MPG of a Boeing 737-800

idunnoshur

Stovepipe wrote: »

Also, don't forget that the 737 has two engines, so divide the consumption figure in two. Also, airlines calculate fuel costs in seat-mile(s/m) or revenue per passenegr per kilometre (rpk) so miles to the gallon, because of all the highly variable factors already posted here, is not really relevant to aircraft operations.
regards
Stovepipe

Forgive me if I'm way off the ball here but aren't most airplanes engines in the wings? If that's the case wouldn't they all have to have two to balance the plane?

I'm finding all of this talk of planes very interesting, pilots must be reasonably good at chemistry, I had thought that they just had to know how to drive the plane. Is there much to know about the weather for pilot exams?

Gracelessly Tom

idunnoshur wrote: »

Forgive me if I'm way off the ball here but aren't most airplanes engines in the wings? If that's the case wouldn't they all have to have two to balance the plane?

He was referring to the fact the 737 has two engines as opposed to a larger aircraft which may have 4 engines.

The total fuel consumption needs to be divided by two in order for the figure to reflect each engines consumption.

mickdw

idunnoshur wrote: »

Forgive me if I'm way off the ball here but aren't most airplanes engines in the wings? If that's the case wouldn't they all have to have two to balance the plane?

Some planes have one on the tail.

Darius.Tr

I'we seen some a/c having 5 engines, whats the deal with that? Is being used or just transported from one place to another? I think it was 747

xflyer

Yes the 747 has a mounting point for transporting an engine. The engine can't be run though, transport only. It's not used much anymore. I suspect the idea came about because when those large engines were developed there were few cargo aircraft capable of taking one.

ScabbyLeg

idunnoshur wrote: »

Forgive me if I'm way off the ball here but aren't most airplanes engines in the wings? If that's the case wouldn't they all have to have two to balance the plane?

You'd be surprised at how unbalanced a plane can look, for example the Rutan Boomerang below. The designer is known for his unusual and brilliant aircraft designs. Here the balancing is done through weight distribution and the aerodynamics of the aircraft itself.

Run_to_da_hills

Darius.Tr wrote: »

I'we seen some a/c having 5 engines, whats the deal with that? Is being used or just transported from one place to another? I think it was 747

The Air India 747 200 that crashed off the Irish coast in 1985 had 5 engines.