10-11 tonnes (3,500-3,800 gallons) of fuel per hour when cruising. The 747's fuel efficiency is around 0.18-0.19 miles per gallon.
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What You'll Learn
The Boeing 747 burns 3,500-3,800 gallons of fuel per hour
The Boeing 747 is a large and fast commercial jet with four engines. It burns through 3,500-3,800 gallons of fuel per hour, or approximately one gallon every second. This amounts to 10 to 11 tonnes of fuel burnt per hour when cruising.
The amount of fuel burnt by the 747 is influenced by several factors, such as the number of passengers, the make and model of the engines, and the aircraft's variant. The original 747-100 could carry 48,400 gallons of fuel, while later variants like the 747-8i Intercontinental can carry up to 63,034 gallons.
Takeoff is the most fuel-intensive part of a flight, with the 747 using up to 5,000 gallons of fuel during this process. However, the 747 is designed to carry thousands of gallons of fuel to accommodate long-haul international routes.
Despite the high fuel consumption, the 747 can achieve impressive fuel efficiency when considering its passenger capacity. On a flight with 500 passengers, the plane achieves 100 miles per gallon per passenger. This is comparable to the fuel efficiency of a modern car with a single occupant.
The environmental impact of the 747's fuel usage is significant, with jet fuel producing 21.1 lbs of CO2 per gallon. This, combined with the unique environmental harm caused by burning aviation fuel at high altitudes, contributes to the plane's overall environmental footprint.
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This equates to 1 gallon (4 litres) of fuel per second
The Boeing 747 is a large and fast commercial jet with four engines. It burns a lot of fuel—approximately 1 gallon (or 4 litres) every second. This amounts to 3,500 to 3,800 gallons per hour when cruising at altitude, or 10 to 11 tonnes. The 747's debut version, the 747-100, could carry 48,400 gallons of fuel, while later variants increased this capacity to 63,034 gallons.
The high fuel consumption of the 747 is due in part to the fuel-intensive process of takeoff, where the jet must get up to speed and climb to cruising altitude while at its heaviest. The amount of fuel burned during takeoff can be as much as 5,000 gallons (or about 19,000 litres).
Despite the seemingly high fuel consumption, when the number of passengers is taken into account, the fuel efficiency per person is improved. For example, on a 10-hour flight burning 36,000 gallons of fuel, the plane is getting 100 miles per gallon per person if it carries 500 passengers.
Comparisons have been drawn between the fuel efficiency of the 747 and that of modern cars. While the mpg per traveller is similar, the environmental impact of burning aviation fuel at altitude is unique and more harmful.
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A London to New York flight burns 70,000kg of fuel
A London to New York flight on a Boeing 747 burns approximately 70,000kg of fuel. This is an enormous amount of fuel, and it is no surprise that aviation fuel costs make up a large portion of the ticket price.
The Boeing 747 is a quadjet with four engines, burning approximately 10 to 11 tonnes of fuel per hour, or 3,500 to 3,800 gallons per hour when cruising. This equates to roughly 1 gallon (approximately 4 litres) of fuel every second. Over a 10-hour flight, the 747 burns 36,000 gallons (150,000 litres).
The 747 is a large commercial jet, carrying hundreds of passengers, and it is one of the fastest, with a cruising speed of 580 mph. It is capable of travelling 7,790 nautical miles, and can carry a maximum of 238,604 litres of fuel.
The amount of fuel burned per second varies depending on the number of passengers, the weight of the aircraft, the efficiency of the engines, and the weather conditions. However, the 747 is still more fuel-efficient per passenger than a car carrying one person.
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Takeoff is the most fuel-intensive part of a flight
The Boeing 747 is one of the largest commercial jets and has four engines that burn approximately 3,500 to 3,800 gallons of fuel per hour at cruising speed. This amounts to about one gallon of fuel per second. The exact fuel burn rate depends on the passenger capacity and the type of engines installed.
While the cruising stage of a flight generally consumes the most fuel overall, especially on longer flights, the takeoff and climb stages burn fuel at the highest rate per minute. This is because, at cruising altitudes, the thinner air reduces drag, and the engines can operate more efficiently. Additionally, the constant speed during cruising optimizes fuel burn for distance traveled.
Short-haul flights may see a larger proportion of fuel used during takeoff and climb due to the shorter cruising time. On the other hand, long-haul flights typically have longer cruising durations, resulting in higher overall fuel consumption during this phase.
The fuel efficiency of an aircraft also depends on weight and load, altitude and flight path, engine and aircraft maintenance, and weather conditions. Well-maintained engines operate more efficiently, and modern aircraft like the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 have more fuel-efficient engines and aerodynamics, reducing fuel burn compared to older models.
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The 747's fuel efficiency is 0.18-0.19 mpg
The Boeing 747 is a large commercial jet with a brace of four turbofan engines. It has a cruising speed of 580 mph, meaning it covers a mile every 6.2 seconds. The 747 burns approximately 3,500 to 3,800 gallons of fuel per hour, or about one gallon every second. This equates to a fuel economy of 0.18-0.19 mpg.
The 747's fuel efficiency is significantly lower than that of modern two-engine aircraft like the Airbus A350, which has a cruising mpg of 0.208. However, the 747's fuel efficiency per passenger can be comparable to that of a modern car due to its high passenger capacity. For example, at full capacity, a 747 can carry 500 passengers, resulting in a fuel efficiency of 100 mpg per passenger.
The fuel efficiency of aircraft is influenced by various factors, including the number of engines, seating density, payload fraction, and airframe weight. The introduction of more efficient two-engine aircraft, such as the Airbus A330 and Boeing 777, has reduced the dominance of the 747 and other four-engine jets.
To improve fuel economy, airlines have implemented measures such as direct routing, optimizing cruise altitude, and reducing airframe weight through the use of lightweight materials. These efforts contribute to reducing fuel consumption and lowering environmental impacts.
While the 747's fuel efficiency of 0.18-0.19 mpg may seem low, it's important to consider the number of passengers it can carry. The fuel efficiency per passenger can be more comparable to other modes of transport, and the convenience of air travel justifies the fuel usage for many travelers.
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Frequently asked questions
A 747 burns approximately 1 gallon (3.8-4 litres) of fuel every second.
A 747 burns 3,500 to 3,800 gallons of fuel per hour at cruising speed.
Takeoff is the most fuel-intensive part of a flight. A 747 burns up to 5,000 gallons (19,000 litres) of fuel during the process.
A 747 gets 100 miles per gallon per passenger. The typical car gets about 25 miles per gallon.
