Pan Am 747SP-21 N347SP c/n 21024 “Clipper Constitution”
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weight and performance calculations for the Boeing 747SP
Pan Am 747SP-21 N347SP c/n 21024 “Clipper Constitution”
Boeing 747SP
role : wide-body long-range airliner
importance : **
first flight : 04 July 1975 operational : April 1976
country : United States of America
ICAO aircraft type designator : B74S
production : 45 aircraft at Everett
general information :
Shortened version for long range use. It is the highest flying subsonic passenger airliner ,
with a service ceiling of 45,100 feet (13,700 meters). Intended to compete with the MDD
DC-10 and Lockheed Tristar. It is 24m shorter than a 747-100. The 747SP flew the route
New York – Teheran (Iran) non-stop, the longest commercial non-stop route at that
moment. Other non-stop routes were New York – Tokyo ( in 13 hr 40 min), London –
Seattle, San Francisco – Sydney. The 747SP was the longest range airliner till the arrival of
the Boeing 747-400.
It has simplified single-slotted flaps and a bigger vertical tail, compared with the 747-100.
primary users : Pan Am (8), Iran Air, South African, Syrian Air, United Airlines
Accommodation:
flight crew : 3 cabin crew : 10
flight crew consist of pilot, co-pilot and flight engineer
passengers : seating for 331 in two class : 28 business class and 303 economy deluxe
class seats ( 33 -in pitch) exit limit : 400 passengers, high density seating for 384
passengers
engine : 4 Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7A turbofan engines of 208.9 [KN] (46962 [lbf])
dimensions :
wingspan : 59.64 [m], length overall: 56.31 [m], length of fuselage : 53.01 [m]
height : 19.94 [m] wing area : 511.0 [m^2] fuselage exterior width : 6.51 [m]
weights :
operating empty weight : 147690 [kg] max. structural payload : 38250 [kg]
Zero Fuel weight (ZFW) : 185940 [kg] max. landing weight (MLW) : 204100 [kg]
max. take-off weight : 299320 [kg] weight usable fuel : 144935 [kg] (184630 [litres])
performance :
Max. operating Mach number (Mmo) : 0.92 [Mach] (1004 [km/hr]) at 9000 [m]
critical Mach speed : 0.91 [Mach]
max. cruising speed : 935 [km/hr] (Mach 0.88 ) at 10670 [m] (32 [%] power)
economic cruising speed : 914 [km/hr] (Mach 0.86 ) at 10670 [m]
service ceiling : 13700 [m]
range with max fuel and MTOW : 13150 [km] (ATA domestic fuel reserves - 370.0 [km]
alternate)
description :
cantilever low-wing monoplane with retractable landing gear with nose wheel
engines attached with pylons to the wing, main landing gear attached to the wings, fuel
tanks in the wings and fuselage
Wings : Aluminium alloy dual-path fail-safe wing structure with single-slotted trailing edge
Flaps with Kruger flaps on the LE wing root and slotted LE flaps (slats) on outer wing
,with spoilers airfoil : Boeing, average thickness/chord ratio : 10.7 [%], sweep angle 3/4
chord: 37.5 [°] incidence : 2.0 [°], dihedral : 7.0 [°]
Fuselage : Pressurized conventional aluminium alloy semi-monocoque fail safe structure of
elleptical 0 section
calculation : *1* (dimensions)
wing chord at root : 16.56 [m]
wing chord at tip : 4.06 [m]
taper ratio : 0.245 [ ]
mean wing chord : 8.57 [m]
wing aspect ratio : 6.96 []
Oswald factor (e): 0.670 []
seize (span*length*height) : 66965 [m^3]
calculation : *2* (fuel consumption)
oil consumption : 29.2 [kg/hr]
fuel consumption (econ. cruise speed) : 9798.1 [kg/hr] (12481.6 [litre/hr]) at 20 [%] power
