How much fuel do commercial jet passenger airplanes burn when they fly
faster than normal cruising speed?

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Request for Question Clarification by byrd-ga on 22 Mar 2006 05:39 PST

I don't know if you're still interested in having this question
answered, but if so, the commenters below are right: you have not
provided enough details. Aircraft fuel consumption is determined by a
combination of factors, including make/model of engine (Pratt&Whitney,
RR, GE, other?), aircraft in which it is installed (RJ, B737-300,
L1011, other?), external factors such as weather (altitude, wind
direction/speed, etc.?), and pilot technique. Also, there is no such
thing as one "cruising speed" for all aircraft, but that speed is also
the result of a combination of various factors using the design
operating limitations found in the flight manual for that particular
aircraft.

So how much faster than normal cruise speed in what make/model of
aircraft, at what altitude, and under what flight conditions?

And what do you mean, "how much fuel?" How much in relation to what?
Do you want total fuel burned? Over what period of time? Or do you
want percentage fuel burned as compared to normal? Again, over what
period of time?

You can see it's not possible to come up with even a ballpark figure,
or rule of thumb for answering this question in general terms, so if
you'd like to see an answer, please give us some more to work with.

Thanks,
Byrd-ga

You would have to expand on that question. Are we talking about a
general boeing 777 passenger jet or a 747? Do you want to know any
airbus or russian fuel costs. exactly how fast were you considering
over the cruising speed?

depends on the weather conditions, the route, the flight time, the
type of engines, the altitude and the mach number...
example: 8 hours flight with Airbus A340-100, central atlantic route,
Flight Level 370, you need 2,2 t more than fuel planned if you want to
gain 8 minutes.

too much

it depends on the make.


The faster it is going the faster it is burning fuel.

Got more specific make and speeds?