OK, I'll try again. Both Airbus and Boeing like to use 210 lbs as representing the average passenger weight with baggage. Again I think this is a little low, but at least it provides equal comparison. I'm still going to use "typical 3 class" seating to again try and keep the comparisons equal. I'll also use 6.76 lbs/gal for fuel weight.
For the Boeing 747-400:
Typical 3 class seating = 416
Standard Range (full passenger load) = 7330nm
Range is at ISA Standard day, 210 lbs/passenger, Mach .85 cruise, 10% trip contingency, 200nm diversion, 30 minute hold.
MTOW=875,000 lbs, OWE=399,300 lbs, MZFW=555,000 lbs, Max Fuel=57,285 USgal.
For the Aibus A340-600:
Typical 3 class seating = 380
Standard Range (full passenger load) = 7500nm
Range is at ISA Standard day, 210 lbs/passenger, Mach .84 Cruise, 5% trip contingency, 200nm diversion, 30 minute hold.
MTOW=804,700 lbs, OWE=390,300 lbs, MZFW=529,200 lbs, Max Fuel=51,480 USgal.
For the Airbus A380-100:
Typical 3 class seating = 555
Standard Range (full passenger load) = 8150nm (claimed)
Range is at ISA Standard day, 210 lbs/passenger, Mach .85 Cruise, 5% trip contingency, 200nm diversion, 30 minute hold.
MTOW=1,235,000 lbs, OWE=606,000 lbs, MZFW=789,000 lbs, Max Fuel=85,900 USgal.
There are going to be 2 problems with this comparison, first the Airbus models have a 5% contingency instead of 10%. Second, I have a problem with the range of the A380. The only payload/range chart I could find was for the A380F, which shows a range of about 7500nm with a payload equivalent to the passenger payload being discussed here (555x210=116,550 lbs). I know the the A380F has a 50,000 lbs greater MTOW and 130,000 lbs greater payload capacity, so due to strengthening it will be heavier. So I'll compare using both ranges.
The Boeing 747-400:
416x210=87,380 lbs Passenger Payload (PPL). MTOW (875,000 lbs) - OWE (399,000 lbs) - PPL (87,380 lbs) = 388,620 lbs Max Possible Fuel Load (MPFL). MPFL (388,620)/6.76 = 57,488 USgal possible by weight. Therefore 57,285 USgals carried. This yields (57,285/416) 137.7 USgal/passenger for a trip 7330nm long, minus the reserves.
The Airbus A340-600:
380x210=79,800 lbs Passenger payload (PPL). MTOW (804,700 lbs) - OWE (390,300 lbs) - PPL (79,800 lbs) = 334,600 lbs Max Possible Fuel Load (MPFL). MPFL (334,600)/6.76 = 49,497 USgal possible by weight. Adjusting range to the Boeing (7330/7500)x49,497 = 48,375 USgals carried. This yields (48,375/380) 127.3 USgal/passenger for a trip 7330nm long, minus the reserves.
For the Airbus A380-100:
555x210=116,550 lbs Passenger Payload (PPL). MTOW (1,235,000 lbs) - OWE (606,000 lbs) - PPL (116,550 lbs) = 512,450 lbs Max Possible Fuel Load (MPFL). MPFL (512,450)/6.76 = 75,806 USgal possible by weight. Adjusting range to the Boeing (7330/8150)x75,806 = 68,178 USgals carried. This yeilds (68,178/555) 122.8 USgal/passenger for a trip 7330nm long, minus the reserves.
If the range were actually 7500nm, then adjusting range to the Boeing (7330/7500)x75,806 = 74,088 USgal carried. This yeilds (74,088/555) 133.5 USgal/passenger for a trip 7330nm long, minus the reserves.
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Safe flying to you...
[This message has been edited by Flight Safety (edited 14 April 2001).]