Aviation fuel: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Fuel used to power aircraft}}

[[Image:Shell Refueller.JPG|thumb|right|300px|An aviation fuel truck]]

 

'''Aviation fuels''' are [[petroleum]]-based [[fuel]]s, or petroleum and synthetic fuel blends, used to power [[aircraft]]. They have more stringent requirements than fuels used for ground use, such as [[heating]] and [[road transport]], and contain additives to enhance or maintain properties important to fuel performance or handling. They are [[kerosene]]-based ([[JP-8]] and [[Jet A-1]]) for gas turbine-powered aircraft. Piston-engined aircraft use [[leaded gasoline]] and those with diesel engines may use [[jet fuel]] (kerosene).<ref name=chevron>{{Cite web|url=https://www.skybrary.aero/bookshelf/books/2478.pdf|title = SKYbrary Aviation Safety}}</ref> By 2012, all aircraft operated by the [[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]] had been certified to use a 50-50 blend of kerosene and synthetic fuel derived from coal or natural gas as a way of stabilizing the cost of fuel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.airforcemag.com/article/0712fuel/|title=The Air Force's Fuel Problem}}</ref>

[[Specific energy]] (energy per unit mass) is an important criterion in selecting fuel for an aircraft. The much higher [[energy storage]] capability of hydrocarbon fuels compared to batteries has so far prevented [[electric aircraft]] from using [[electric batteries]] as the main propulsion energy store becoming viable for most small personal aircraft. However, the first BEV aircraft was certified in 2018[https://electrek.co/2018/04/27/all-electric-trainer-plane-airworthiness-certification-faa-us/].

 

 

==Types of aviation fuel==