distance flown for 1 kg fuel : 0.09 [km/kg] at 10670 [m] height, sfc : 60.0 [kg/KN/h]
total fuel capacity : 184630 [litre] (144935 [kg])
calculation : *3* (weight)
weight engine(s) dry : 16120.0 [kg] = 19.29 [kg/KN]
weight 3824 litre de-mineralized water tank for engine injection : 325.01 [kg]
weight 595.8 litre oil tank : 50.64 [kg]
oil tank filled with 5.3 litre oil : 4.7 [kg]
oil in engine 10.2 litre oil : 9.2 [kg]
weight all fuel lines and pumps containing 125 litres fuel : 293.1 [kg]
weight engine cowling : 2172.6 [kg]
weight thrust reversers : 1253.4 [kg]
total weight propulsion system : 20229 [kg](6.8 [%])
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Accommodation cabin facilities:
typical 2-class cabin layout for 331 passengers : economy : pitch : 83.8 [cm] 33.0 [-in]
( 3+4+3 ) seating in 34.3 rows
Upper deck seating economy : 32, in HD set up max 45
Upper deck has 10 windows, up to 6 abreast seating is possible at upper deck
with upper deck space for 16 first class sleeper seats or 32 economy class seats
weight passenger seats : 1845.7 [kg]
weight cabin crew seats : 50.0 [kg]
weight flight crew seats : 63.0 [kg]
weight 2 jump seats in the cockpit :14.0 [kg]
high density seating passengers : 384 [pax] at mainly 10 -abreast seating in 43.8 rows, pitch
80.8 [cm] 31.8 [-in]
pax density, normal seating : 0.77 [m2/pax], high density seating : 0.66 [m2/pax]
passenger cabin luxurious spaced for good service, enough space for galleys and toilets even
at HD seating
weight 10 lavatories : 293.8 [kg]
weight 7 galleys : 983.1 [kg]
weight staircase : 120 [kg]
weight overhead stowage for hand luggage : 115.8 [kg]
weight 3 wardrobe closets : 33.1 [kg]
`
weight 3 movie screens : 65.0 [kg]
weight 71 windows (41 x 28 cm) made of acrylic glass : 192.9 [kg]
weight 8 (1.93 x 1.07 [m]) Type A main entry doors : 587.1 [kg]
weight 3 (main door size : 1.73 x 2.64 [m]) freight doors (belly) : 642.2 [kg]*
total belly baggage/cargo hold volume : 117.8 [m3]
Half-width container > LD1 ULD
underfloor belly hold can accommodate : 20 LD1 containers, netto volume : 98.0 [m3]
and : 11.3 [m3] bulk cargo
cabin volume (usable), excluding flight deck : 613 [m3]
passenger compartment volume : 336 [m3]
passenger cabin max width : 6.13 [m] cabin length : 42.27 [m] max cabin height : 2.54 [m]
floor area : 254.7 [m2]
weight cabin facilities : 5005.7 [kg]
safety facilities:
evacuation time with 384 passengers : 47 [sec]
weight 15 hand fire extinguisher : 46 [kg]
weight cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR): 20.0 [kg]
weight oxygen masks & oxygen generators (deploy cabin alt.>4267m): 215.2 [kg]
weight emergency flare installation : 10 [kg]
weight 8 emergency evacuation slides : 489.7 [kg]
weight safety equipment & facilities : 781 [kg]
fuselage construction:
fuselage aluminium frame : 28060 [kg]
floor loading (payload/m2): 150 [kg/m2]
weight rear pressure bulkhead : 606.0 [kg]
fuselage covering ( 908.0 [m2] duraluminium 3.45 [mm]) : 8389.1 [kg]
weight floor beams : 6012.4 [kg]
weight cabin furbishing : 4267.5 [kg]
weight cabin floor : 3811.6 [kg]
weight (sound proof) isolation : 938.8 [kg] TO-noise level : 106.4 [EPNdB]
weight 49677 [litre] main central fuel tanks empty : 993.5 [kg]
weight empty 1415 [litre] potable water tanks : 125.3 [kg]
weight empty waste tank : 45.5 [kg]
weight fuselage structure : 53249.9 [kg]
Avionics:
weight VHF radio and Selcal : 9.0 [kg]
