Variety of Aircraft Fuels

Reading time: 5 min

Just like any vehicle, airplanes also need a variety of fuels to function; two of the most common type is Avgas – used for piston-engine aircraft, and Jet A1 (as you may see on tankers at airports) for jet engines. In this article we’ll explore the difference.

AVGAS (aviation gasoline) is a type of gasoline used to fuel piston-engine aircraft. The most common grade is 100LL (one hundred low lead) which has a light blue color. AVGAS has higher octane ratings than automotive gasoline to withstand the high compression ratios used in airplane engines. Nowadays, mostly small aircraft such Cessna 172 Skyhawk or Piper Cherokee are powered by AVGAS.

Jet fuel A1 is a kerosene-based fuel used to power jet turbine aircraft engines. It has a low freezing point and a higher flash point compared to other jet fuels, making it suitable for use in very cold climates. Jet fuel A1 is sometimes referred to as jet A or aviation turbine fuel (ATF). It does not contain any lead additives. Compared to gasoline, jet fuel A1 has a higher energy density by volume, allowing aircraft to fly longer distances without refueling.

Advantages of Jet A1

Jet fuel has certain key advantages over AVGAS:

Jet A1 has a higher energy density than AVGAS, allowing jets to fly farther without refueling. AVGAS provides less energy per unit volume.

It has a lower freezing point, essential for high-altitude flying. Jet A1 has a freezing point of -47 degrees Celsius, and Jet A slightly higher at -40 degrees.

It has a higher flashpoint so it is much less likely to be ignited unsafely, therefore making its transport much easier; of course, it is still extremely flammable, especially when vaporized.

It is cheaper than Avgas. This may sound counterintuitive as it powers such great engines, but it is a much simpler fuel to produce. It is also produced in much higher quantities, further reducing its costs.

So why not completely switch to Jet fuel?

Unfortunately, despite the obvious benefits of this fuel, it’s not possible. If you fuel a piston engine aircraft with Jet A1, it would not ignite because it requires the high temperature and pressurization that a jet engine can produce.

There has been attempt at converting piston aircraft to take jet fuel, such as Diesel Cessna 172 Turbo Skyhawk and the Diesel Piper Archer aircraft. Despite the high expense of this endeavor, these aircrafts now can increase their range with much cheaper fuel.

Start your future career in Aviation in an International Company, Just Register Here.

ما را در صفحات اجتماعی دنبال کنید

https://www.instagram.com/agmacademy.ir/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/agm-academy/