What type of fuel do airplanes use? Answering interesting questions about aviation fuel

Aircraft are a unique mode of transportation, requiring fuel that not only delivers high performance but also ensures maximum safety under all conditions. So, what type of fuel do airplanes use? Let’s explore this question along with some interesting information about aircraft fuel.

1. Do airplanes run on gasoline or diesel?

The question “Do planes run on gasoline or diesel?” often piques curiosity. In reality, planes primarily operate on jet fuel (Jet Fuel) and aviation gasoline (Avgas). The type of fuel used depends on the specific aircraft:

• Commercial and Military Jets: These primarily utilize jet fuel, a specialized fuel derived from petroleum.
• Small and Sport Aircraft: These typically run on aviation gasoline (Avgas), which is designed specifically for piston engines.

Do airplanes run on gasoline or diesel?

Fuel selection is determined by the engine design and the purpose of the aircraft, with jet fuel being the most commonly used type today.

2. Types of jet fuel

2.1 Jet fuel

Jet fuel is a clear or straw-colored fuel derived from kerosene, primarily used to power turbine engines, such as turboprops and jet engines. Common types of jet fuel include:

• Jet A: This fuel is mainly used in the United States. It is heavier and has a lower flash point and freezing point compared to standard kerosene.
• Jet A1: The most widely used jet fuel globally, Jet A1 has a lower freezing point (-47°C) than Jet A (-40°C), making it suitable for international flights across various climates. It also contains antistatic additives to reduce static charges that may occur during travel. Although there are differences between Jet A and Jet A1, aircraft operators often use both fuels interchangeably.
• Jet B: This is a popular alternative to both jet fuel and AVGAS, primarily used in civil aviation. Jet B has an extremely low freezing point of -76°C, making it ideal for extreme cold conditions.

Jet fuel offers advantages such as high calorific value, good storage capacity, and low freezing resistance, ensuring stable performance even at high altitudes.

2.2 Aviation gasoline (Avgas)

Avgas (Aviation Gasoline) is specifically designed for piston engines found in small aircraft. Unlike automobile gasoline, Avgas has a higher octane rating, which aids in achieving optimal engine performance.

A popular type of Avgas is Avgas 100LL, where “LL” stands for “Low Lead,” indicating a lower lead content compared to earlier formulations. This reduction in lead content helps enhance engine performance and minimizes engine wear, making it a preferred choice for many small aircraft operators.

Avgas is designed for piston-engine aircraft.

3. Characteristics of aviation fuel

Aviation fuel, especially jet fuel, possesses key properties that affect performance and safety during flight. These include:

Jet fuel, particularly jet fuel used in aviation, possesses several critical characteristics that impact performance and safety during flight. Here are the main characteristics:

• Fluidity
  The fluidity of jet fuel is vital for ensuring safety at high altitudes and very low temperatures (-50°C to -60°C). The fuel must maintain low viscosity and flow easily at low temperatures, with minimal heavy paraffin and little water to prevent crystallization and filter clogging. Key criteria include:

1. 1. • Density: 0.775 – 0.840 g/ml
      • Viscosity at -20°C: < 8 cSt
      • Freezing Temperature: Below -50°C

• Smoke point
  The smoke point of jet fuel must be low to prevent soot accumulation in the engine, which can reduce performance and cause wear. Fuels with lower aromatics and higher paraffins typically have lower smoke points. The minimum smoke point of jet fuel is around 25 mm.
• Oxidation stability
  Oxidation stability is crucial as the fuel must resist oxidation at high temperatures, especially when fuel tank temperatures can reach 350°C in supersonic aircraft. Antioxidant additives are often included to enhance this stability.
• Heat of combustion

The volumetric heat of combustion is a crucial property for determining an aircraft’s range. Fuels with high volumetric heat of combustion enable the aircraft to fly farther, while fuels with high mass heat of combustion are preferred for non-supersonic jet aircraft.

• Volatility

The volatility of jet fuel is essential to ensure that the engine can start and operate efficiently under all flight conditions. The boiling point of jet fuels typically ranges from 60°C to 300°C; however, each type of engine has specific requirements for volatility. This ensures optimal performance across various operational scenarios.

4. Some interesting questions about aircraft fuel

4.1 How many liters of fuel does it take to operate an aircraft?

• An Airbus A320 consumes about 1,944 liters of fuel per hour.
• A Boeing 747-400F consumes approximately 8,184 liters in the same period.
• A Boeing 787-8 uses around 3,900 liters, while a Boeing 787-9 consumes about 4,480 liters per hour.
• An Airbus A350 consumes roughly 4,640 liters in one hour of flight.

These figures serve as references; actual fuel consumption can vary based on factors like engine power, aircraft age and type, taxi time, cargo weight, weather conditions, and airflow direction.

4.2 How much does it cost to fill up an aircraft?

Fuel costs fluctuate based on the aircraft type and current fuel prices. For instance, filling up a Boeing 787 can cost around VND 4.8 billion, depending on the fuel price at that time.

4.3 How many liters of fuel can an aircraft carry?

The fuel capacity of an aircraft varies by model. Here are some examples:

• The Airbus A320, a common short-haul aircraft in Europe, has a maximum fuel capacity of 27,200 liters.
• The Airbus A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft, can hold up to 200,000 liters of fuel.

4.4 What color is jet fuel?

• Jet A1: Typically appears light yellow or colorless.
• Avgas: The colors of Avgas can vary due to the addition of colorants for easy identification. For example:
  • Avgas 80: Red
  • Avgas 100: Green

4.5 What is the octane rating in jet fuel?

The octane rating measures a fuel’s ability to resist detonation. For jet fuel (Avgas), the octane rating is usually very high, which helps the engine operate more stably and durably under harsh conditions.

Fuel is a crucial factor in determining the performance and safety of an aircraft. Both jet fuel and Avgas are specially designed to meet the strict requirements of the aviation industry.

Hopefully, this information has helped clarify whether planes run on gasoline or diesel and provided insight into the components that enable these giant “iron birds” to conquer the skies.