Airplanes can easily be called one of the greatest achievements of our time. But such an ingenious invention has already become so firmly established in our lives that we take it for granted and mistakenly believe that we know everything about these aircraft. People fly every day, and few people think about how a large number of technologies and resources it had to be activated for the aircraft to take off into the sky. However, there are inquisitive people who are concerned about the question of how much fuel the plane consumes. This is mainly something that travelers who fly long distances think about. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine how much fuel an airliner needs to fly from one end of the world to the other.

Filling process

Aircraft fuel consumption is perhaps the main indicator reflecting the operational efficiency of the aircraft. The lower the fuel consumption for a particular model is always, the fewer costs it incurs for the airline to operate it.

It is worth noting that often data on aircraft fuel efficiency differs depending on the source providing this information: different authors use different methods for calculating indicators.

The plane is filled with different amounts of fuel. The determining indicator in this matter is the direction of the flight. For example, if the ship needs to make a short-distance voyage, but the model itself is long-haul, then fuel may not be added. This is done for several reasons:

• so that the ship does not carry excess cargo;
• so that there is no overspending of funds.

In addition to the flight direction, the amount of fuel injected is also affected by the presence of at least one alternate airfield on the route, weather conditions and some other factors. Each model has its own indicators and nuances that must be taken into account by specialists.

Several years ago, pilots were banned from flying over thunderstorms to save money, but after several plane crashes, such bans were lifted to ensure the safety of human lives.

Fuel calculators

It is quite difficult to say exactly how much fuel is put into airplanes. Specific numbers can only be given for a specific airliner model. But there is a general answer to this question. To calculate fuel consumption for each vessel, special calculators are used that look like tables. The calculation of the necessary indicators is based on a number of components:

• consumable fuel required to fly a ship from point A to point B with a certain load;
• the amount of fuel required to cover the distance from point B to the most distant alternate aerodrome noted in the flight plan;
• the amount of fuel required for a given airliner to stay in the holding area for half an hour, being at an altitude of 460 m;
• 5% of the total amount of the above indicators.

Fuel calculators allow you to determine the data for refueling

How much fuel do popular aircraft models consume?

Boeings are one of the most famous airliner models, which are operated by many domestic and foreign carriers. It is very interesting to know what the fuel consumption of a Boeing 737 is.

To begin with, it should be noted that the Boeing 737 is a whole family of airliners, consisting of several series:

• Original;
• Classic;
• Next Generation;

The Original group includes only two models: 737-100 and 737-200. The first model is no longer in use anywhere, as it has shown its fuel inefficiency. In addition, it is characterized by expensive maintenance, and its technical characteristics are already very outdated. As for the 737-200 model, its specific fuel consumption is 33 g/pass-km.

The second modification of the original family of Boeings is now used mainly by low-cost airlines or companies from developing countries.

The Classic family includes three models: 737-300, 737-400 and 737-500. The 737-300 and 737-500 aircraft have a specific fuel consumption of 25.5 g/pass.km. As for the 737-400 airliner, it consumes about 20.9 g/pass.km fuel.

The Next Generation family of vehicles included models from -600 to -900. The fuel efficiency of the Boeing 737-900 model was 22.4 g/pass.km.

As for the characteristics of the MAX series aircraft, their official release is expected in 2017.

Many fuel issues are associated with the Boeing 747

From the creation of the first aircraft to the present day, no less than ten thousand different models of airliners, whether military or civil aviation, have been designed and recreated. Constantly arising questions and progressive improvements are embodied in new elegant designs and models, which within a few years occupy their niche in the modern air fleet.

One of the most important tasks of the aircraft industry is the fuel consumption of the aircraft, because the higher it is, the more unprofitable the machine is, which is directly opposite to any market progress. So what is the fuel consumption of an airliner, and what is it like for different aircraft?

Currently, there are three technical indicators of this aircraft parameter:

1. Hourly fuel consumption;
2. Kilometer fuel consumption;
3. Specific fuel consumption.

Hourly fuel consumption is the amount of fuel used in one hour of flight. This calculation is always, without exception, taken at cruising speed and the maximum commercial load of the airliner and is calculated in units of kg/h.