weight flight and service attendants intercom : 5.0 [kg]
weight monochromatic weather X-band (3.2cm wavelength) radar system : 25.0 [kg]
weight VOR/ILS,RMI,DME,radio altimeter, ASI, time clock : 20.0 [kg]
digital air data computer meeting ARINC 576 requirements : 33 [kg]
weight CAT IIIA auto-landing system : 10.0 [kg]
weight artificial horizons, compass, alti-meters : 7 [kg]
weight ground proximity warning system (GPWS) : 6 [kg]
weight engine monitoring gauges & control switches : 28 [kg]
weight reserve ADI, ASI, alti-meter, compass, engine temp. and rpm indicators : 15 [kg]
weight avionics : 158.0 [kg]
Systems:
Air-conditioning and pressurization system maintains sea level conditions up to 6950 [m]
and gives equivalent of 2250 [m] at 12700 [m]. pressure differential : 0.61 [bar] (kg/cm2)
pressurized fuselage volume : 1035 [m3] cabin air refreshment time : 3.4 [min]
weight air-conditioning and pressurization system : 516 [kg]
weight APU / engine starter (also driving 60KV generator for primary electrical power):
145.4 [kg]
weight lighting : 109.2 [kg]
weight four independent 207 bar hydraulic systems : 283.1 [kg]
weight four engine-driven 60kVA electricity generators : 82.8 [kg]
weight integrated drive generator (IDG) : 25 [kg]
weight three 24V 25Ah nickel-cadmium batteries : 42.4 [kg]
weight controls : 23.7 [kg]
weight systems : 1227.5 [kg]
total weight fuselage : 60422 [kg](20.2 [%])
***************************************************************
total weight aluminium ribs (1636 ribs) : 9788 [kg]
weight engine mounts : 418 [kg]
weight 6 wing fuel tanks empty for total 134953 [litre] fuel : 2024 [kg]
weight 739 [litre] vent surge tanks : 89 [kg]
weight wing covering (painted aluminium 3.30 [mm]) : 9105 [kg]
total weight aluminium spars (multi-cellular wing structure) : 11410 [kg]
weight wings : 30303 [kg]
weight wing/square meter : 59.30 [kg]
weight thermal leading-edge anti-icing : 65.6 [kg]
Pan Am 747SP N347SP in flight
weight high & low speed ailerons (20.40 [m2]) : 606.3 [kg]
weight fin (82.19 [m2]) : 2443.2 [kg]
weight rudder (22.90 [m2]) : 653.4 [kg]
weight tailplane (stabilizer) (142.49 [m2]): 4659.2 [kg]
weight elevators (32.49 [m2]): 521.50 [kg]
weight flight control hydraulic servo actuators: 111.6 [kg]
IranAir Boeing 747SP EP-IAD c/n 21758, the aircraft was delivered to IranAir July 1979.
weight trailing edge single-slotted flaps (78.75 [m2]) : 2340.9 [kg]
weight leading edge kruger flaps and slats (48.12 [m2]) : 845.3 [kg]
weight aluminium honeycomb spoilers (30.8 [m2]) : 414.8 [kg]
total weight wing construction : 45496 [kg] (30.8 [%])
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tire pressure main wheels : 12.63 [Bar] (nitrogen), ply rating : 26 PR
tire speed limit : 364 [km/hr]
total tyre footprint : 1.07 [m2]
Runway LCN at MTOW (0.76m radius of rigidity) : 75 [ ]
Aircraft Classification Number (ACN), MTOW on rigid runway and medium subgrade strength (B) : 41 [ ]
Can only operate from unpaved runways with reduced weight and reduced tyre pressure
wheel pressure : 16462.6 [kg]
weight 16 Dunlop 46 x 16 main wheels (1170 [mm] by 412 [mm]) : 2163.9 [kg]
weight 2 nose wheels : 135.2 [kg]
weight hydraulic disc wheel-brakes : 185.9 [kg]
weight Duplex anti-skid units : 16.2 [kg]
weight oleo-pneumatic shock absorbers : 247.9 [kg]
weight wheel hydraulic operated retraction system : 2536.0 [kg]
weight undercarriage struts with axle 7268.0 [kg]
