Sylvie Willis
The F-35 jet has been the subject of much controversy due to its high fuel consumption and associated environmental impact. With a fuel consumption rate of 1,340 gallons per hour, or 22 gallons per minute, the F-35 burns a significant amount of jet fuel. This high fuel consumption has led to criticism of the F-35 program, with concerns raised about its contribution to climate change and the promotion of the fossil fuel industry. Additionally, the F-35's fuel consumption has significant logistical implications, affecting the range, duration of operations, and payload capacity. While technological advancements aim to improve fuel efficiency, the F-35's fuel burn rate remains a key consideration in mission planning and execution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fuel burn per minute | 22 gallons |
| Fuel burn per hour | 1,340 gallons |
| CO2 emissions per hour | 28,140 lbs |
| CO2 emissions per year | 100-200 million lbs |
| Equivalent to the annual emissions of | 10,000-20,000 passenger cars |
| Jet fuel consumption rate | 5,600 liters per hour or 1,481 gallons per hour |
| CO2e emissions | 4,816 lbs per hour |
| Fuel burn per hour (when using afterburner) | 1,200 gallons |
| Fuel burn increase when flying with a full load | 20% more fuel per hour |
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What You'll Learn
The F-35 burns 22 gallons of jet fuel per minute
The F-35 jet has a high fuel consumption rate, burning 22 gallons of jet fuel per minute, which amounts to 1,340 gallons per hour. This high consumption rate has led to concerns about the environmental impact of the F-35 program, with estimates placing the annual CO2 emissions of F-35A training flights in South Burlington, Vermont, between 100 and 200 million pounds, equivalent to the emissions of 10,000 to 20,000 passenger cars.
The F-35's fuel consumption is influenced by various factors, including its engine technology and flight conditions. The F-35's engine incorporates a low-observable augmenter or afterburner, which contributes to its stealth capabilities but also impacts fuel efficiency. Additionally, the F-35's relatively short 35-foot wingspan and heavy weight contribute to its fuel consumption.
To address fuel efficiency, the F-35 is expected to receive propulsion upgrades throughout its lifecycle. For instance, the Engine Core Upgrade (ECU) improves engine thrust and fuel burn by 5%, and bleed air cooling capacity by 50%, supporting the overall performance of the aircraft.
The high fuel consumption of the F-35 has also sparked discussions about the opportunity costs associated with the F-35 program. Critics argue that the program drains resources from essential sectors such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure, while contributing to the expansion of the fossil fuel industry.
Overall, the F-35's fuel consumption rate of 22 gallons per minute has significant implications for both the environment and the allocation of resources, highlighting the complex considerations surrounding advanced military aircraft.
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That's 1,340 gallons of jet fuel per hour
The F-35 jet has an extremely high fuel consumption rate. An F-35 burns 22 gallons of jet fuel per minute, which amounts to 1,340 gallons of jet fuel per hour. This means that the F-35A training flights from the runway in South Burlington, Vermont, burn between 4.7 and 9.4 million gallons of jet fuel per year. This is an enormous amount of fuel, and it has a significant environmental impact. The F-35 program emits between 100 and 200 million pounds of CO2 per year, which is the equivalent of the annual emissions of 10,000 to 20,000 passenger cars.
The high fuel consumption of the F-35 is due to several factors. Firstly, the F-35 is a heavy aircraft, with the lightest variant having an empty weight of 29,300 lbs. The weight of an aircraft is a decisive factor in fuel consumption, as an aircraft loaded with extra fuel and weapons requires more power to maintain flight, which in turn increases fuel consumption. The F-35's extensive avionics and internal weapons bays also contribute to its weight.
The F-35's engine also contributes to its high fuel consumption. The F135 engine, which powers the F-35 Lightning II, can burn up to 1,200 gallons of fuel per hour when using afterburner. The engine's low-observable augmenter, or afterburner, incorporates fuel injectors into thick curved vanes, which are covered by ceramic radar-absorbent materials to mask the turbine. This technology comes at the cost of increased fuel consumption.
Additionally, the F-35's short 35-foot wingspan contributes to its fuel inefficiency. The F-35A and F-35B have a short wingspan to fit inside USN amphibious assault ship parking areas and elevators, while the F-35C has a larger, more fuel-efficient wing. The F-35's relatively small wingspan means that it generates less lift, requiring more power and fuel to maintain flight.