Cruising speed is the speed at which all passenger transportation is carried out. It is approximately 60-80% of the maximum due to safety and additional weight.

The maximum payload is the maximum permitted weight of passengers, baggage, equipment and other cargo on board an aircraft.

On average it ranges from 1 to 15 thousand kg per hour.

Kilometer fuel consumption

Kilometer fuel consumption is the amount of fuel consumed per kilometer of flight. It is calculated in the same way as for hourly speed - at cruising speed and at maximum commercial load.

It is worth noting that for cargo and passenger transportation it is much more logical to use this particular calculation, since the main goal of such a flight is to deliver the cargo to the required distance with the least fuel consumption, and not to stay in the air as long as possible, however, it is fixed in the technical characteristics hourly.

Calculated in kg/km.

Specific fuel consumption

Specific fuel consumption is the amount of fuel consumed per unit of time or distance, relative to the power or thrust of the aircraft provided by a particular engine, etc.

There are several different units of calculation, depending on the choice of parameters:

• Mass or volume of fuel – gram, kilogram or liter (g, kg or l);
• Travel time or distance – hour or kilometer (h or km);
• Engine power or thrust - horsepower or kilogram-force (hp or kgf).

The result is, for example, g (hp h) or kg (kgf h).

In civil aviation, another calculation has also been established - the weight of fuel spent per kilometer of travel to the total number of passengers on the plane. Its unit of calculation is g/passenger-km (grams per passenger-kilometer).

This technical indicator works closely with fuel efficiency, helping to indicate the most profitable airliner for transporting a given number of passengers, while using the minimum amount of fuel.

What determines fuel consumption?

The fuel consumption of an aircraft depends on several factors:

• Cruising speed;
• Aircraft mass;
• Commercial download;
• Weather conditions;
• Type and number of engines (propeller, jet or combined);
• Airliner structures;
• And another.

List of airliner models and their fuel consumption

• An-2: specific fuel consumption – 42 g/passenger-km, hourly fuel consumption – 0.131 thousand kg/h;
• An-140-100: 24.4 g/pass.-km, 0.55 thousand kg/h;
• An-38-100: 43.7 g/pass.-km, 0.38 thousand kg/h;
• An-24: 36.0 g/pass.-km, 0.86 thousand kg/h;
• IL-86: 34.5 g/pass.-km, 10.4 thousand kg/h;
• Il-96-300: 26.4 g/pass.-km, 7.8 thousand kg/h;
• IL-114-100: 20.8 g/pass.-km, 0.59 thousand kg/h;
• Yak-40: 79.4 g/pass.-km, 1.241 thousand kg/h;
• Yak-42D: 35.0 g/pass.-km, 3.1 thousand kg/h;
• Tu-104B: 75 g/pass.-km, 6 thousand kg/h;
• Tu-134A: 45.0 g/pass.-km, 3.2 thousand kg/h;
• Tu-154M: 31.0 g/pass. Km, 5.3 thousand kg/h;
• Tu-204-300: 27.0 g/pass.-km, 3.25 thousand kg/h;
• Tu-214: 19.0 g/pass.-km, 3.7 thousand kg/h;
• Tu-334: 23.4 g/pass.-km, 1.7 thousand kg/h;
• Tu-144S: 230.0 g/pass.-km, 39 thousand kg/h;
• Boeing 707-320: hourly fuel consumption – up to 7.2 thousand kg/h;
• Boeing 717-200: 2.2 thousand kg/h;
• Boeing 727-200: 4.3 thousand kg/h;
• Boeing 737-300: fuel efficiency – 22.5 g/passenger-km, hourly fuel consumption – 2.4 thousand kg/h;
• Boeing 737-400: 20.9 g/pass.-km, 2.6 thousand kg/h;
• Boeing 747-300: 22.4 g/pass.-km, 11.3 thousand kg/h;
• Boeing 757-200: 23.4 g/pass.-km; 3.25 thousand kg/h;
• McDonnell Douglas MD-83: hourly fuel consumption – 3.1 thousand kg/h;
• McDonnell Douglas MD-90: 2.65 thousand kg/h;
• Airbus A320-200: fuel efficiency - 19.1 g/passenger-km, hourly fuel consumption - 2.5 thousand kg/h;
• Airbus A321-100: - 23.2 g/pass.-km, 2.885 thousand kg/h;
• Airbus A380: specific fuel consumption – 2.9 per passenger and 100 km of travel, hourly fuel consumption – up to 13 thousand kg/h;
• Fokker 50: hourly fuel consumption – 0.64 thousand kg/h;
• Embraer EMB-120ER: fuel efficiency - 27.6 g/passenger-km, hourly fuel consumption - 0.39 thousand kg;
• Bombardier CRJ 200: 35.9 g/pass.-km, 1.1 thousand kg/h;
• Sukhoi Superjet 100: fuel consumption per hour - 1.7 thousand kg/h;
• MS-21-300: specific fuel consumption –15.1 g/pass.km;
• MS-21-400: 15.1 g/pass.km;
• Concorde: hourly fuel consumption – 20.5 thousand kg/h;
• Avro Canada C102: specific fuel consumption – 109 g/pass.-km, hourly 2.7 thousand kg/h;
• Vickers Vanguard: hourly fuel consumption – 2.1 thousand kg/h;
• Bristol Britannia 314: 2.2 thousand kg/h;
• De Havilland Comet 4B: 5.2 thousand kg/h;
• Breguet 941: 1.2 thousand kg/h;
• Hawker-Siddeley Trident 3B: 4.65 thousand kg/h;
• BAC One-Eleven 475: 2.3 thousand kg/h;
• Sud-Aviation Caravelle 11R: 2.6 thousand kg/h;
• Dassault Mercure: 2.8 thousand kg/h;
• Convair 990A: 5.8 thousand kg/h.

