Fuel System
The Boeing 747-400 has eight fuel tanks holding 57,164 US gallons of Jet-A.
The 747-400 has eight fuel tanks, with a combined capacity of 57,164 gallons of Jet-A fuel. This amount weighs in excess of 380,000 pounds. (Pilots normally discuss fuel in terms of weight rather than volume.) The distribution of fuel among these tanks has a profound effect on how the aircraft performs. In particular, during a long trip, it is important that the fuel in some tanks be burned off before using the fuel in other tanks. Otherwise, the aircraft can become unbalanced.Fuel management in the 747-400 is largely automated, but there are still certain actions that are required from the crew. We will discuss them below.
Frequently asked questions
- How much fuel does a Boeing 747-400 carry?
- The Boeing 747-400 has eight fuel tanks with a combined capacity of 57,164 US gallons of Jet-A, weighing in excess of 380,000 pounds when full.