Table of Contents1 How much does a jumbo jet weigh fully loaded?2 Can a jumbo jet fly upside down?3 Why do airplanes look like they are not moving?4 Why do airplanes seem slow?5 Why do large airplanes take off faster?6 Does take off feel the same at all levels?
How much does a jumbo jet weigh fully loaded?
How much does a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet weigh?
The maximum weight of a Boeing 747-400 Jumbo Jet is 910,000 lbs or 412,000 KGS
It will reach this weight when it is full of passengers and has plenty of fuel on board
Can a jumbo jet fly upside down?
Unlike military fighter jets, commercial aircraft lack the engine power for sustained inverted flight and rely on lift from the wings
The MD-80, as with all commercial aircraft, is designed to fly upright
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The jar weighs exactly the same whether the flies are flying or resting on the glass
The jar weighs exactly the same whether the flies are flying or resting on the glass
Why do airplanes look like they are not moving?
The planes seem to fly slower because we perceive angular velocity when looking at them or for that matter away from them
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Most commercial aircraft have four engines, while smaller aircraft fly on two
Why do large airplanes take off faster?
“Big planes have more mass – they weigh more – and therefore accelerate more slowly,” Cox explained Slower acceleration can result in a lift that feels smoother
Another reason why takeoff on a large plane is easier on the body is because of the number of engines on a jumbo jet
Another reason why takeoff on a large plane is easier on the body is because of the number of engines on a jumbo jet
Does the takeoff feel the same at all levels?
Why do some planes have more than one engine?
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While you might think that more engines would translate to greater speed and thrust and a smoother takeoff, the weight of the aircraft also plays a large role in lift
“Big four-engine planes climb more slowly than modern twin jets,” Cox explained
The Boeing 747 is an iconic aircraft that can carry almost 500 passengers per flight, making it one of the largest aircraft in the world
But, have you ever wondered how much this massive plane weighs?
Well, the weight of a Boeing 747 can vary from 380,000 lbs (172,000 kg or 90 tons) to 485,000 lbs (220,000 kg or 243 tons) depending on its variant
Weight can also vary by whether the plane is empty, fuel and how many passengers and how much cargo is on board
The weight of Boeing 747 variants
The Boeing 747 is a popular long-haul aircraft with a spacious interior
Larger aircraft are more economical as they carry more passengers, which lowers the cost per passenger for an airline
As of December 2021, more than 1,500 Boeing 747 aircraft have been delivered to airlines around the world
These 1,500 aircraft can be divided into 6 major variants and many minor ones
When empty, it weighs approximately 171,000 kg or 377,000 lbs or 189 tons
Once fully fueled, it weighs 240,000 kg or 530,000 lbs or 265 tons
After passengers and their cargo have boarded the aircraft, the maximum weight is 330,000 kg or 738,000 pounds or 265 tons
The plane cannot fly safely if its weight becomes any heavier than this
The Boeing 757-SP variant was developed in direct response to requests from Iran Air and Pan Air for aircraft that could fly nonstop over long distances from the United States to destinations in the Middle East
After propulsion, it weighs 220,000 kg or 485,000 pounds or 243 tons
After passengers and their cargo have boarded, the maximum weight this aircraft can safely fly is 316,000 kg or 686,000 pounds or 348 tons
The 747-200 was an improved version of the 747-100, and it contained improved features, including a larger fuel capacity, better engines and a longer flight range
This variant weighs 172,000 kg or 380,000 lbs or 190 tons when empty
Once fueled, it weighs 270,000 kg or 596,000 pounds or 298 tons
After passengers and their cargo are on board, the 747-200 can fly with a maximum weight of 360,000 kg or 794,000 pounds or 397 tons
This variant weighs 174,000 kg or 383,000 lbs or 192 tons when empty
After fuel, the aircraft weighs 275,000 kg or 606,000 lbs or 303 tons
After passengers and cargo are included, its maximum weight capacity is 352,000 kg or 606,000 pounds or 303 tons
The 747-400 improved on the 747-300’s design by introducing a newer cockpit that required fewer crew members, new navigation instruments and included more fuel-efficient engines
After boarding, the aircraft has a maximum allowable weight of 397,000 kg or 876,000 lbs or 438 tons
The 747-8 is the latest Boeing 747 variant, and it is designed to operate more economically, more environmentally friendly and to be quieter
When empty, this aircraft weighs 212,000 kg or 468,000 lbs or 234 tons
When empty, this aircraft weighs 212,000 kg or 468,000 lbs or 234 tons
When empty, this aircraft weighs 212,000 kg or 468,000 lbs or 234 tons
After fuel it weighs 325,000 kg or 717,000 lbs or 359 tons
After fuel it weighs 325,000 kg or 717,000 lbs or 359 tons
After including passengers and their cargo, the maximum weight the 747-8 variant can fly is 440,000 kg or 970,000 pounds or 485 tons
Which affects the weight of a Boeing 747
There are two main factors that affect a Boeing 747’s takeoff weight:
The weight of the passengers and their cargo
The weight of the fuel
Airlines average the weights for both factors to maximize profit
They calculate average passenger and baggage weight with booking data
Airlines will distribute the weight of the passengers and their luggage evenly to balance the plane’s center of gravity
Weight of Boeing 747 vs other popular aircraft
For fairness, we only compare the Boeing 747’s weight with other long-haul wide-body aircraft
We will also only use the Boeing 787-8 variant’s maximum take-off weight of 440,000 kg or 9700000 pounds or 485 tonnes for comparison since it is the latest variant
The Boeing 777 has a lighter body, 2 engines compared to the 747s, and the 777 has a shorter range
As such, the 777 has a much lower maximum weight of only 352,000 kg or 770,000 lbs or 388 tons, which is 25% less than the Boeing 747’s maximum allowable weight
The Airbus A380 is a direct competitor of the Boeing 747, and the former significantly outperforms the latter
The A380 also has a total take-off weight capacity of 560,000 kg or 120,000 lbs or 617 tons, which is 27% greater than the Boeing 747’s total weight capacity
The Il-96 is the Russian equivalent of the Boeing 747
It is also a large wide body aircraft that comes in two variants
The main variant, the IL-96 400M, is lighter than the 747-8, and it has a smaller maximum weight
The IL-96 400M has a maximum weight of 270,000 kg or 596,000 pounds or 297 tons, making it almost 39% lighter than the Boeing 747
The Boeing 787 is also a long-haul wide-body aircraft designed to make long-haul travel more efficient
Although made by the same company, the 787 has a much lower weight than the Boeing 747
The 787 has a total weight of 230,000 kg or 507,000 lbs or 253 tons, which is 48% lower than the 747’s maximum capacity
Finally, the Boeing 747 is a heavy aircraft
This aircraft’s total weight is determined by the weight of passengers, cargo and fuel on board
Compared to most other similar aircraft, the 747 has one of the heaviest maximum take-off weight capacities