4 ms·
About $2600 per pound. Based on this forum thread [1] the marginal cost per pound to fuel efficienciy is about "0.0155 gallons per pound per 1,000 statute mile
by Cerium 4y ago
About $2600 per pound.
Based on this forum thread [1] the marginal cost per pound to fuel efficienciy is about "0.0155 gallons per pound per 1,000 statute miles". Over a 737's life it may fly about 50 million miles [2]. Combining facts one and two results in a fuel consumption per marginal pound of 775 gallons. Current jet fuel prices are about $3.40 per gal [3].
[1] https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/712294-anyone-know-average-cost-per-pound-fly-1-000-miles-3-gallon-fuel.html https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/712294-anyone-kno...
[2] https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/columnist/cox/2012/11/19/ask-the-captain-how-far-does-a-jet-fly-during-its-lifetime/1712269/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/columnist/cox/2012/11/...
[3] https://www.iata.org/en/publications/economics/fuel-monitor/ https://www.iata.org/en/publications/economics/fuel-monitor/
- TOMDM 4y agoWow, thanks for the effort put into answering a passing curiosity! Of course any change to the aircraft has many other downstream implications (ability to source parts for repairs, lifetime of the part, maintenance requirements), but it's cool to think that for an "all else the same" replacement that the bar is still so high. With the falling costs of advanced materials I do wonder if next gen aircraft will be substantially different.
- m_mueller 4y agoIf that’s the case, why is e.g. 10% of a 787 still using steel rather than titanium, which can be had at 11$ per kg?
- elil17 4y agoThe challenge is with design, certification, and manufacturing (forming and joining), not with affording the material. Plus, high strength steels can bear more stress than titanium, although they weigh more. This may be needed for certain space-constrained components.
- m_mueller 4y agoMakes sense, thanks.