ByTwenty-seven feet is an odd yet intriguing length. It’s not quite as impressive as a football field at 100 yards, but it’s longer than the average sedan at 15 feet. What kinds of objects fit into about 27 feet? As it turns out, quite a few familiar things are this size when measured end to end.
While 27 feet is relatively short, it’s long enough to span certain vehicles, parts of buildings, and even some animal body parts. Having a reference for this length can help you visualize and compare different objects and spaces.
Table of Contents
1. Standard City Bus Length
Public transportation buses come in different sizes, but a typical intra-city bus is about 27 feet long.
These standard city transit buses need to be long enough to accommodate multiple rows of seats and standing space for passengers, but short enough to navigate urban streets and make turns at intersections.
With about 27 feet from bumper to bumper, regular city buses can seat around 30 to 40 passengers.
The length also allows room for wheelchairs and standing riders in the aisle. So next time you step onto public transport, picture about 27 feet of bus carrying you down the road.
2. Blue Whale’s Tongue
The blue whale is the largest animal on Earth, so it makes sense that its tongue would be absolutely gigantic as well. The tongue of a blue whale can weigh as much as an elephant and grow to about 27 feet in length.
That’s longer than a lot of actual animals! A blue whale uses its massive tongue to help swallow and filter the tons of small krill it consumes daily.
The tongue acts as a piston to pump huge volumes of water and food back towards the whale’s throat.
So a blue whale’s impressive 27 foot tongue is critical to its eating and survival. Just imagine how long 27 feet of tongue would look dangling out of the mouth of the world’s biggest mammal.
3. Large Recreational Vehicle (RV) Length
If you’ve ever seen an RV cruise by on the highway, you know they can be quite long and imposing. Large Class A motorhomes and fifth-wheel travel trailers typically range between 25-28 feet in total length.
With all the amenities of a home including bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens, these RVs need ample space.
Setting out on a road trip across the country in a 27 foot RV allows you to bring your entire living space on wheels.
The vehicle length provides the square footage for all the necessary comforts without being overly cumbersome to navigate. For comparison, about 27 feet of RV is around the size of a two car garage.
4. Olympic Size Swimming Pool Length
An Olympic-sized swimming pool measures 50 meters end to end. With approximately 3 feet per meter, that translates to about 164 feet. But the pool is divided into sections, with a standard racing pool spanning 25 or 50 meters.
A 25 meter section of an Olympic sized pool is just over 82 feet long. By swimming back and forth in each 25 meter lane, competitive swimmers log their race distances.
So at about 27 feet wide, an Olympic sized pool’s lanes provide enough length for short sprints and adequate room for turns at each end. The 27 foot span allows competitive swimmers to race and train at internationally approved dimensions.
5. Telepheric Gondola Cabin Length
You’ve probably seen aerial gondola lift systems transporting skiers and sightseers over mountains and through towns. The individual gondola cabins come in different sizes and capacities, but a standard six person cabin is around 25-27 feet in length.
With about 27 feet from front to back, a six passenger gondola cabin provides enough interior space for a bench seat on each side.
The enclosed cabin protects riders from the elements as they soar above the ground for scenic views.
Gondola lift systems rely on the 27 foot cabin length to comfortably fit a maximum number of seated riders.
Without the adequate interior cabin space, enjoying the views during a gondola ride wouldn’t be nearly as enjoyable.
6. Semi-Truck with Trailer Length
Semi-trailer trucks come in many sizes, but a typical 18-wheeler with trailer is about 70 feet in total length. The tractor unit towing the cargo trailer is around 27 feet long. This measurement provides space for the truck cab and engine compartment without exceeding legal road limits.
Since semi-trucks need to navigate tight spaces like surface streets, the 27-foot tractor length strikes a crucial balance.
The permitted length allows for engine power and driver space while remaining reasonably manoeuvrable. Meanwhile, the attached cargo trailer spans about 45 feet to maximize load capacity.
So a 27-foot-long semi-truck cabin has just the right fit to transport huge freight volumes across the country.
7. Main Wing Span of a Cessna 172 Light Aircraft
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a very common, single engine propeller plane. As a light aircraft, it’s relatively small but needs enough wing span for stable recreational flights. The Cessna 172’s main wings measure 36 feet from tip to tip.
However, each main wing alone is around 27 feet long from the fuselage to wingtip. This roughly 27 foot span allows sufficient lift for the Cessna 172 to carry 1-4 passengers at modest speeds and altitudes. The wing design also enables smooth banking turns during flight training and touring.
For a small personal plane, the approximately 27 foot wing length provides a reliable balance of stability, maneuverability, and lift.
8. Typical High School Basketball Court Length
The standard floor space for competitive basketball is 94 feet long by 50 feet wide. But many school gyms have slightly smaller dimensions to accommodate one crosswise court. A typical high school basketball court is about 27 feet wide by 74 feet long.
This allows enough floor space for regulation free throw lanes, three point lines, and baseline boundaries. The 10 foot hoops and 27 foot court width also provide appropriate spacing and proportions for high school games.
Since most schools can’t accommodate full professional court sizes, approximately 27 by 74 feet strikes a practical balance. It enables real competitive high school basketball within limited gym floor space.
9. Boeing 737 Airplane Wingspan
The Boeing 737 is one of the most popular commercial jet airliners in the world. All Boeing 737 models have a similar overall wingspan of about 112 feet. But each individual wing sticking out from the fuselage is around 27 feet long from wing root to wingtip.
This 27 foot wing length results in just the right amount of lift and control for a mid-sized passenger plane. By taking off and landing on relatively short runways, the 737 can operate from small airports and fly shorter routes.
So at 27 feet, the iconic Boeing 737’s wings achieve an efficient balance of lift, drag, and maneuverability. The wingspan dimensions are key to the 737’s wide-reaching versatility and success.
10. Full Size Transit City Bus Length
While standard intra-city buses run about 27 feet, another common category of urban bus is the articulated or “bendy” bus. These extra long transit buses have an accordion-like middle section for greater capacity.
A typical full length transit bus extends approximately 55 feet from front to back. But the rigid section without the articulated middle joint is around 27 feet long. This provides the appropriate wheelbase at the front for the driver and engine.
Without about 27 feet of rigid frame, transit buses couldn’t effectively steer through city streets. But the attached articulated section then allows the bus to carry many more standing passengers. So the 27 foot front segment achieves ideal maneuverability and capacity for dense urban transportation.
Conclusion
As we’ve seen, 27 feet is the ideal length for many familiar vehicles, structures, and even body parts. Standard city buses, RVs, airliners, and more rely on around 27 feet of space for optimal function and design. Certain buildings and facilities like swimming pools derive important measurements from this length as well.
To learn more about other objects with interesting dimensions, check out our post on things that are 10 feet long. With creative examples spanning animals, food, sports, and more, it’s a great read for dimension enthusiasts.