The F-35's high fuel consumption has led to criticism of the program, particularly regarding its environmental impact and the promotion of the fossil fuel industry. The F-35's fuel consumption contributes to its high operating costs, with the program draining resources from other areas such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
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F-35A training flights burn 4.7 to 9.4 million gallons of jet fuel a year
The F-35 is a single-engine, supersonic stealth strike fighter. It burns 22 gallons of jet fuel per minute, or 1,340 gallons per hour. The F-35A variant takes off 8 to 16 times a day, 4 days a week, plus one weekend a month, which amounts to 1,760 to 3,520 takeoffs per year.
Multiplying the number of flights by the average flight duration of 2 hours, and then by the amount of fuel burned per hour, we can estimate the total fuel consumption of F-35A training flights per year. This calculation yields a result of 4.7 to 9.4 million gallons of jet fuel burned annually.
In addition to the substantial fuel consumption, F-35A training flights also produce a significant environmental impact. The emissions from these flights are estimated to be between 100 and 200 million pounds of CO2 per year, which is equivalent to the annual emissions of 10,000 to 20,000 passenger cars.
The F-35 program has been criticized for promoting the expansion of the fossil fuel industry and contributing to climate change. Critics argue that the resources spent on the F-35 program could be better utilized in other areas such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, and clean energy development.
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CO2 emissions are 100 to 200 million pounds per year
The F-35 is a climate killer. Each F-35 burns 22 gallons of jet fuel per minute, or 1,340 gallons an hour. This amounts to 28,140 lbs of CO2 per hour.
The VTANG takes off 8 to 16 times a day, 4 days a week, plus 1 weekend a month, which adds up to 1,760 to 3,520 F-35 takeoffs a year. The number of flights per year multiplied by 2 hours/flight and 28,140 lbs of CO2/flight hour gives us the total CO2 emissions per year. Thus, the F-35 emits between 99.1 million and 198.1 million pounds of CO2 per year.
This is equivalent to the annual CO2 emissions of 9,881 to 19,762 cars. To put this into perspective, the annual CO2 emissions of a typical passenger vehicle are about 2,200 lbs of carbon dioxide.
The F-35 promotes the expansion of the fossil fuel industry and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. The extreme noise generated by the F-35 has also rendered nearby affordable homes uninhabitable and disrupted town meeting democracy in Vermont.
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The F135 engine can burn up to 1,200 gallons of fuel per hour
The F135 engine, which powers the F-35 Lightning II, is a fuel guzzler. It can burn up to 1,200 gallons of jet fuel per hour when using afterburner. To put that into perspective, that's 22 gallons of jet fuel per minute. This makes the F-35 a major contributor to climate change, with annual CO2 emissions equivalent to that of 10,000 to 20,000 passenger cars.
The F-35's fuel consumption is a cause for concern for several reasons. Firstly, the F-35 promotes the expansion of the fossil fuel industry, rather than abolishing it. Secondly, the F-35's fuel consumption has a significant environmental impact, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. This is particularly problematic given that the F-35 does not provide any benefits to communities in terms of health care, education, affordable housing, or infrastructure. In fact, military spending tends to create fewer jobs than the same amount of spending in other sectors.
The F-35's fuel consumption also has logistical implications. The high fuel consumption of the F-35 reduces its range and duration of operations, affecting mission planning and execution. This is a critical factor in the F-35's operational efficiency and overall logistics strategy.
Furthermore, the F-35's fuel consumption is a drain on resources. The cost of fuelling the F-35 could be better utilized by investing in health care, education, affordable housing, infrastructure, and preventing global pandemics. This is especially concerning given that the F-35 does not address more pressing issues faced by communities, such as voter suppression, student debt, and white nationalism.
The F-35's fuel consumption is a critical factor in understanding the impact of this aircraft. With its high fuel consumption, environmental consequences, and opportunity costs, the F-35 raises concerns about its overall value and contribution to society.
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Frequently asked questions
The F-35 burns 1,340 gallons of jet fuel per hour or 22 gallons per minute.
The F-35 jet fuel consumption rate is 5,600 litres per hour.
The F-35 jet fuel consumption rate is higher than the F-16 Fighting Falcon, which consumes approximately 3,800 litres of fuel per hour, but lower than the F-22 Raptor, which can exceed 8,000 litres per hour.
Several factors affect the fuel consumption of a fighter jet, including engine type, technology, flight conditions, operating modes, weight, speed, and altitude.
Yes, technological advances aim to improve the fuel efficiency of the F-35. For example, the Engine Core Upgrade (ECU) improves engine thrust and fuel burn by 5% and bleed air cooling capacity by 50%.
