Posted on 08/24/2004 8:50:41 PM PDT by Rex_Ruthless
Twice so far this year Sen. J. F. Kerry has flown his hair dresser across the country from Washington D.C.. I've been considering just how much fuel that might require. If you thought an SUV's mileage was bad wait until you see these numbers!
Presumably the hair dresser traveled in the Kerry family's Gulfstream IV jet, the "Flying Squirrel." A bit of Googling reveals that a Gulfstream IV consumes 3000 lbs./hr. at altitude cruising at 450 kts. Factoring in the weight of Jet-A fuel and converting knots to miles-per-hour that comes to 1.2 mpg.
For comparison an 18-wheeler with a full 50,000 lb. load traveling at 65 mph gets about 4.5 mpg.
Three fully loaded 18-wheelers could drive the route and consume less fuel than one of those jet powered tonsorial traversals.
One round trip from D.C. to Idaho for that vagabond of vibrissae vanity consumes about as much fuel as I have used in six years driving my mid-sized car 70,000 miles.
It would be better energy conservation for Kerry to shave his head and travel in an 18-wheeler with 50,000 lbs. of toupees.
Print out and wear as a Campaign Button or go HERE to print.
Feel free to reuse this anywhere you wish...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.