So I have question about how long a plane flying from London to China could fly for if full of fuel

AMKC

Could the said plane get within 3 hours of China and still have enough fuel to then turn around and fly the whole way back to London? Turning around with only 3 hours left of an 11hour 30 minute flight and it still has 17 hours of fuel. Seems a bit excessive to me.

You might be wondering why I am asking this. Well I am watching the series "Red Eye" and most of the action takes place in what I think is a Boeing 777. Suppose it could be an Airbus 350 either or a Boeing 787. All I know is it's a twin engined jet and it has stairs like a 747 but its not a 747. No idea if a triple 777 has or not but if it does I never seen them when I was on one many decades ago lol.

If this is not the place to ask this then the mods can move it. I just thought there is a lot of knowledgeable plane people and maybe even pilots in here that might know the answer and maybe have even watched this show.

Hotblack Desiato

I'm pretty sure there are no twin-engined jets with a stairs (crew rest excepted).

Some L-1011 trijets in the 1970s were fitted with lower deck (same level as cargo deck) lounges, so presumably had passenger stairs. Some of them had galleys down there too but not accessible to passengers.

https://travelupdate.com/psa-lockheed-tristar-lounge/

Returning to base after 8 hours of flight would be pretty wild.

Once the creators of a series have gone down the nonsense route, you can choose to either jump off or enjoy the ride

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058396579/so-i-have-question-about-how-long-a-plane-flying-from-london-to-china-could-fly-for-if-full-of-fuel

TBH, I watched that work of fiction and it had many more gaping plot holes than the range of the plane. It's just a story, don't take it too seriously.

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123175222#Comment_123175222

"I'm pretty sure there are no twin-engined jets with a stairs (crew rest excepted)."

Ye actually I think it was to crew rest and a galley.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123175271#Comment_123175271

Oh I agree. Was just curious that's all.

john boye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123175321#Comment_123175321

I think most shows and movies set on an airplane build a set to simulate a plane. Most actual planes are too narrow and cramped for all the crew and equipment required on set.

Tenger

Watching TV/films set in aircraft is always funny.

That's a B737 cockpit, its a 2 level aircraft inside, the exterior shot was a B777 nose,
no-one seems to be in any of the galleys, why is he just walking into First Class without being stopped?
Why is there never a queue for the loo's? etc etc

thesandeman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123175967#Comment_123175967

I'm fairness, after seeing what happened to the first person who went to the loo I'd rather pee myself 😂.

I quite enjoyed it even though it's OTT.

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123185135#Comment_123185135

"I'm fairness, after seeing what happened to the first person who went to the loo I'd rather pee myself 😂."

Lol

Captain_Crash

The likes of the A350, A380, 787 and 77L can carry over 16hrs worth of fuel with a decent payload but from an operational POV a flight from London to Shanghai or Bejing wouldn’t be carrying that much so couldn’t turn back after 8 hours… so to answer your question, theoretically possible but operationally not happening.

Jacovs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058396579/so-i-have-question-about-how-long-a-plane-flying-from-london-to-china-could-fly-for-if-full-of-fuel

Your maths aint mathing.

If the flight is 11,5 hours long and theres only 3 hours left, then they already flew 8,5 hours. Thus to turn around would be another 8,5 hours, not 17 hours. Maybe meant 17 hours in total?

In which case, very possible with the right aircraft and if fully fueled.

Here is an article with a list of the 10 longest flights currently in operation:

https://www.weforum.org/stories/2019/05/planes-can-now-fly-for-21-hours-non-stop-but-are-humans-ready/

Singapore - New York at 17 hours 50 minutes. And with reserve fuel, assume they can easily do 20-21 hours. If they are looking at 21 hour flights then have to assume the aircraft can do 23-24 hours.

smurfjed

some or at least one A340 can do 22 hours :)