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How Many Horsepower is Santa's Sleigh?
Enough about the “Lead Sled”, let’s talk Santa’s sled! I thought it might be interesting to spend some time on the subject because, after all, it is that time of the year when, while nestled in bed, we are kept up wondering—just how many horsepower IS Santa’s sleigh with it’s eight flying reindeer?!?! Afer all, the jolly old guy has to make it around the world, leaving presents beneath the tree, for millions or billions of children in a single evening!
Enough about the “Lead Sled”, let’s talk Santa’s sled! I thought it might be interesting to spend some time on the subject because, after all, it is that time of the year when, while nestled in bed, we are kept up wondering—just how many horsepower IS Santa’s sleigh with it’s eight flying reindeer?!?! Afer all, the jolly old guy has to make it around the world, leaving presents beneath the tree, for millions or billions of children in a single evening!
If you are like me, you might be surprised to know about how much research has gone into answering this burning question.
Well, here are some facts about Santa’s sleigh and it’s equivalent of reindeer power (RP) to horsepower (HP) and the research that has been done on the subject.
Let’s start with some information I found posted online:
“First step is to determine the “power” of an average horse. There is a lot of variety in horses. Thus, after some research on the history of the term “horsepower”, I learned it was invented by James Watt of steam engine fame to compare the power of steam engines relative to that of a draft horse. Draft horses can pull approximately one ton for an extended period of time.
Okay, 2,000 pounds pulled for a horse (Clydsdale). I found that reindeer, after further research, can pull about 300 pounds. That means reindeer are 15% as powerful as a draft horse or Reindeer Power=Horsepower / 0.15.
Here is a list of a few cars and their Reindeer Power:
1968 AC Cobra: 485 hp = 3,233 RP
1979 Cadillac Coupe DeVille: 180 hp = 1,200 RP
1971 Pontiac GTO: 300 hp = 2,000 RP
1963 Ford Fairlane 500: 110 hp = 673 RP
1965 Ford Mustang: 306 hp = 2,040 RP
1972 Oldsmobile 442: 300 hp = 2000 RP
1974 Dodge Challenger: 245 hp = 1,633 RP
Batmobile: 1700 hp= 11,333 RP
Top Fuel Dragster: 8000 hp = 53,333 RP
I found it more interesting that, in response to a comment by President Obama in 2014 at the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey, that the US military’s C-13 transport aircraft is “a little more efficient than Santa’s sleigh”. NORAD did a few calculations as well. Hunter Walker of Business Insider.com reported: “According to NORAD’s fact sheet, the top speed of Santa’s sleigh is “faster than starlight.” NASA lists the speed of light as approximately 186,000 miles per second. On the other hand, the Air Force fact sheet on the C-130 notes its maximum speed is just 417 miles per hour. NORAD also said Santa’s sleigh can carry about 60,000 tons while the maximum allowable payload of a C-130 is 44,000 pounds. The White House did not respond to a request from Business Insider about the president’s incorrect claims about the sleigh.
NORAD’s technical data on Santa’s sleigh contains several other interesting tidbits. It notes the sleigh is armed with “purely defensive” antlers. NORAD also claims Santa weighs 260 pounds at the beginning of his annual mission and gains 1,000 pounds during his flight.
Read NORAD’s complete “technical” data” on Santa’s sleigh below.
We here at NJ Cruise News wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas!
