Mercedes Mullins
The Boeing 747 is one of the most iconic airplanes in the world. With its high passenger capacity and long range, it has enabled airlines to open new direct routes worldwide. The 747 burns approximately 1 gallon (about 4 litres) of fuel every second, or 10-11 tonnes of fuel per hour when cruising. The amount of fuel used depends on the aircraft model, with the 747-100 carrying 48,400 gallons of fuel, and the 747-8i Intercontinental carrying 63,034 gallons. Despite the high fuel usage, when considering the number of passengers, the 747 is more fuel-efficient per person than a car.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fuel consumption per second | 1 gallon (approximately 4 litres) |
| Fuel consumption per hour | 3,500 gallons (approximately 10 to 11 tonnes) |
| Fuel consumption during takeoff | 5,000 gallons (about 19,000 litres) |
| Fuel capacity of 747-100 | 48,400 gallons (approximately 183,214 litres) |
| Fuel capacity of 747-200 and 300 | 52,410 gallons (199,158 litres) |
| Fuel capacity of 747-400 | 57,285 gallons (216,840 litres) |
| Fuel capacity of 747-8i Intercontinental | 63,034 gallons (238,610 litres) |
| Fuel capacity of 747-8f freighter | 59,734 gallons (226,095 litres) |
| Fuel capacity of Dreamlifter | 49,526 gallons (187,476 litres) |
| Range | 7,790 nautical miles |
| Maximum fuel load | 63,000 gallons (approximately 400,000 lbs) |
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What You'll Learn
A Boeing 747 burns 1 gallon of fuel per second
A Boeing 747 burns approximately 1 gallon (about 4 litres) of fuel per second. This equates to roughly 10 to 11 tonnes (3,500 gallons) of fuel per hour when cruising at altitude. On a 10-hour flight, a Boeing 747 might burn 36,000 gallons (150,000 litres).
The amount of fuel burned can vary depending on the model of the aircraft. The debut version, the 747-100, could carry 48,400 gallons of fuel, while the 747-200 and 300 had a capacity of 52,410 gallons. The 747-400 could hold 57,285 gallons, and the 747-8i Intercontinental can carry 63,034 gallons. The 747-8 engines have about 85% of the thrust of the Airbus A380 engines, and scaling the fuel consumption based on that gives 8.3 kg/s, 10.3 L/s, or 2.7 gal/s.
The majority of the fuel is stored in the aircraft's wings, which allows the plane to remain balanced as the fuel funnels down into the engines symmetrically. This increases storage capacity in the fuselage for cargo. On a 747, there are two main fuel tanks in each wing, reserve fuel tanks in the outer wing sections, and a central wing tank in the middle.
While the amount of fuel burned may seem high, when considering the number of passengers, the fuel efficiency per person is better than that of a car. A 747 can carry up to 568 people, and on a 10-hour flight burning 36,000 gallons of fuel, it is getting 100 miles per gallon per person.
The fuel used by the Boeing 747 is typically Jet A or Jet A-1, which are colorless, easily combustible, kerosene-based fuels used in turbine engine airplanes. Kerosene-based fuels are used because they have a higher flash point than gasoline and provide a higher level of power.
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Fuel capacity varies across 747 models
The fuel capacity of a Boeing 747 varies across different models. The debut version, the 747-100, could carry 48,400 gallons of fuel, which is approximately 183,214 liters. The following two variants, the 747-200 and 300, had a slightly increased fuel capacity of 52,410 gallons (199,158 liters).
The 747-400 model featured further improvements in range, capacity, and fuel efficiency. It could hold 57,285 gallons of fuel (216,840 liters), which was an increase of more than 9%. The final 747 model, the 747-8, had a 16% increase in payload capacity compared to previous models.
The 747-8 was produced in two variants: the 747-8i Intercontinental, which could carry 63,034 gallons (238,610 liters), and the 747-8f freighter, with a fuel capacity of 59,734 gallons (226,095 liters).
The fuel efficiency of the 747 models can be compared to that of a car. While a 747 may burn approximately 1 gallon (about 4 liters) of fuel per second, or 5 gallons of fuel per mile, it can carry up to 568 people. This equates to a per-person fuel efficiency of 100 miles per gallon, which is significantly better than the average car's 25 miles per gallon.
The fuel capacity and efficiency of the different 747 models have contributed to their ability to serve long-range and high-capacity routes worldwide.
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Jet fuel is kerosene-based
A Boeing 747 uses approximately 1 gallon (about 4 litres) of fuel per second. Over a 10-hour flight, this would amount to 36,000 gallons (150,000 litres). The 747 burns approximately 5 gallons of fuel per mile (12 litres of fuel per kilometre).
Jet fuel is primarily kerosene-based. Turbine engines, such as those in jet aircraft, can operate with a wide range of fuels, but generally use lower-cost fuels with higher flash points, which are less flammable and therefore safer to transport and handle. Kerosene-based fuels are used for large planes because the flash point of kerosene is higher than gasoline, making it safer and more efficient. Kerosene also has a higher energy density than gasoline, avoiding pre-ignition problems and providing greater control over ignition.