total weight landing gear : 12553.1 [kg] (4.2 [%]
*******************************************************************
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calculated empty weight : 138700 [kg](46.3 [%])
weight oil for 16.9 hours flying : 519.1 [kg]
weight engine injection water : 3823.7 [kg]
unusable fuel in engine and tanks 1129.0 litre fuel : 886.3 [kg]
weight lifejackets : 149.0 [kg]
weight 6 life rafts : 206.9 [kg]
weight catering : 910.2 [kg]
weight water : 1252.5 [kg]
weight crew : 1053 [kg]
weight crew luggage, nav. chards, flight doc., miscell. items : 190 [kg]
operational weight empty : 147690 [kg] (49.3 [%])
********************************************************************
weight 331 passengers : 25487 [kg]
weight luggage : 5296 [kg]
weight cargo : 7467 [kg] (cargo + luggage/m3 belly : 97 [kg/m3])
zero fuel weight (ZFW): 185940 [kg](62.1 [%])
weight fuel for landing (1.9 hours flying) : 18160 [kg]
max. landing weight (MLW): 204100 [kg](68.2 [%])
max. fuel weight : 292625 [kg] (97.8 [%])
payload with max fuel : 72 passengers + luggage 6695 [kg]
published maximum take-off weight : 299320 [kg] (100.0 [%])
Chinese CAAC 747SP B-2444 c/n 21933 at Zurich Kloten apt. (ZRH), May 1981
calculation : * 4 * (engine power)
power loading (Take-off) : 358 [kg/KN]
power loading (Take-off) 1 PUF: 478 [kg/KN]
max. total take-off power : 835.6 [KN]
calculation : *5* (loads)
manoeuvre load : 1.2 [g] at 9000 [m]
limit load : 2.5 [g] ultimate load : 3.8 [g] load factor : 1.1 [g]
design flight time : 5.50 [hours]
design cycles : 12320 sorties, design hours : 67760 [hours]
max. wing loading (MTOW & flaps retracted) : 586 [kg/m2]
United Airlines Boeing 747SP-21 N148UA c/n 21648, September 1988 at Hong Kong – Kai Tak int'l apt.
wing stress (2 g) during operation : 163 [N/kg] at 2g emergency manoeuvre
calculation : *6* (angles of attack)
angle of attack zero lift : -1.94 ["]
max. angle of attack (stalling angle, clean) : 11.99 ["]
max. angle of attack (full flaps) : 15.49 ["]
angle of attack at max. speed : 1.29 ["]
calculation : *7* (lift & drag ratios
lift coefficient at angle of attack 0° : 0.16 [ ]
lift coefficient at max. speed : 0.27 [ ]
lift coefficient at max. angle of attack (clean): 1.15 [ ]
max. lift coefficient full flaps : 2.18 [ ]
drag coefficient at max. speed : 0.0236 [ ]
drag coefficient at econ. cruise speed : 0.0261 [ ]
induced drag coefficient at econ. cruise speed : 0.0086 [ ]
drag coefficient (zero lift) : 0.0175 [ ]
lift/drag ratio at econ. speed : 11.30 [ ]
calculation : *8* (speeds
take-off decision speed (V1) : 252 [km/u] (136 [kt])
take-off rotation speed (VR) : 265 [km/u] (143 [kt])
minimum unstick speed (Vmu) at TO angle 15.0 ° : 273 [km/u] (147 [kt])
lift-off speed (VLOF) : 300 [km/u] (162 [kt]) at pitch angle : 12.6 [°]
take-off safety speed (V2) : 303 [km/u] (163 [kt])
flap retraction speed (V3) at 500m (OW loaded : 289522 [kg]): 343 [km/u] (185 [kt])
steady initial climb speed (V4) : 329 [km/u] (177 [kt])
climb speed (to FL150 with 56 [%] power) : 633 [km/hr] (342 [kt])
max. endurance speed (Vbe): 829 [km/u] min. fuel/hr : 9219 [kg/hr] at height : 11887 [m]
max. range speed (Vbr): 932 [km/u] (0.90 [mach]) min. fuel consumption : 10.08 [kg/km] at
cruise height : 12192 [m]
Pan Am 747SP N533PA s/n 21025 “Clipper Liberty Bell” , in May 1976 the aircraft made a record round the world flight. Later it was renamed “Clipper New Horizons”.