How to calculate the amount of fuel for a flight

The amount of fuel that is filled into an airliner before takeoff is calculated using special formulas that are accessible to a narrow, specialized circle of people and differ depending on the aircraft model.

However, there is an approximate calculation that consists of the following terms:

• The mass of fuel required to fly from point A to point B at a certain payload.
• The amount of fuel that is consumed when flying from point B to the most remote airfield indicated as an alternate in the flight plan.
• The amount of fuel that will be used if the plane makes two additional landing circles.
• And 5% of the total amount of fuel calculated in the previous paragraphs as a reserve.

This video shows fuel being dumped during a flight. This procedure is practiced by some airliner models in emergency situations or before landing (much less frequently).

Conclusion

In conclusion, several main conclusions can be drawn:

1. Aircraft fuel consumption is one of the oldest and most pressing problems in aircraft design.
2. There are three main characteristics of fuel efficiency: hourly, kilometer and specific fuel consumption. Each of them participates in their own calculations and helps to choose the most profitable option in certain conditions (technical, weather, loading, etc.).
3. Fuel consumption is also not an exact value; it depends on external and internal factors (flight conditions, payload, cruising speed, etc.).
4. For different airliner models, both specific and hourly fuel consumption varies over a fairly wide range (hourly from 1 thousand kg per hour to 11 thousand kg for subsonic ones, up to 40 thousand kg for supersonic ones).
5. The amount of fuel that needs to be filled into the plane before departure is calculated using formulas specific to different models. The most approximate of them sums up the fuel consumption for the flight to the final point, to the farthest alternate airport, two additional circles before landing and another 5% of the resulting amount in reserve.

Most passenger planes are refueled jet fuel. Each aircraft model is designed for a specific type of fuel, the use of which will ensure maximum performance. There are also acceptable analogues in which the engines do not lose their characteristics.

Types of aviation fuel

There are 2 types of fuel for aircraft:

• Aviation gasoline for aircraft with piston engines, as well as for maintenance of parts as a solvent.
• Jet fuel. Suitable for jet engines. This is diesel fuel after deep processing.

Kerosene also differs in subtypes, depending on the conditions of use.

For passenger airliners, kerosene is mainly used for subsonic aviation. These include brands T-1 and T-2. This is fuel with fine gasoline fractions; the higher their percentage, the lower the aircraft’s practical altitude ceiling. T-1 with a lower content of fractions is a very stable fuel that meets the standards for international flights.

