Is a Boeing 747 more fuel efficient than a car?

Is a Boeing 747 More Fuel Efficient Than a Car?

When it comes to fuel efficiency, it’s easy to assume that a car would be the clear winner over a massive airliner like the Boeing 747. After all, cars are smaller, lighter, and have less drag. However, when considering fuel consumption per passenger mile, a Boeing 747 actually surpasses a typical car, even at less than full capacity.

The key to the 747’s surprising fuel efficiency lies in its sheer size. With a maximum passenger capacity of over 500, even if the plane is only partially full, it still has the ability to transport a large number of people. This means that the fuel consumed by the 747 is spread out over a greater number of passengers, resulting in a lower fuel consumption per person.

In comparison, a typical car typically carries only a few people, meaning that the fuel consumed is concentrated among fewer passengers. As a result, the fuel consumption per person in a car is typically higher than in a 747.

To illustrate this concept, consider the following example. Suppose a Boeing 747 with a passenger capacity of 500 flies a 500-mile journey with only 250 passengers on board. This means that the plane consumed a total of 50,000 gallons of fuel over the course of the journey. Dividing the total fuel consumption by the number of passengers, we get a fuel consumption per passenger mile of 0.2 gallons.

Now consider a typical car that travels the same 500-mile journey with a single passenger. Assuming the car gets 25 miles per gallon, it would consume a total of 20 gallons of fuel. Dividing the total fuel consumption by the number of passengers, we get a fuel consumption per passenger mile of 0.8 gallons.

As you can see, even though the 747 is a much larger aircraft, it is still more fuel efficient per passenger mile than a car. This is because the 747’s large capacity allows it to spread the fuel consumption over a greater number of people.

Of course, there are other factors to consider when comparing the fuel efficiency of a 747 and a car. For instance, the 747 requires a significant amount of fuel just to get off the ground, while a car does not. Additionally, the 747’s jet engines are less efficient than a car’s internal combustion engine.

However, when considering fuel consumption per passenger mile, the Boeing 747 is a surprisingly fuel-efficient mode of transportation. Its large capacity allows it to carry a large number of people over long distances, resulting in a lower fuel consumption per person than a typical car.