how much gas does it take to cross the atlantic on a plane?

Answer 1

How big's the plane? Pretty much a full load.

Answer 2

The type of aircraft is very relevent. An Antonov will utilize much more fuel than an IAI Astra. It is based on weight... basic physics. But it is more than just weight, Efficiency of engines... (challenger 601's with the old engines got about 1lb of thrust for 1lb of fuel... not efficent) the aerodynamics of the aircraft (how easily it is pushed, or pulled through the air) and also how many systems are used on board... it take 746watts for 1 HP... so if they are using 600 amps ship wide time 28VDC (typical on board voltages) then 16800 watts are being used... or 22.52 horse power.... depending how much fuel is required to generate that much power from starter generators... Also the altitude has a lot to do with it... ever wonder why they like to fly at 40,000+ feet instead of at 20,000feet? Thereis less air up there, so less drag against the aircraft, thus greatly increasing fuel efficency. Most pressurized aircraft and not prop (jets) will clime to altitude as soon as possible to safe on fuel... and to get farther without having to land for fuel. Also there are wind vectors... if you have a tail wind you use less gas... head windmore gas. I hope this gives you a little idea.

Answer 3

There are three significant variables that you are missing to be able to give you the right answer:

1. the type of plane
2. the airports you are flying from and to
3. the direction you are flying

The bigger the plane, in general, the more fuel it is going to burn on take-off and per hour. A B747-400 is going to burn more just to start up 4 engines and take-off than say a Lear 35A would to fly from New York to London (with a stop in Gander for re-fuelling).

It is going to take more fuel to fly from Los Angeles LAX to Milan MXP than it would from Gander YQT to Dublin DUB. So you need to be a bit more specific than just crossing the Atlantic.

And the final point is that due to the winds travelling eastwards in the northern hemisphere (Coriolis effect) a plane will almost invariably have less ground speed and therefore burn more fuel travelling from Europe than to Europe.

A Boeing 767-200 that I flew for 22 years would burn between 14,000 and 20,000 US gallons on a typical North America-Europe flight. That's between 50 and 65 tons each way. There is a very careful and complex set of calculations involved in putting the right amount of fuel on the airplane before takeoff. Flying with too much fuel is just extra weight and costs money. Flying with not enough fuel means you won't make it. So the pilots have to consider wind, weather, passengers, cargo, altitude, alternate airports, and distance to put on the right amount of fuel, plus a bit extra for safety.

Answer 4

Depends on the type of plane

Answer 5

All aircraft types have differing fuel burns and speeds which would affect this calculation. The following site will provide samples of business jets fuel burn and cruise speeds: http://www.jets.com/business_jets_ResearchJets.aspx .

Answer 6

Well... commercial flights (AirBus/Boeing) usualy burns overs 9,750 US Gal to cross the Ocean!

1 US Gal equals to 6.7 lbs... so it burns over 65,312 lbs of fuel!

Answer 7

ALL THESE GUYS ARE PESSIMISTS!!

Save money, fly a sailplane. One with floats, 'cause you won't get more than one-quarter the way across.

But think how much money you'll save on fuel.

Answer 8

Depends upon the airplane.