For subsonic and supersonic aviation, kerosene will be different. For military aircraft exceeding the speed of sound, there are heavier fuels - T-6 and T-8B. These are heavier types because in jet engines the fuel evaporates quickly at high speeds.

How much fuel is needed for refueling?

Fuel consumption is almost the main parameter of an aircraft. After all, the less fuel is consumed, the less costs the company has to maintain the aircraft.

The amount of fuel on board directly depends on the flight parameters and type of aircraft. At close distances you will most likely save a lot of fuel.

The flight route and the presence of intermediate landing points are also important. Even weather conditions along the route are taken into account.

It is very difficult to calculate the exact amount of fuel required to refuel an aircraft. This number rarely matches what is stated in the technical specifications. However, it is still possible to approximately calculate this figure.

For a certain flight, the plane will be refueled taking into account:

1. Fuel required to cover the distance to the destination airport.
2. Fuel for the flight from the destination airport to the alternate airfield.
3. Fuel to wait for landing for 30 minutes at low altitude.
4. 5% surcharge for unforeseen circumstances.

Video of how planes are refueled:

How much does it cost to refuel a plane for one flight? As an example, let’s take the cost of a ton of kerosene at Domodedovo airport - approximately 47,300 rubles per ton, including VAT. For an approximate calculation, we will rely on this price.

Fuel consumption on Boeing 737-300 aircraft is indicated as 25.5 g per passenger per 1 km.

Let’s take the flight Moscow – St. Petersburg as an example. The flight distance in this case will be 633 km. By multiplying, we get the cost per passenger = 16.14 kg, and taking into account the price of kerosene at Domodedovo airport, this is 763.5 rubles. The average capacity of the airliner 737 is 150 people, so refueling it will cost 114,523 rubles. This figure is naturally not the final expense. Taking into account the conditions described above, it can increase to 150,000 rubles.

Let's consider one of the largest airliners of our time, the Boeing 747. Despite its gigantic size and high cost, the aircraft can boast of its high efficiency. For model 100 it consumes 32g. per passenger per kilometer, and the 300 series - 22.4 g. Hourly fuel consumption is 14,500 km, that is, purely hypothetically, about 700,000 rubles will be spent on the Moscow-St. Petersburg flight. Nevertheless, the aircraft is very popular and is owned by most of the world's leading companies.

How planes are refueled

Refueling is a very important process when servicing aircraft.

There are two types of refueling:

• in-flight refueling (military aircraft);
• full refueling at the airport.

Each type is complex in its own way. Let's look at them in order.

This is one of the most difficult and, at the same time, spectacular elements of military equipment flights. It was in Russia that air refueling was invented more than 100 years ago. She was not always the way we see her now. There were unique methods, in particular for Tu-16 bombers, when planes were refueled “wing to wing.” To this day, our military aviation is at the forefront of aerial refueling technology. Unfortunately, this process is not so easy for ordinary viewers to see. This is because it is simply dangerous due to the extreme proximity of the aircraft (about 20 meters).

Watch the video of how the Stealth bomber is refueled:

Video of how to refuel a Su-24:

At the moment, many types of military aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces have the ability to refuel in the air.

1. Fighters - Su-27, Mig-31, Mig-29;
2. Attack aircraft - Su-24M;
3. Bombers - Tu-95, Tu-160.

The tanker is now mainly the modernized Il-78M.

To refuel a fighter in the air it will take 6 minutes, a heavy bomber - 20 minutes, a tanker - 45 minutes.

Watch a video compilation of unsuccessful mid-air refuelings:

Fuel reaches the airport in two ways:

1. Railway This way the fuel enters tanks, from which, with careful control of all parameters, the contents are pumped into special tanks. Nearby, according to the standards, there should always be underground compartments with water, which in an emergency will be used to extinguish the fuel. There are special instruments on the tanks that show all fuel parameters. Powerful pumps are used for distillation.
2. Pipeline. This route includes the delivery of fuel through pipes from the nearest oil refinery. At the airport there are fuel quality meters, which are checked according to 12 main parameters. After analysis of the material, distillation occurs to the central filling complex.

The process of refueling the airliner can be carried out in two ways: through a fuel tanker or special pumps located throughout the territory.

