Taking an Airbus A380 jumbo more efficient than driving an Insight?

[GasSavers_Ryland]

it also depends on how fast you fly, I know a guy who flys for northwest airlines, and he said that if a pilet gets pissed because of pay cuts or whatever, all they have to do is slow down, apparently it costs about $50 a minute to stay in the air just in fuel in the plane he flys... I think it was some modle of smaller air bus.

[rh77]

Originally Posted by Ryland

it also depends on how fast you fly, I know a guy who flys for northwest airlines, and he said that if a pilet gets pissed because of pay cuts or whatever, all they have to do is slow down, apparently it costs about $50 a minute to stay in the air just in fuel in the plane he flys... I think it was some modle of smaller air bus.

I fly NWA about 80% of the time -- the Airbus mentioned is the A319 (or rarely the slightly larger A320) -- essentially like a 737. I'm usually found on the DC-9 (a great antique -- love it).

There have been a few times they spend a little more time on approach than usual -- I guess that explains it. But still, those guys (and gals) really know their stuff up there.

But, I also hear that if they arrive beyond their scheduled time of arrival, they're penalized for being late.

RH77

[repete86]

Still not as efficient as an Insight with two people in it.

[GasSavers_Brock]

I still say that’s pretty darn good. Anything above 50 is good as far as I am concerned. As far as comparing it to any land based vehicle, what MPG do any of us get at 550 mph I doubt even cramming 4 people in a metro and going even 100 mph you would get near that per person.

I swear I read that 757's had the best per seat mileage of something like 120, but I could be remembering it wrong. Same thing for a loaded Greyhound bus. Even at 5 mpg moving 30 people that’s 150 mpg per seat, again not at 550 mph though, that would be fun

[JanGeo]

The other problems are the 1.3million pounds that the runways have to hold up and the volume of people getting into and out of such a large plane . . . remember there are waiting areas and security checks . . .

[Silveredwings]

Originally Posted by JanGeo

The other problems are the 1.3million pounds that the runways have to hold up and the volume of people getting into and out of such a large plane . . . remember there are waiting areas and security checks . . .

Gee with all the waiting around, the Insight might win a coast-to-coast race against the a380.

[rh77]

Originally Posted by Silveredwings

Gee with all the waiting around, the Insight might win a coast-to-coast race against the a380.

I can see it now: Cannonball III -- The Race against the '380.

4 People
1 Hybrid
2500 Miles

In theaters this June.



In all reality, this premise is true with most any flight these days. If I can drive the distance in 4.5 hours or less, I'll do it. It takes the same amount of time or less than it does to get to airport, park the car, get through security, wait, board or potentially be delayed, take flight (perhaps navigate around storms or slow to to line-up for approach), land, offload (2-words: Spring Break, argh), get luggage and rental car, drive to destination. From KC to Tulsa it takes 3.5 to 4 hours by car, or the same time on limited direct Southwest flights at odd hours of the day from door-to-door. Other airlines force connections that take more than 5 hours from door-to-door.

I'd rather drive a Kia Spectra (or similar) 250 miles at an average of 63-67 mph and get 32-34 mpg rather than sit in an airport or cramped Regional Jet. It's sad what the industry has essentially become. I've done 6-hours after cancelled flights, and that seems to be a bit much, though.

RH77

[repete86]

I fly alot for my work. It's not uncommon to spend 12-14 hours in an airport for me because producers always end up getting the cheapest tickets that they can find that leaves me with two or three flights. The worst was almost 20 hours in airports trying to get to Moline, Il to work on a film about a year and a half ago.

[Lug_Nut]

Monday's Boston to Shreveport via Memphis instead became Boston to Shreveport via Detroit whch then turned into Detroit to Shreveport via Houston. It took me 17 1/2 hours. My luggage? It took the same 24 hours to get that to my hotel that it took me to drive my second TDI from New Orleans to Boston.
My return SHV-IAH-BOS trip on Wed was a more tolerable at 10 1/2 hours from hotel to home.

[GasSavers_DaX]

Originally Posted by rh77

I can see it now: Cannonball III -- The Race against the '380.

4 People
1 Hybrid
2500 Miles

In theaters this June.

Top Gear did a similar thing where they drove a Ferrari 612 Scaglietti against a plane from the studio in Surrey to Verbier (about 730 miles). The Ferrari barely won.