Video shows the jaw-dropping fuel consumption of a Boeing 747-8 and its cost during take-off

As modern-day monsters of the skies, the Boeing 747-8 is the pinnacle of its species.

But it’s no easy feat to fly, and one video has highlighted the stunning fuel consumption rates that it takes to get this magnificent plane in the air.

It’s the biggest aircraft that the company has ever operated, and will soon be the flagship aircraft for Air Force One, as early as next year.

But given the size of the Boeing 747-8, it takes some effort (and money) to get moving.

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Why does a Boeing 747-8 burn so much fuel?

As the biggest commercial airplane that Boeing runs, the 747 is powered by four massive engines that just about get the plane rolling down the runway.

But the takeoff is the most demanding part of the journey.

For the Boeing 747-8, each of its four engines uses 66,500 pounds of thrust, which equates to a total of approximately 480,000 horsepower.

It drinks $600 of gas just to get in the air. 

To put it into perspective, you’d need to drive a Tesla Model 3 for 132 miles just to match the energy consumption of one second in a Boeing 747-8.

As for a Ferrari, well, considerably less.

For a flight from New York (JFK) to Beijing (PEK), which is the longest haul the plane does, a Tesla Model 3 would have to drive 134,640 miles to burn the same fuel.

The future of Air Force One

While there is a push for planes to be more eco-friendly, comfort and defense are the priority for the POTUS when it comes to air travel.

That’s where the Boeing 747-8 comes in.

Taking over from its sister, the 747 VC-25A, it will mark over half a century of care for presidents ranging from Trump to Roosevelt, as early as 1943.

As the seventh aircraft that the manufacturer has been proud to provide for Air Force One, this particular plane, which is undergoing a $1,000,000,000 makeover, was gifted to America by Qatar.

The Boeing 747-8 will begin its tenure as Air Force One’s flagship aircraft in 2026, although an official date and debut journey have not yet been decided.

Let’s hope there’s plenty of gas on standby for President Trump’s trips across America and neighboring countries, with fuel consumption being greedily high for the future Air Force One vessel.

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