A380 fuel consumption?

[EHM-1821 Javier]

does anyone know the rate of fuel consumption on the a380?

 i calculated it to be 32000lbs / hour based on speed, range and fuel capacity to arrive at that but when i brought the A380 up to FL360 with a light fuel load for a test run, it shows me about 28000 to 30000lbs / hr while with a heavy fuel load at the same alt, i get 33000lbs / hour :s

[EHM-0641 Rico]

You're telling me that the A380 uses more LBS in fuel in 1 hour, then fits in total in the tanks of my 747 ??

I think you have a '0' too much in there :]

[EHM-1821 Javier]

the amount i put up there is for all 4 engines put together, yet im still not sure if the numbers are accurate to real world :]:s

the 747-400 consumes fuel at 22 100lbs/hr and has a fuel capacity of 360 220 lbs while the A380's fuel consumption per hour i posted above was 32 000 :p

[EHM-2029 Sotiris]

Hi Javeir,

this can't really be right because Andre Ronda had a flight 2 days ago and his fuel lasted for 16 whole hours!!!

Sotiris

[EHM-1821 Javier]

hi Sotiris,

actually, i think its possible

I calculated the consumption rate to be 32 000lbs / hour through this:

1) Mach 0.85 at 40 000ft will be 487 Kts according to this speed converter, 487kts being 487nm/hour.

2) Fuel capacity of the A380 is 81 890 US gallons, and according to MSFS, 1 US gallon = 6.7 lbs hence, 548 663 lbs of fuel

3) Taking the range of the A380 (8200nm) divided by its speed (not taking into account windspeed) of 487nm/hr, i arrive at 16 hours and 48 mins maximum flight time, reeeaaaallll close :]

4) fuel capacity divided by max flight time, 548 663lbs / 16.8 hours = 32 658 lbs / hr  (i took 16.8 hrs to be 17 in my original calculation and rounded off to the nearest thousandth, hence i got 32 000lbs/hour)

and since my test flights got results ranging from 33 000lbs/hr to 28 000lbs/hr depending on weight, it should be possible to have a 16 hour flight

BUT, is this method of calculation reliable? i've seen many people suggesting this to those who ask about rate of fuel consumption :s

[EHM-1001 Robert]

Yes, it can give you a close to the real thing. What you need to still consider is wind, and the decreasing fuel consumption as the airplane is getting lighter. So at the beginning, your average calculation seem to be too optimistic...and at the end of the flight it will look too pessimistic

In other word, if you got a range calculator gauge, at the beginning of the flight it can show that you will not reach the destination...then at the end of the flight it will show you have a bit more extra range...and that is normal

[EHM-2155 Mariano]

Also remember that fuel consumption is not constant throuout the flight... Take off (and climb) and descent take extra and less fuel respectively... I think thats why Robert said your calculations will give you a close to real thing. Being a scientist-under-training myself, ive learned that theoretical calculations often differ from the real thing and experimentation is the only way to go.

Hmm and also you could have skipped step #2, since you only had to check the "Display fuel as weight" button there and get the exact fuel amount FS is considering. Shouldnt be too different to your calculated value anyway...

And just thought that maybe reserve fuel could be a factor too? that extra hour shouldnt be included in maximum range?

Its 4 am so dont flame me if im not making much sense :$

[EHM-1821 Javier]

Originally posted by EHM-2155 Mariano
Its 4 am so dont flame me if im not making much sense :$

And i thought i was sleepin late at 3am :]

yea, i realise that fuel consumption isint going to be constant, i was trying to calculate it for cruise since i thought that the average Climb and Descent together, the fuel used would average out to something similar to cruise.

[EHM-1001 Robert]

Well, factories use to add a 200nm extra range over the given  maximum. It as a standard now.