The exact composition of jet fuel varies widely based on its petroleum source, and so it is defined as a performance specification rather than a chemical compound. Kerosene-type jet fuel (including Jet A, Jet A-1, JP-5, and JP-8) has a carbon number distribution between about 8 and 16 (carbon atoms per molecule). Fischer-Tropsch (SPK) synthetic fuels, derived from natural gas, are certified for use in aviation fleets at up to 50% in a blend with conventional jet fuel. Qatar Airways became the first airline to operate a commercial flight using a 50:50 blend of synthetic gas-to-liquid (GTL) jet fuel and conventional jet fuel.
As emphasis shifts towards renewable energy, alternative fuels such as hydrogen power, electric batteries, and biofuels are being explored for aviation use.
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Takeoff is the most fuel-intensive aspect of a flight
The Boeing 747 is one of the most iconic airplanes in the world, with a high passenger capacity and long range. The amount of fuel it burns depends on the aircraft model and the number of passengers.
Takeoff is the most fuel-intensive part of a flight for a Boeing 747. During this process, the aircraft can burn up to 5,000 gallons (about 19,000 liters) of fuel. This is because, during takeoff, the plane needs to generate enough power to reach its cruising altitude. The higher the plane climbs, the thinner the air becomes, and more power is required to keep the plane airborne. The fuel consumption during takeoff can be influenced by various factors, including the weight of the aircraft, the number of engines, and their efficiency.
The Boeing 747 has different models with varying fuel capacities and efficiencies. The debut version, the 747-100, could carry 48,400 gallons of fuel (approximately 183,214 liters). The 747-200 and 300 models had a slightly increased fuel capacity of 52,410 gallons (199,158 liters). The 747-400, the most popular member of the 747 family, could hold 57,285 gallons (216,840 liters), an increase of more than 9%.
The 747-8 is the final model of the 747, with two variants: the 747-8i Intercontinental, which can carry 63,034 gallons (238,610 liters), and the 747-8f freighter, with a capacity of 59,734 gallons (226,095 liters). The 747-8 engines have about 85% of the thrust of the Airbus A380 engines, and scaling the fuel consumption accordingly gives 8.3 kg/s, 10.3 L/s, or 2.7 gal/s.
The fuel is primarily stored in the aircraft's wings, with two main fuel tanks in each wing, reserve fuel tanks in the outer wing sections, and a central wing tank in the middle. This distribution maintains balance and allows for symmetrical fuel flow to the engines, optimizing storage capacity for cargo.
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A 747 is more fuel-efficient per person than a car
The Boeing 747 is one of the most iconic airplanes in the world, with a high passenger capacity and long range. The amount of fuel it consumes depends on the model and variant. The debut version, the 747-100, could carry 48,400 gallons of fuel (approximately 183,214 liters). The 747-200 and 300 variants increased fuel capacity to 52,410 gallons (199,158 liters), while the 747-400 further improved fuel efficiency and increased capacity to 57,285 gallons (216,840 liters). The final model, the 747-8, has a capacity of 63,034 gallons (238,610 liters) for the 747-8i Intercontinental and 59,734 gallons (226,095 liters) for the 747-8f freighter.
The Boeing 747 burns approximately 1 gallon (about 4 liters) of fuel every second, or about 10 to 11 tons of fuel per hour when cruising. On a 10-hour flight, it might burn 36,000 gallons (150,000 liters) of fuel. This equates to about 5 gallons of fuel per mile (12 liters of fuel per kilometer). While this may seem like a lot, when you consider the number of passengers it can carry, the fuel efficiency per person becomes more apparent.
A 747 can carry up to 568 people, and for easier math, we'll assume 500 passengers. At 5 gallons of fuel per mile, the plane is burning 0.01 gallons per person per mile (1/500). In other words, the plane achieves 100 miles per gallon per person. This is significantly better than the typical car, which gets about 25 miles per gallon. For example, a car with two passengers driving from New York to Los Angeles (2,797 miles) would consume 112 gallons of gas, resulting in a per-person fuel efficiency of 27 gallons.
Therefore, despite the high fuel consumption of the Boeing 747, it is more fuel-efficient per person than a car, especially when considering long-distance travel where the average car occupancy is typically two passengers.
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Frequently asked questions
A Boeing 747 uses approximately 36,000 gallons of fuel during a 10-hour flight.
A Boeing 747 burns approximately 1 gallon of fuel per second, which equates to about 4 litres.
A Boeing 747 burns approximately 5 gallons of fuel per mile, which equates to about 12 litres per kilometre.
Takeoff is the most fuel-intensive aspect of each flight, with the aircraft burning up to 5,000 gallons (about 19,000 litres) during the process.