On average, the refueling speed through a tanker will be about 40 minutes - this is regulated by the maximum fuel supply speed according to international standards. Safety precautions are strictly observed at all stages of refueling.

In conclusion, we note that the refueling process is very important for modern flights, both civil and military. This is a very complex and dangerous procedure. It has many features based on application conditions and aircraft types.

Civil aircraft in most cases consume a huge amount of fuel, but in terms of one passenger this is an acceptable figure. Many manufacturers modify the aircraft to improve its efficiency and therefore reduce maintenance costs. Modern high-quality aviation fuel is supplied to all major airports where aircraft are refueled. And refueling in the air is one of the most exciting spectacles for spectators and important procedures for military pilots. The main factor remains one thing - compliance with safety regulations.

Despite the fact that the American corporation produced the first Boeing 737 half a century ago, the aircraft is still in demand among air carriers. The liner continues to be manufactured to this day, with more than 9,500 units produced. The 737 series aircraft have a narrow fuselage and are designed for flights on medium-haul routes.

Boeing 737 modifications

Over the long history of the airliner, several modifications of the aircraft, belonging to four generations, have been developed and produced.

Modification	Year of issue	Flight range, km	Number of passengers, people	Generation
Boeing 737-100	1967	2592	103	Original
Boeing 737-200	1967	3518	133	Original
Boeing 737-300	1984	5000	149	Classic
Boeing 737-400	1988	5000	168	Classic
Boeing 737-500	1990	5200	132	Classic
Boeing 737-600	1998	5648	130	New Generation
Boeing 737-700/700ER	1997	6230	148	New Generation
Boeing 737-800	1998	5765	189	New Generation
Boeing 737-900	2001	5800	189	New Generation
Boeing 737-900ER	2007	5925	215	New Generation
Boeing 737 MAX −7/8/9	2016	7038/6704/6658	maximum −140/200/220	MAX

Original

The first generation Boeing 737 airliners did not gain much commercial success, as they consumed a lot of fuel, were noisy and expensive to maintain. The last 737-100 aircraft has ceased operation since 2007, and the 737-200 is still used by air carriers in African countries and some other countries.

On the basis of the Boeing 737-200, cargo and cargo-passenger variants were created, and the 737-200 Executive Jet was produced for private owners.

Interesting! Before the Boeing 737 was released, the passenger plane was piloted by 3 people, including a flight engineer. Here, for the first time, a cabin with two pilots was used, which became a revolutionary solution and was adopted as the basis for all subsequent models of passenger airliners.

Classic

Despite all the improvements in the Original generation aircraft, they began to lose significantly to their competitors. The new model has been developed with significant changes. The aircraft received new engines, the fuselage became longer, and the number of passengers carried increased. The aerodynamics have changed, the airliner has been equipped with new digital avionics (on-board electronic systems).

The 737-400 model, due to the enlarged cabin, has changed the internal air conditioning system and added a second pair of emergency exits in the wing area.

The 737-500 version has a shorter fuselage, less capacity, but a longer range.

New Generation

The new generation Boeing 737 has been redesigned even more radically. The wingspan has not only grown, but their geometry has also changed. Amendments were made to the tail unit. The passenger cabins of the New Generation aircraft and the Boeing 757, 767 have a lot in common, since the design of the Boeing 737's interior space was based on the design developments for these airliners.

Each subsequent version of the New Generation has a greater length with an almost unchanged fuselage diameter, and the engines of the latest modification 737-900ER, thanks to the improved wing design, consume less fuel at cruising speed.

Interesting! Based on the Boeing 737-700, 737-800 and 737-900, BBJ, BBJ2 BBJ3 (Boeing Business Jet) are produced, which are the most popular in the world among private clients. On board, at the request of the customer, a bedroom, shower room (bathtub), room for business meetings, etc. are arranged.

Passenger compartment layout

The design of the passenger compartment depends on its dimensions, which can differ significantly in different modifications. In addition, airlines order different layout options. The most common interior option is two-class:

• Business Class;
• Economy class.

There are options with one economy class cabin. Total capacity ranges from 103 passengers in the 737-100 version to 220 people in the 737 MAX-9.

