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el chupacabra · Jan 28, 2005, 11:25 AM

I would guess less than 1 but can't find it anywhere.

bubblewrap · Jan 28, 2005, 11:28 AM

It's measured in pounds per hour.
6 pounds to a gallon.
My Cessna uses 10/hour.
About 10 miles to the gallon.(320cid 4cyl)

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Jan 28, 2005, 11:30 AM

Not good that is for sure.

When I few on a 3 hour flight the captain announced that the midsize jet I was on would consume xxx amount of gallons which is equivalent to driving a midsize car for 30 years.

All in 3 hours!!

I can't believe we haven't ran out of fuel by now.

Sherwin · Jan 28, 2005, 11:34 AM

Originally posted by el chupacabra:
I would guess less than 1 but can't find it anywhere.

Depends on what kind of jet.

Go have a look at the Gulfstream and Boeing Business Jet websites - they give a range and fuel capacity for each (or at least they used to last time I looked). Easy maths from there.

chabig · Jan 28, 2005, 11:35 AM

I fly the Airbus A320. During cruise we get about 0.75 miles per gallon. But remember we're carrying up to 156 people. So per person, that's about the same as getting 30 miles per gallon in a car carrying four people.

Chris

bubblewrap · Jan 28, 2005, 11:36 AM

About 2500 pounds per hour for a Cessna Citation.
At 500Kts. 30,000 feet.(or so)

.8 miles to the gallon?

chabig · Jan 28, 2005, 01:06 PM

2500 pounds per hour is about 368 gallons per hour. 500 knots is 575 miles per hour. So that gives 575/368=1.5 miles per gallon.

Chris

BLAZE_MkIV · Jan 28, 2005, 02:04 PM

They are also burning kerosine not gasoline so the fuel is cheaper too.

bubblewrap · Jan 28, 2005, 02:06 PM

Not quite. JetA is $2.35/gallon.
Taxes taxes taxes...

f1000 · Jan 28, 2005, 02:47 PM

According to Boeing's website (http://www.boeing.com/commercial/747...technical.html), the Boeing 747-400ER in a typical 2-class seating configuration can carry 524 passengers and 63,705 gallons of fuel, and has a maximum range of 7,670 nautical miles. Each passenger, therefore, can travel up to 7,670 nautical miles using 122 (63,705/524) gallons of fuel; thus, each person would get 63.1 (7,670/122) mpg.

As someone mentioned above, jet fuel does not cost the same as automobile fuel, so this difference would need to be factored in.

Moller claims that its Skycar will get 28 mpg.

http://www.moller.com/skycar/

I should add that these are just back of the napkin (HP 48G) calculations.

chabig · Jan 28, 2005, 02:58 PM

If we're going to talk about cost, then we ought to also consider the cost of time. The jet saves a lot of time over a car.

The Moller sky car, while interesting and apparently successful at getting investors to split with their money, will never be a successful flying machine.

Chris

f1000 · Jan 28, 2005, 03:04 PM

Originally posted by chabig:
If we're going to talk about cost, then we ought to also consider the cost of time. The jet saves a lot of time over a car.

Absolutely, and time is money. In addition, people who fly are free to read, sleep, and work.

But as you said, now we're talking about the total cost to fly.

Originally posted by chabig:
The Moller sky car, while interesting and apparently successful at getting investors to split with their money, will never be a successful flying machine.

I think it's sort of pie in the sky as well, but the company's been taking pre-orders for its plane. What say you to that?

bubblewrap · Jan 28, 2005, 03:07 PM

And it's about $7K just to get a Private Pilot certificate.
Add instrument and turbofan ratings and it skyrockets to over $25K

turtle777 · Jan 28, 2005, 03:11 PM

Uhm, nevermind...

-t

exca1ibur · Jan 28, 2005, 03:37 PM

Originally posted by bubblewrap:
Not quite. JetA is $2.35/gallon.
Taxes taxes taxes...

Its about $1 and change here. You should see some of the international airlines that pack extra fuel due to the prices here. LOL We had a captain flying from Oakland to Tijuana. Only needs about 10-12K Kg of fuel to make that trip. He would load up with about 35K on flights at times. LOL We used to tease him about making fuel runs all the time.

bubblewrap · Jan 28, 2005, 03:56 PM

Originally posted by exca1ibur:
Its about $1 and change here. You should see some of the international airlines that pack extra fuel due to the prices here. LOL We had a captain flying from Oakland to Tijuana. Only needs about 10-12K Kg of fuel to make that trip. He would load up with about 35K on flights at times. LOL We used to tease him about making fuel runs all the time.

I'll fly my Cessna to the lowest priced provider too.
I pay $3.30 at KRYY. It's $2.10 from my Uncle's airstrip 45 miles away.

chabig · Jan 29, 2005, 12:09 AM

Originally posted by f1000:
I think it's sort of pie in the sky as well, but the company's been taking pre-orders for its plane. What say you to that?

Suckers.

bubblewrap · Jan 29, 2005, 09:09 AM

Another consideraton in figuring Gallons or pounds per hour is head/tailwind. Fule is measured in time, not distance with aircraft.

These are more realistic. But the masses are too stupid to fly. People can't drive as it is now. I've had several close calls.
80%+ of all flight school students don't make it. Even fewer don't make commercial.