max. cruising speed : 935 [km/hr] (505 [kt]) at 10670 [m] (power:20 [%])
max. operational speed (Mmo) : 1004 [km/hr] (Mach 0.92 ) at 9000 [m] (power:25 [%])
airflow at cruise speed per engine : 423.9 [kg/s]
speed of thrust jet : 1287 [km/hr]
initial descent speed 10000 - 7315 [m]: Mach 0.82
descent speed 7315 - 3048 [m]: 550 [km/u] (297 [kt])
approach speed 3048 - 500 [m] (clean): 463 [km/u] (250 [kt])
minimum control speed (MCS) Vmca (clean): 302 [km/u] (163 [kt])
stalling speed clean at 500 [m] height at Max.Landing Weight : 204100 [kg]): 275 [km/u]
(148 [kt])
final approach speed (landing speed) at sea-level with full flaps VREF (max. landing weight):
232 [km/u] (125 [kt])
ICAO Aircraft Approach Category (APC) : C
stalling speed at sea-level with full flaps VSO (max. landing weight): 178 [km/u] (96 [kt]
rate of climb at sea-level ROC (loaded, 56 % power) : 1079 [m/min]
rate of climb at sea-level ROC (loaded, 75 % power) : 1821 [m/min]
rate of climb at 1000 [m] with 1 engine out (PUF/MTOW, 100 % power on remaining
engines) : 1492 [m/min]
can not stay on height 1000 [m] with 2 engines out, immediate emergency landing needed
rate of descent from FL240 to FL100 (7315m > 3048m): 914 [m/min] (2999 [ft/min])
rate of descent during approach with landing gear extended, with use of spoilers: 457
[m/min] (8 [m/s])
calculation : *9* (regarding various performances)
high wheel pressure, can only take off from paved runways
ICAO Aerodrome Reference Code : 4E
Brake kinetic energy capacity : 2448 [KW]
FAR TO balanced runway length (TOFL) requirement at TOW 299320 [kg] standard day at
+++ FAA certification landing distance : +++
landing weight : 204100 [kg], TE flap setting : 40 [°]
runway condition : dry , landing over 50ft (15m) at threshold at sea-level
with use of thrust reversers
Landing runway length at MLW 204100 kg (450000 lbs) , sea level, dry runway, flaps 30° : 5200 ft (1585m)
FAA approved landing field length : 1585 [m] (5199 [ft])
landing distance (C.A.R.) from 15 [m] at SL, wet runway: 1800 [m] (5905 [ft])
max. lift/drag ratio : 14.48 [ ]
climb to 5000 [m] with max payload : 4.29 [min]
climb to 10000 [m] with max payload : 13.20 [min]
descent time from 10000 [m] to 250 [m] : 24.33 [min]
ceiling limited by max. pressure differential 15675 [m]
theoretical ceiling fully loaded (mtow- 60 min.fuel: 289522 [kg] ) : 15900 [m]
calculation *10* (action radius & endurance)
range with max. payload: 10096 [km] with 38250.0 [kg] max. useful load (78.2 [%] fuel)*
range with high density pax: 10358 [km] with 384 passengers (80.0 [%] fuel)*
range with typical two-class pax: 10881 [km] with 331 passengers (83.4 [%] fuel)*
Range with max. payload (MZFW 185940 kg > 409920 lbs) : 5050nm > 9350 km, Range with max . fuel (MTOW brake-release 299320 kg) : 7100 nm > 13149 km, Ferry range with zero payload (OEW 147690 kg > 325595 lbs) : 7300 nm > 13520 km
range with max.fuel : 13520 [km] with 13 crew and 72 passengers and 100.0 [%] fuel*
ferry range (calculated): 13904 [km] with 3 crew and zero payload (100.0 [%] fuel)*
max range theoretically with additional fuel tanks total 196946 [litre] fuel : 14626 [km]*
* calculated ranges without fuel reserves
Available Seat Kilometres (ASK) : 3898694 [paskm]
useful load with range 1000km : 38250 [kg]
useful load with range 1000km : 384 passengers
production (theor.max load): 35764 [tonkm/hour]
production (useful load): 35764 [tonkm/hour]
production (passengers): 345152 [paskm/hour]
oil and fuel consumption per tonkm : 0.275 [kg]
calculation *11* (operating cost)