Business Class

Business class has soft, comfortable seats with a wide recline angle. The location of seats in most layout options is according to the 2-2 scheme. In total, there are from 2 to 5 rows in the bow cabin. Most often - 4 rows.

At the front of the aircraft, in front of the seats, there is a kitchen for luxury cabin clients and restrooms. The most relaxing places are the 2nd and 3rd row seats. The 1st and 4th row seats may not seem as comfortable due to the presence of nearby toilets, a kitchen and, in the case of the last row, the more crowded economy class. On some airlines, economy class is separated only by a curtain.

Economy class

In almost all economy class cabins, the seats are arranged in a 3-3 pattern. There are luggage racks on top. The restrooms and kitchen are located at the rear of the plane.

All airlines consider the most comfortable seats on the Boeing 737 to be the first row, right behind business class. It provides more legroom. Often tickets for this row are more expensive or sold to bonus card holders.

Inside the cabin, in the middle part, there is one paired emergency exit or two, depending on the version of the aircraft. Seats near emergency exits also have an increased distance between seats, but passengers may be uncomfortable with the rigid fixation of the seat backs and the side bulges on the side of the aircraft. But the seats immediately behind the emergency exits recline completely and have expanded space. The numbering of rows is confirmed with the carrier.

Important: The worst seats are in the last row of the aircraft. The proximity of the bathrooms and kitchen creates bustle and noise, and the seat backs do not recline or recline slightly.

Design features and benefits

Each aircraft component has its own characteristic features and associated advantages:

1. The design of the airliner is a monoplane with two engines placed on pylons and swept wings.
2. The three-wheel chassis has a front swivel strut. The main support is not closed by the doors after folding is completed. This can be seen by the visible wheels. This solution simplified the design and reduced the weight of the aircraft, but somewhat worsened the aerodynamics.
3. Since the engines are located low, it was necessary to slightly reduce their vertical dimensions. To do this, part of the lower equipment for the engine was placed on the sides and the air intake was slightly extended horizontally. The engines have a flattened shape, especially noticeable in the latest versions.
4. The winglets (tips) on the wings underwent changes during the evolution of the Boeing 737. At first, minimal-sized winglets were made on the 737-200 modification. Subsequent generations, Classic and New Generation, received the large winglets that are now widespread. MAX generation aircraft use double winglets.

Interesting: Fuel consumption is reduced by 3.3% when using large winglets and by 5.5% when using double winglets.

• The Messier-Bugatti company equipped the airliner with carbon brakes in 2008. This made it possible to reduce weight by 320 kg and reduce fuel consumption by about half a percent.
• The cockpit, with seating for two pilots, originally had analogue devices and instruments. Now all aircraft are equipped with digital control systems with liquid crystal displays. Previously, the cabin had additional windows on top, which improved visibility when maneuvering and made it possible to navigate the starry sky. Later they were removed due to the installation of modern orientation devices.
• The most serious changes were made to the interior of the cabin. For almost every generation of airliners, it was redesigned taking into account increased comfort and optimal arrangement of passenger seats.

General advantages of the Boeing 737:

• ease of takeoff, climb, landing;
• high load capacity;
• reliability and long service life;
• low maintenance costs;
• comfortable, well-equipped interior.

Specifications

The operational and technical characteristics of the Boeing 737 have undergone the most significant changes with each new generation.

Original

New Generation

Type	737-600	737-700	737-800	737-900	737-900ER
Length, m	31,24	33,63	39,47	42,11
Wingspan, m	34,32
Fuselage width, m	3,76
Cabin width, m	3,54
Cabin height, m	2,20
Maximum take-off weight, kg	56 245	70 080	79 015	74 389
Cruising speed, km/h	852
Engines	CFM56-7B18	CFM56-7B20	CFM56-7B24
Maximum flight altitude, m	12 500
Run length, m	1799	1677	2241	2408	2450
Fuel capacity, l	20 894

History of creation

When design work began on the new Boeing 737 in 1964, competitors British Aircraft Corporation and Douglas Aircraft were already well advanced in their production. They were willing to certify new short-haul, low-capacity aircraft. The Boeing company, in an effort to reduce the development time of the airliner, took as a basis the technologies used in the production of aircraft of previous models - 707 and 727. But tests showed the unsuitability of the previous wings for the new version. The newly created wing helped the aircraft fly at higher altitudes, reducing the consumption of aviation kerosene.

