The amount of fuel, often referred to as aviation fuel or jet fuel rather than petrol (which typically refers to gasoline used in cars), in an aeroplane varies significantly. There is no single exact answer as the required fuel load depends heavily on the specific aircraft model, the distance of the flight, potential delays, and other operational factors.
Typical Aeroplane Fuel Capacities
Different types of aeroplanes are designed with varying fuel tank capacities to meet the demands of their intended routes and passenger/cargo loads. The reference provided gives examples of the fuel capacities for several typical aircraft models:
| Aircraft | Fuel Capacity (US Gallons) | Fuel Capacity (Liters) |
|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320 | 7,190 | 27,200 |
| Boeing 737 Max | 6,853 | 25,940 |
| Airbus A300 'Beluga' | 6,303 | 23,860 |
| Dassault Falcon 6X | 5,042 | 19,156 |
(Data sourced from an.aero)
Why Capacities Differ
As you can see from the table, even among typical commercial and large transport aircraft, the fuel capacity can range significantly, from under 20,000 liters for a business jet like the Dassault Falcon 6X up to over 27,000 liters for popular airliners like the Airbus A320. Larger, long-haul aircraft, not listed in this specific reference, would have even greater capacities, sometimes exceeding 100,000 or even 200,000 liters.
The actual amount of fuel in an aeroplane at any given time depends on its mission. For instance:
- A short domestic flight requires much less fuel than a long international flight.
- A flight facing potential headwinds or anticipated holding patterns will carry extra fuel (known as reserves).
- An aircraft parked at the gate or undergoing maintenance might have minimal fuel.
Therefore, while the maximum capacity of an aeroplane's fuel tanks is a fixed design specification (as shown in the table), the amount of fuel currently in the tanks varies constantly based on operational needs. The figures provided in the reference represent the maximum capacity of the fuel tanks for these specific models in liters.
