Learn the basics of calculating boat fuel burn…
Jet engine fuel consumption
by Alex
Expert answer:
Quick answer
Jet engines can burn thousands of pounds of fuel per hour. Modern high-bypass turbofans lower the thrust-specific fuel consumption, improving efficiency.
Detailed answer
Commercial airliners often have turbofan engines, each burning a few thousand pounds of jet fuel per hour depending on size and thrust. Over a long-haul flight, this can total many tons of fuel. Thrust Specific Fuel Consumption (TSFC) measures how many pounds of fuel are used per pound of thrust per hour; lower TSFC means better efficiency.
Engine makers like GE, Rolls-Royce, and Pratt & Whitney incorporate higher bypass ratios, advanced materials, and optimized combustion to reduce consumption. Airlines also adopt practices like slower cruising speeds or route optimization to save fuel. Though absolute consumption remains large, modern jets spread the cost across hundreds of passengers, achieving comparatively good seat-mile efficiency versus smaller private vehicles.