The Boeing 737-100 had six seats in each row, providing more seating capacity than competing aircraft manufacturers.

Interesting! Initially, 60 passenger seats were designed inside the Boeing 737-100 cabin, but later they settled on an option with 103 seats at the insistence of the first customer, Lufthansa.

The development program was completed quickly and without investing large amounts of material resources. Assembly of the first aircraft ended in the winter of 1967. In April, the airliner took off for the first time, and in August it made a test flight of the Boeing 737-200.

The decision to operate the aircraft with a two-pilot crew caused serious discussions and resistance from trade unions, as the unit of flight engineer or third pilot was reduced. However, after trials and flight tests, the company proved the possibility of using two people for piloting, and airlines were even interested in it due to cost savings.

At the end of 1967, both versions of the new Boeing were certified, and 2 months later Lufthansa began operating the airliner.

At the same time, the aircraft was being modified so that it could land on a dirt runway. The tests were completed successfully and the Boeing 737 immediately became in demand for flights to distant towns in the northern USA and Canada. The extended model 737-200 was in great demand and was produced until 1988.

In the 80s of the last century, the Boeing 737 was redesigned, equipped with new engines and an improved cabin. The first flight of the next-generation Classic aircraft took place in 1984. Subsequently, two more were added to the 737-300 modification - 737-400, 737-500.

In the 90s, the European A-320 airliner supplanted the Boeing 737 in the narrow-body aircraft segment, possessing technical superiority. And the airline corporation began to create a new series of modifications - New Generation. A total of 5 modifications were produced - 737-600/700/800/900/900ER. Increased cruising speed and more fuel on board made it possible to perform long flights with reduced travel time. Thanks to this, the company opened new markets.

Interesting! New Generation aircraft, except for the fuselage design, are completely different from the first 737 airliners. They have modified engines, completely new wings, and different avionics. Ideas for the interior design of the passenger cabin were even borrowed from the design of the Boeing 777.

The latest version of the NG Boeing 737-900 ER was released in 2007.

In January 2016, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 took off on its first flight. Aircraft of this series are intended to replace New Generation airliners.

Place of production

The geography of production of aircraft components is extensive. These are many European and Asian countries. Assembly work is carried out in the United States.

1. The fuselage for the Boeing 737 is assembled at the company's facility in Wichita, Kansas.
2. At the second stage, the aircraft body is transported to Renton (Washington State), where final assembly is carried out. Final assembly takes approximately 2 weeks.

Interesting! The assembly of one aircraft requires the installation of 3 million 670 thousand parts and the laying of 58 thousand meters of electrical cables.

Operating companies

Boeing 737 is operated by global airlines in 115 countries. The largest number of aircraft of this type belong to air carriers:

The aircraft is used for both transcontinental flights and ultra-short flights. This is the main airliner for flights to Alaska, the northern regions of Canada, and the Pacific Islands.

Interesting! The shortest route operated by a Boeing 737 is 14 km. Transportation is carried out by the Japanese Japan TransOcean Air between two islands in the Pacific Ocean (Minami Daito - Kita Daito). Air Tanzania serves flights Dar es Salaam - Zanzibar Island (65 km).

Cost of different models

The cost of the first generation models started at $49.5 million, but the price may vary depending on the configuration. Now only modifications of New Generation and MAX are produced.

Development prospects

The prospects for the development of the 737 model are associated with the new generation of aircraft - the MAX. Their production has already started.

Main changes and features:

1. New powerful engines have been installed. With increased power, they consume less fuel.
2. Changes have been made to the geometry of the aircraft's airframe.
3. The engines are equipped with chevron teeth at the rear, which significantly reduce operating noise.
4. The cockpit will remain almost unchanged, but the interior of the passenger compartment will have luggage racks and LED lighting, like the Dreamliner.

The latest improvements have breathed new life into the already widely popular Boeing 737 airliners. The company's order portfolio is constantly expanding. In addition to reliability and safety, increasing comfort for passengers is added.