fuel cost per hour (12482 [litre]):7488 [eur] (28 [pax-km/litre fuel])
fuel cost per seat 1000km flight (369 [pax] 2-class seating): 21.70 [eur/1000PK]
oil cost per hour: 121 [eur]
Two Pan Am stewardesses on the wing of a 747SP
crew cost per hour : 1800 [eur]
list price 2024 : 250 [mln USD]
average flying hours in 1 year : 18 [hours] technical life : 3764 [year]
real average service life : 2500 [years]
depreciation - 2500 [years] to 10% residual value
economic hours (expected total flying hours): 45000 [hours] is 0 [%] less then cor. design hours 45000 [hours]
financing interest per flying hour : 312074 [EUR]
write off per flying hour : 4609 [EUR]
time between engine failure : 17058 [hr]
can continue fly on 3 engines, low risk for emergency landing for PUF
workhours per day : 0.06 [hr]
no fatalities during service life > 100%% safe
average flight hours till crash : 0.04 [mln hr] (2113 service years)
safe flight hours till fatality : 38038 [hr] (2113.2 service years)
reservation pax liability/flying hour : 3.39 [SDR*] (4.23 [eur])
insurance cost per hour : 30202 [eur] insurance rate : 0.6 [%]
engine maintenance cost per hour : 644.8 [eur]
wing maintenance cost per hour : 204.4 [eur]
fuselage maintenance cost per hour : 60.04 [eur]
tire life (time till worn out) : 87 [cycles]
maintenance cost per hour (excluding engines): 2490 [eur]
direct operating cost per hour: 359433 [eur], DOC per km : 393.25 [eur]
DOC per seat 1000km flight (369 [pax] 2-class seating): 1041.38 [eur/1000PK]
DOC per seat 1000km flight (high density seating): 1000.26 [eur/1000PK]
DOC per kg cargo for a 1000km flight : 10.05 [eur/kg] (= DOC/tonkm)
passenger service charge (depart at Schiphol): 11.34 [eur]
security service charge (depart at Schiphol): 10.08 [eur]
airport take-off fee / passenger : 5.01 [eur/pax]
airport landing fee / passenger : 5.01 [eur/pax]
retour ticket price 1000km trip : 2360.21 [eur/pax]
price retour ticket Schiphol-Barcelona : 2932.97 [eur/pax]
Namib Air Boeing 747SP V5-SPF c/n 21263 at Frankfurt am Main, August 1990
On 05 October 1998 this aircraft suffered an in flight engine failure, a fire broke out and an emergency landing was made. The fire was put out and all passengers got out safely but the aircraft was a write off with 6 mln usd damage and only 1 mln usd insured..
accidents with fatalities > there have been no fatal accidents with an 747SP
Literature :
https://contentzone.eurocontrol.int/aircraftperformance/default.aspx?
https://www.boeing.com/commercial/airports/plan-manuals
Air International apr’94 page 201
Vliegtuig Parade sep/okt’77 page 129 t/m 137
ZS-SPF Engine failure at Maputo - Boeing 747SP Website
Verkeersvliegtuigen page 26,27
The Fliers handbook page 92,93
China Airlines 747SP B-1862 c/n 21300 in flight
confidence rating regarding source data : medium - all information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources
DISCLAIMER Above calculations are based on published data, they must be
regarded as indication not as facts.
Calculated performance and weight may not correspond with actual weights
and performances and are assumptions for which no responsibility can be taken.
Calculations are as accurate as possible, they can be fine-tuned when more data
is available, you are welcome to give suggestions and additional information
so we can improve our program. For copyright on drawings/photographs/
content please mail to below mail address
(c) B van der Zalm 13 May 2024 contact : info.aircraftinvestigation@gmail.com ac jetpax 2020.py python 3.7.4
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