Aircraft fuel consumption is one of the important indicators of the efficient operation of mechanisms. Each model consumes its own amount; tankers calculate this parameter so that the airliner is not loaded with excess weight. Various factors are considered before allowing departure: flight range, availability of alternate airfields, weather conditions of the route.

Main technical parameters

From the first flight to modern models, thousands of different military, cargo, and passenger aircraft were created. Time and technological progress force them to constantly improve and occupy a worthy niche in the air fleet. At any period of development, the designers were faced with the task of reducing the fuel consumption of the aircraft so that it would be profitable to operate and in demand on the market. For the calculation, take 3 main parameters and fix the value:

• hourly;
• kilometer;
• specific

The cost of the entire flight and the company’s costs for servicing the expensive mechanism depend on how much money is spent on refueling.

Hour characteristics

Aircraft hourly fuel consumption refers to the resource used for each hour of flight. They deliver passengers at cruising speeds. Therefore, 2 main values ​​are needed: maximum payload and cruising speed. The fixed limit on which the liner can be loaded is 60% of the maximum to ensure safety and allow for additional weight. The units of measurement are kilograms per flight hour.

The permitted commercial load is the total weight:

• passenger;
• luggage;
• technology, instruments, equipment.

Calculators take the average value to be within 10 thousand kg per flight hour.

Kilometer calculation

Aircraft fuel consumption in kilometer terms is measured by costs per unit of flight distance. The same measurements are taken into account: cruising speed and maximum payload. Definitions are required to find out the least cost. In this case, the units of measurement are kilograms of weight per kilometer of flight.

Specific value

The specific fuel consumption of an aircraft is determined by a unit of time or distance in relation to the thrust or its engine power.

Units:

• by mass or volume of fuel - in kilograms or liters;
• by time and distance of movement - in hours and kilometers;
• by engine power - in horsepower or kilogram power.

This technical indicator shows fuel efficiency; it allows you to find out which of the airliners is capable of transporting cargo with a minimum amount of kerosene. When determining the fuel consumption of a passenger aircraft, they take the fuel consumed per kilometer of flight to the number of citizens who entered the cabin.

What indicators influence savings?

Every time an aircraft is sent into flight, technicians consider all the factors. They have a number of tasks:

"Boeing 737-400":

• fuel efficiency - 20.9 g/pass. km;
• hourly consumption - 2.6 thousand kg/h.

Characteristic features of this passenger aircraft:

• passenger seats - 114;
• cargo tonnage - 2.4 tons.

Flight data parameters:

1. 793 km/h. - cruising speed value.
2. 52800 kg - the maximum take-off weight.
3. 10058 m - the apparatus rises to this height.
4. 2518 km - moves with a similar range.
5. 276 km/h - this is how fast it takes off.

Leading Boeing experts are working on the design of an aircraft that will replace the entire 737 family.

Who does the calculation

To refuel airliners, special petroleum fractions are used, they are called jet kerosene, or aviation fuel. To calculate the required quantity for a specific flight, a narrow circle of specialists is involved, only they know the formulas for each model.

The calculation is based on the following scheme:

• take the mass of aviation gasoline that will be required to fly from city M to city D with commercial load C;
• record the amount of fuel required when moving from city D to an alternate airfield site located at the maximum distance according to the flight plan;
• jet fuel consumption during additional flights during landing;
• add 6% to this volume of fuel for reserve storage.

In the event of an emergency landing, the aircraft must dump the remaining kerosene to prevent the impact from causing fires from the large amount of highly flammable substance.

As a conclusion we can summarize:

• the most important, oldest and most pressing task when creating an aircraft design is its fuel consumption;
• fuel efficiency is characterized by three indicators: hourly, kilometer, and specific resource consumption;
• fuel costs are not exact values, they are influenced by external and internal factors;
• Specific and hourly meals vary for each liner in different ranges.

The calculation of aviation kerosene is carried out by specialists from the technical staff; separately for each aircraft before its route, they apply formulas developed for specific airliners. The result obtained is increased so that there is always a reserve. For long flights, there is special in-flight refueling. Cargo refuelers fly to the point to carry out scrupulous, responsible work at the calculated altitude.